The Queen engaged warmly with students, exploring their projects and discussing their creative ideas. At the end of her visit, she tried on a pair of VR glasses created by one of the students and found herself immersed in a virtual world designed by a young programmer.
For several moments, Her Majesty observed the digital universe imagined by a teenager — and took off the headset smiling, visibly impressed. “We wanted to show the Queen what TUMO is — what kind of programs we offer, what our philosophy is when it comes to education, freedom, creativity, and environment. She talked with teenagers, asked what inspires them, what they love about TUMO, and what they want to do in the future,” said Marie Lou Papazian, the center’s director, in a conversation with NEWS.am STYLE.
During the visit, Queen Mathilde also toured the learning spaces, where classes were taking place at that moment. Rather than just observing, she listened attentively to lectures alongside the students and watched how they developed projects in animation, graphic design, programming, and music. The Queen asked questions, interacted with students and mentors, and discussed topics that matter to young people — from future career choices to the role of technology in modern education.
According to Papazian, the Queen was delighted to learn that a TUMO center will soon open in Belgium. She expressed hope that the project would become not only an educational platform but also a space for collaboration and cultural exchange between the two countries. “I think this means a lot for all of us. It’s important because her impression of Armenia now comes from personal experience. Often people who have never been to Armenia imagine it as distant or underdeveloped. But after seeing our potential, our ideas, and our energetic young people, she saw things differently. That’s incredibly valuable for us — in terms of trust, development, and self-expression,” said Papazian.
When asked about the Queen’s impressions, Papazian added: “I think she left with a very strong and genuinely positive impression. Queen Mathilde showed deep interest, and we are, of course, very proud and happy about this visit.”
Belgium’s Ambassador to Armenia, Eric de Muynck, also shared his thoughts with NEWS.am STYLE, emphasizing that the visit was not just ceremonial but reflected a sincere royal interest in Armenia. “The royal family already visited Armenia privately in 2018, so their interest in what’s happening here has remained strong. Armenia offers a unique perspective on implementing the Sustainable Development Goals. Every year, the Queen visits one or two countries to learn how the 2030 Agenda is progressing,” he explained.
According to the ambassador, the Queen’s two-day visit focused on areas closest to her mission. “We wanted to cover as many Sustainable Development Goals as possible. Today, for example, the Queen visited Yerevan State University, where she discussed education with students,” he said.
Later, the Queen was scheduled to visit a kindergarten — as early childhood development is one of her key areas of focus — and a mental health center, another topic she actively promotes. Finally, de Muynck noted that Armenia once again charmed the Queen with its unique atmosphere: “I think she once again felt the warmth of Armenian hospitality. She was welcomed by people from all walks of life and already knows how kind and open Armenians are. But her meeting with the students was especially warm and heartfelt.”