Countess Elisabeth d'Udekem d'Acoz & Marquis Alfonso Pallavicini - 20 & 22 July 2006

[Lady Jennifer]

Wonderful pictures. Who are the other bridesmaids & pageboys (other than Elisabeth & Gabriel)? Members of their families or friends of the family?

[Emily]

Fantastic pictures, Hannelore! Thanks for all your work posting them! The bride and groom had such a pretty day for their wedding and they look so, so lovely -- there is an air of great happiness that I capture from these photos. Thanks again.

[johann]

And the last ones from belga.

Originally Posted by detta

I was just wondering why Gabriel has his fingers in his mouth on almost every photo

I guess he is pretty impressed. Gabriel turns three in August, so he is still small. And it´s hot outside, he has to wear an uncomfortable “uniform” and has to walk through this crowd (strange people with big hats or even bigger cameras) – it must be overwhelming for him, so his reaction is very understandable.

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by Larzen

What kind of uniform is Elizabeths father wearing, he did not wear one for Mathildes wedding if I remember correctly?

RPE via AP

So to see he is wearing the uniform of a Lieutenant in the Belgian Air Force.

[Hans]

really a nice tiara !!

[rere]

I love her lace dress with the high collar. The tiara is nice. I guess it is a family piece.

[magnik]

Originally Posted by rere

I love her lace dress with the high collar. The tiara is nice. I guess it is a family piece.

Sorry. From which familly this tiara's from?

[tricia]

It was great to see one of my favorite couples, Maximilian and Angela. You really don't see pics of them much.

[linda85]

Were they married in a Catholic ceremony?

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by magnik

Sorry. From which familly this tiara's from?

Most likely it is a heirloom from the Pallavicini family. It is also possible that it is a loan from the Württemberg ducal family (aunt Hélène Marchioness Pallavicini née Duchess de Württemberg).

Hélène Duchess of Württemberg is the second spouse of Frederico Marquess Pallavicini who is an uncle to the groom (a younger brother to Alfonso's father). Uncle Frederico first married Maria Countess Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau and later with Hélène Duchess of Württemberg.

The groom's father Carlo Allessandro Marquess Pallavicini died two years ago. The groom's mother Donna Avogara, the Dowager Marchioness Carlo Pallavicini née Dei Conti Azzoni Avogadro still is alive. I don't know if she did attend the wedding.

[magnik]

Thanks for the info Henri M.

[Henri M.]

Originally Posted by linda85

Were they married in a Catholic ceremony?

Yes, both the Marquess Pallavicini and the Countess d'Udekem d'Acoz belong to the Church of Rome. They married in the Église Saint Pierre (1535) in Bastogne, Belgian-Luxembourg.

[Stefan]

Originally Posted by Henri M.

Most likely it is a heirloom from the Pallavicini family. It is also possible that it is a loan from the Württemberg ducal family (aunt Hélène Marchioness Pallavicini née Duchess de Württemberg).

Hélène Duchess of Württemberg is the second spouse of Frederico Marquess Pallavicini who is an uncle to the groom (a younger brother to Alfonso's father). Uncle Frederico first married Maria Countess Kinsky von Wchinitz und Tettau and later with Hélène Duchess of Württemberg.

The groom's father Carlo Allessandro Marquess Pallavicini died two years ago. The groom's mother Donna Avogara, the Dowager Marchioness Carlo Pallavicini née Dei Conti Azzoni Avogadro still is alive. I don't know if she did attend the wedding.

She did. There is a photo from her with her son and there is also a picture with the parents of the bride.

[Henri M.]

I suppose the lady in flaming red is the groom's mother Donna Avogara, the Dowager Marchioness Carlo Pallavicini née Dei Conti Azzoni Avogadro.

(What a glorious names....)

Thanks Stefan.

[Hannelore]

The veil Elisabeth wore was a d'Udekem family piece. It dates from the mid 19th century and was restaured for the wedding. There was an item about this on the news: an 82 year old Belgian lady is the last to restaure these precious lace veils, it took her 1,5 month at 10 hours per day ...

[Gloriana]

Princess Louise is sooo pretty!

[princess olga]

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

[..] Interesting to see that nobles continue to marry nobles quite often, while royalty are now marrying commoners more and more often. Interesting development, I would say.

Indeed it is! On the one hand, we all tend to feel a certain easy familiarity with "our own kind" however we all define that individually. But then again, I do get a sense that a lot of these old world nobles are in a way mentally confined and wouldn't want to be caught dead with a hunky, honest, smart, hardworking, plummer let's say. Instead, they do what's expected of them: marry the kids of friends of their parents. I'm of two minds on this one: I'm simultaneously relieved and disappointed Mathilde's sister didn't marry a hunky plummer..

Originally Posted by GrandDuchess

Great to see Maximilian & Angela of Liechtenstein! We don't see them very often.

Hear hear! That's got to be the surprise duo for all us royalty watchers!

A few other notes:

1. Claire. Besides the bride, is there anyone, I mean, <anyone> with more style than Laurent's wife?

2. Feel a bit sorry for Gabriel, as his outfit mustve been awfully hot. By the way, can't help but notice, once again, how awfully pale Mathilde's kids look compared to everyone else, as if they either havent' seen the sun yet this year, or if they're anemic. Perhaps their mother has them use a sunscreen with a high PDF, or whatever that's called...

[AnaM]

Thanks everyone for the great pictures. It's especially nice to see Princess Angela- we really don't get to see enough of her. The bride looked beautiful and I think her dress is absoultely perfect for a nice summer wedding. I loved Mathilde's hat and Claire's outfit. Looks like it was a great day for everyone!

[shirleymanson]

Originally Posted by princess olga

Feel a bit sorry for Gabriel, as his outfit mustve been awfully hot. By the way, can't help but notice, once again, how awfully pale Mathilde's kids look compared to everyone else, as if they either havent' seen the sun yet this year, or if they're anemic. Perhaps their mother has them use a sunscreen with a high PDF, or whatever that's called...

Based on how much both little ones were squinting, makes you wonder how unused they are to being in the sun.