Queen Mathilde of Belgium was pictured attending a ceremony commemorating the Battle of the Bulge today in Luxembourg.
She joined her husband King Philippe for as well as other prominent figures, including Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden for the event at the American Military Cemetery in Hamm.
The royal, 51, donned a green and grey ensemble as the couple marked the 80th anniversary of the event, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, in Bastogne, Belgium.
Today’s ceremony honoured the memories of US soldiers who were wounded or killed during the battle, which took place from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945.
The Queen looked stylish as she paid her tributes at the event, donning a green dress, with a matching hat and gloves, topped with a grey cape.
Meanwhile, King Philippe donned a black suit, featuring a double breasted blazer, and paired with a white shirt, and black tie.
Among the other attendees were Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and others.
The US Ambassador to Luxembourg Thomas M. Barrett and Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Konstantino were also present.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium is pictured while attending an event commemorating the 80th anniversary of the Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II, and is known to be one of WWII’s turning points.
It saw 200,000 German troops counter-attack across the front line in Belgium and Luxembourg.
They smashed into battle-weary US soldiers positioned in terrain as foreign to them as it was familiar to the Germans.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had hoped the advance would change the course of World War II by forcing US and British troops to sue for peace, thus freeing Germany to focus on the rapidly advancing Soviet armies in the east.
Lasting for more than a month, the battle saw the Allied Forces achieve the upper hand in the end, and invade Germany.
It left many experienced German units left severely depleted of men and equipment, as survivors retreated to the defences of the Siegfried Line. The war in Europe ended less than five months later.
Germany is now an ally of the United States and its wartime partners, united in the NATO alliance.
The Battle of the Bulge gained fame not so much for the commanders’ tactics but for the resilience of small units hampered by poor communications that stood shoulder to shoulder to deny Hitler the quick breakthrough he so desperately needed.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium (pictured, centre) is seen talking with Luxembourg’s Prime Minister Luc Frieden (pictured, left)
During the commemorative service today, held at the American Military Cemetery in Hamm, there was a cannon salute (pictured)
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are pictured while attending today’s ceremony in Luxembourg
Grand Duchess of Luxembourg Maria Teresa (pictured, left) also attended the event (seen with Queen Mathilde of Belgium)
Even though the Americans were often pushed back, they were able to delay the German advance in its crucial initial stages.
When the fortunes of the war turned, it was most visible in the southern Ardennes town of Bastogne, where surrounded US troops were cut off for days with little ammunition or food.
When Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, of the 101st Airborne, received an ultimatum on December 22 to surrender or face total destruction, he offered one of the most famous – and brief – replies in military history.
He simply responded by saying: ‘Nuts.’
Four days later, US troops broke the Nazi encirclement.
