Queen Mathilde of Belgium was all smiles today as continued her visit to the Ivory Coast in her capacity as ambassador for the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals.

The royal, who turned 51 in January, looked happy and relaxed in the sunshine as she posed for the photographer on the beach, met with local people in Grand-Lahou and donned a fluorescent life jacket for a boat trip through the mangroves. 

The aim of the visit, which began on 3 March and continues until 6 March, was to exchange experiences in the field of sustainable development with Ivorian partners.

Mathilde wore a multicoloured dress in shades of blue and purple by French brand BA&SH, a pair of pale pink loafers and a stylish straw hat as she visited the coastal town of Grand-Lahou and its famous cemetery in Dabou.

Dabou is about 100 kilometers west of the port city of Abidjan – the largest city and the ‘economic capital’ of the country. 

Queen Mathilde of Belgium was all smiles as she posed for the photographer on a beach in the coastal town of Grand Lahou

Sporting black and gold sunglasses and carrying a raffia tote bag, Mathilde seemed to be in her element as she met with local people. 

Accompanied by the Belgian ambassador to the Ivory Coast, Carole van Eyll, Mathilde was greeted by a local woman who fashioned a traditional dress for the queen out of gold patterned fabric.

Later she met with the local fishing communities whose livelihood is threatened by rising sea levels. 

Both Mathilde and Carole smiled as they gathered around a huge fish that had presumably been caught not long before. 

Afterwards, the queen put on a fluorescent orange life jacket to take a trip through the mangroves. 

Earlier in her working visit, Mathilde visited Mamie Faitai Kindergarten in Yopougon, Abidjan, which is built out of plastic bricks made by Conceptos Plasticos, a company that helps communities by turning plastic into building materials. 

Back in January, the Belgian royal family released two new portraits on Instagram to mark Queen Mathilde’s 51st birthday.

Mathilde, 51, met with a local woman who helped her make a traditional outfit out of a piece of patterned fabric 

The queen was accompanied on the working visit by the Belgian ambassador to the Ivory Coast, Carole van Eyll (right) 

Mathilde and Carole smiled as they joined local fisherman assembled around a huge fish that had presumably been caught not long before

Mathilde and Carole both sported traditional dress consisting of brightly coloured skirts 

The royal appeared in high spirits as she posed for the cameras at Domaine Royal de Laeken Koninklijk Domein van Laken – the official residence of the Belgian royal family in Brussels.

And the mother-of-four put on a typically stylish display in her new portraits.

Mathilde paired a £120 ‘Maree’ Dobby quilted bodywarmer from Baleno Clothing Europe with a pair of chocolate-coloured corduroy trousers.

She added a touch of glamour to the outfit with a pair of £55 resin ‘Gabrielle’ earrings from Sezanne, the same pair that the Princess of Wales donned at a 2019 polo match.

The royal donned a fluorescent life jacket for a boat trip through the mangroves 

Sporting stylish black and gold sunglasses and a pair of earrings with purple and blue stones, Mathilde was dressed for the sunny climate

Taking to Instagram, the royal household accompanied the post alongside the caption: ‘Congratulations to the Queen! She celebrates her 51st birthday today!’

Mathilde smiled as she looked towards the camera in the photographs, taken in the stunning location of the gardens of the Royal Domain in front of the Japanese tower in Laeken, in Brussels. Belgium

She opted for a natural make-up look, complete with a dash of blusher across her cheeks.

The second image offered a full-length shot of the royal, and she casually posed with one hand tucked away into her pockets as she kept her gaze towards the side of the camera.