Don't be surprised if you spot a woman in a crown in Boston this week — there's European royalty in town.
Belgium's Princess Astrid is representing her brother, King Philippe, on a visit to Boston Thursday and Friday.
She'll be at the Statehouse Thursday afternoon for an official welcoming ceremony with Gov. Charlie Baker. She'll meet with him and Boston Mayor Michelle Wu, and will be discussing Belgium's and Massachusetts' offshore wind and biopharmaceutical efforts, according to her official schedule.
Astrid has been on a tour of the U.S. — she's coming from Atlanta and New York — and heads back to Belgium over the weekend, her office said.
Get Boston local news, weather forecasts, lifestyle and entertainment stories to your inbox. Sign up for NBC Boston’s newsletters.
Belgium is a constitutional monarchy; the king or queen is the chief of state, a symbolic role, while the prime minister runs the government. The Belgian monarchy dates to 1831; among Astrid's public roles within it is as a colonel in the Belgian Armed Forces' medical unit.
There was no indication ahead of her visit whether Astrid would be presenting Baker with any of the country's famous chocolates or waffles.
