On August 17, 2026, Queen Silvia met with Swedish personnel from the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency (MCF) and Saab who are assisting with efforts to combat wildfires in Belgium. Through the Swedish Civil Contingencies Agency, Sweden has sent two scooping aircraft to Belgium to help fight wildfires in the Hohes Venn nature reserve.
The two aircraft from Sweden are part of the EU’s joint resources known as rescEU. Their crews train and conduct operations annually alongside personnel from other EU countries. Sweden has been part of rescEU since 2019 and has on several occasions supported other countries in fighting wildfires. The operation is being carried out under the framework of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism.
She's blessed with lovely hair.
ReplyDeletevery dangerous for a woman of her age to go on a slippery airplane wing!
She looks well cared for but perhaps underestimated the height of the wing when she said yes. Well done Silvia!
DeletePerfect suit for the occasion, paired with the trainers for ease of movement around equipment. No excessive fabric to get caught up on edges and a headband to hold her hair out of her face. Smart dressing, with a nice brooch for class.
ReplyDeleteTenue adéquate pour monter dans un avion bombardier d’eau !
ReplyDeleteWe are very grateful to the Swedish for helping us to combat the wildfires in "Les Hautes Fagnes" at the German border with their special planes. We had only one plane of the same caliber which is lend out to Turquyie for the moment. Since monday it is raining again almost every day, but the quantity of rain is so little that the fires are not finished yet. A part of the habitants have been allowed to return to their homes. The Hohes Venn (Hautes Fagnes) has a very difficult underground. The fire continue under the "Venn" which is very dry. Due to the weather change from blue skies into cloudy skies the visibility for the pilots of the planes is almost zero. We have welcomed also fire men from Germany to help the Belgian firemen with the enormous work they have to face on the grounds of this beautiful natural forest. . They are working in shifts. It is especially the fatigue which is so difficult. During the weekend King Philippe has interrupted his holidays to come and see what is happening and to thank the firemen and wish them plenty of courage for the work they are doing. We also thank the Dutch defense forces who come to help us with their Chinook helikopters which can transport 7600 liters of water per flight.The farmers of the region are coming very close to the fire on the grounds with their lorries and "citernes" filled with water coming a.o. from the lake of Bütgenbach, a touristic place. A very wide terrain of very much square meters is now looking black instead of green. It will probably take several years before the pine trees and other trees will be growing green again.
ReplyDeleteQueen Silvia is well dressed with her (cotton ? linen ?) pant suit and white trainers. I wonder, at her age, how she will be able to enter in the plane, if that is what she is going to do ?
Anon 14.59 This is so interesting, thanks so much.
DeleteThanks 14:59 for the interesting insight. Wild fire is very scary. Forest springs back fascinatingly from fire, the trees are not as worried by fire as we are and the animals. I hope it is soon contained.
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DeleteThe regional authorities have been said that the animals didn't had to suffer much from the wildfires. They went away before it became serious also the birds flew away. The people who live in the region were evacuated in time. In 1911 there was also a big fire in the same region. Apparently it took years before the trees start to grow again.
Awesome.
ReplyDeleteI love the pant suit with white trainers combo for this outing. I personally prefer more formality in clothes, so I’m happy to see the Queen wearing a more formal outfit than perhaps others would choose for an outdoor event. Love this Queen!
ReplyDeletePerfect outfit for her visit today! I cannot believe Queen Silvia is willing to clamber up onto the wing of an airplane but she's fit and obviously game to do such things.
ReplyDeleteJanet
Silvia is over 80!
ReplyDeleteNice to see her. What about 80 she made is just fine on top of the Airplane wing.
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