Two of the heads of Europe’s ruling houses had a birthday get together just hours before one hosted the other on an important State Visit.

King Philippe of the Belgians and his cousin, Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, were seen sharing a special birthday cake as final preparations for the visit continued.

The Belgian monarch turned 64 on April 15th 2024 and hosted an impromptu celebration for his cousin who had already arrived in Brussels ahead of the State Visit he was set to make with his wife, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa.

That important event, designed to cement ties between the two countries further, gets under way on April 16th 2024, the day that Grand Duke Henri celebrates his 69th birthday.

And so the family celebrations took place on Philippe’s birthday with the two men seen blowing out two candles on a cake decorated with raspberries which the Grand Duke seemed very keen to start eating.

King Philippe and Grand Duke Henri are first cousins. Philippe’s father, Albert II, and Henri’s mother, Grand Duchess Josephine Charlotte, were siblings. The two men’s shared grandparents were King Leopold III and Queen Astrid of Belgium.