Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde: Current Events Jun 2005-Aug 2005

[Marilène]

July 16th : prince Filip and princess Mathilde open the zuidfoor / foire du midi (a fairground) in Brussels.


Video :

Go to "Zaterdag 16/07" -> 19h -> 7:00

http://www.vtm.be/nieuws/index_bekijkonline.htm

At their arrival Filip & Mathilde received a wooden rocking horse. Mathilde said " I know two children wo will be delighted with this". They ate pancakes with chocolate sauce and doughnut balls (THE traditional fairground food - the one and only attraction for me ) and had a glass of champagne. They tried some of the games. Filip had to throw as many basketballs as possible in one minute - which wasn't a big success. But then he went to the shooting stand where he shot the first prize in a single shot, and was a bit proud yes,yes (I wonder wether Mathilde got to chose a teddybear ). Mathilde went for the motherly approach and fished for plastic ducks, she said it's a big favorite of Elisabeth's. The woman from the stand wanted to let her chose a gift but she kindly declined. Then Filip went in the haunted house, not with Mathilde but with his safety agent - really!!
As a last thing they posed on the merry go round together.
The woman of the giant weel was disappointed they didn't stop at her stand.

At which minute?

 

[Hannelore]

I've indicated it : 7:00.

 

[Hannelore]

another pic from the couple at the fairground this weekend. I read in the paper yesterday Filip was planning to come back with the kids.

 

[Mette2]

You're welcome selminha and Hannelore, and thank you for the summary of the videoclip Hannelore.
Nice that Philippe said he wanted to go back to the fairground with the children. Maybe he wants to go back to the shooting stand so he can show them how good he is, or to win a teddy bear for each of them.

 

[Mette2]

From Picturedesk/contrast.

July 16th 2005.

More pictures from their visit to the fairground.
6+9) I love this machine. I always look for it when I visit the amusement park Tivoli in Copenhagen, but I must admit I've lost more money than I've won teddy bears - guess that's just the kid in me.

 

[Mette2]

From Picturedesk/contrast.

July 16th 2005.

More pictures from their visit to the fairground.

More pictures.
I like how Philippe holds his hand up to his face pretending to be scared of the ride - really funny.

 

[Mette2]

I was switching through the channels today, and when I switched on to the French channel TV5 Europe I saw Philippe. Unfortunately the part with him only lasted a few seconds, but I did get to see him fly his helicopter. I looked on teletext to see what it was, and it was a program called Cote Cour. Is that a royal program?

The channel re-ran the program last night, so I got a chance to see all of it. The part with Philippe was about his passion for flying. There were old clips of him graduating as a pilot, of him being hosed down with water (maybe when he passed his final flight and had become a pilot?) - really funny, and of him parachute jumping. It was really great to see since I've never seen it before other than some of it in pictures.
The man who hosted the show, and who presented the different segments hosted the show from the Royal Palace in Laeken. In some of his presentations he was in the company of a member of the royal family - Kinga, Philippe and Mathilde's dog, and it's still as cute as it was when it was a puppy.
When the program started (the introduction) it only featured the Belgian royals, so I don't think it has much to do with other royals. At the end of the crawling title it said RTBF, which if I'm not mistaken is a Belgian channel or something Belgian. At the thread Belgian Monarchy Links the first link is also a page called Côté Cour, and in the corner it says RTBF, so I'm guessing there's a connection between the program and the website. I think it's a royal program of some sort, because there was also a segment on Albert and Paola, and everything was Belgian royal related. Please don't get me wrong or misunderstand Hannelore, I'm not at all saying you were wrong - I really appreciate the information you gave me when responding to my post, and you're one of the people who would know about it. I'm just passing on information/my assumptions about the program, the connection between the program and the website, and my joy of finding the program. If anyone else can receive the channel and is interested in seeing the program you can see it Friday July 22nd at 3.29 p.m. - 2.29 p.m. in London.

 

[Mette2]

From Van Parys Media.

July 16th 2005.
More pictures from Philippe and Mathilde's visit to the fairground.

 

[Mette2]

From Van Parys Media.

July 16th 2005.
More pictures from Philippe and Mathilde's visit to the fairground.

More pictures.

 

[Mette2]

From Van Parys Media.

July 16th 2005.
More pictures from Philippe and Mathilde's visit to the fairground.

A few more.

 

[Hannelore]

The channel re-ran the program last night, so I got a chance to see all of it. The part with Philippe was about his passion for flying. There were old clips of him graduating as a pilot, of him being hosed down with water (maybe when he passed his final flight and had become a pilot?) - really funny, and of him parachute jumping. It was really great to see since I've never seen it before other than some of it in pictures.
The man who hosted the show, and who presented the different segments hosted the show from the Royal Palace in Laeken. In some of his presentations he was in the company of a member of the royal family - Kinga, Philippe and Mathilde's dog, and it's still as cute as it was when it was a puppy.
When the program started (the introduction) it only featured the Belgian royals, so I don't think it has much to do with other royals. At the end of the crawling title it said RTBF, which if I'm not mistaken is a Belgian channel or something Belgian. At the thread Belgian Monarchy Links the first link is also a page called Côté Cour, and in the corner it says RTBF, so I'm guessing there's a connection between the program and the website. I think it's a royal program of some sort, because there was also a segment on Albert and Paola, and everything was Belgian royal related. Please don't get me wrong or misunderstand Hannelore, I'm not at all saying you were wrong - I really appreciate the information you gave me when responding to my post, and you're one of the people who would know about it. I'm just passing on information/my assumptions about the program, the connection between the program and the website, and my joy of finding the program. If anyone else can receive the channel and is interested in seeing the program you can see it Friday July 22nd at 3.29 p.m. - 2.29 p.m. in London.

Hmmm...sounds interesting, maybe it was the documentary RTBF made on Filip & Mathilde (4 Belgian channels got to shoot a documentary and the results were 4 times quite different with different material). Or an old royalty program ?

Is there an episode every week, or was this a one time thing ?

 

[Mette2]

July 19th : prince Filip
Volunteer project " 't Gezelletje" in Oostkamp

From picturedesk/contrast.

 

[Mette2]

From picturedesk/contrast.

A few more.

 

[Mette2]

Hmmm...sounds interesting, maybe it was the documentary RTBF made on Filip & Mathilde (4 Belgian channels got to shoot a documentary and the results were 4 times quite different with different material). Or an old royalty program ?

Is there an episode every week, or was this a one time thing ?

Well, according to TV5 Europe's teletext there will be another program (Cote Cour) on Friday at 3.29 p.m. - 2.29 p.m. in London - and I doubt they'll show the same program as last week since they just re-ran that one. As far as I remember at the end of the crawling title it said 2005 or was it 2004? No, I'm pretty sure it was 2005. I'll certainly watch the program, and I'll let you know about the year at the end. Unless of course you're able to watch the program yourself. But the part with Philippe flying his helicopter was from 2002, so maybe that's from the documentary. Also Kinga was quite big so I doubt the program is that old.

 

[Mette2]

From Clasos.

July 16th 2005.
More from Philippe and Mathilde's visit to the fairground.

 

[Mette2]

From Clasos.

July 16th 2005.
More from Philippe and Mathilde's visit to the fairground.

More pictures.

 

[LaMinka]

Thanks for all the pics Philippe and Mathilde's visit to the fairground.

Mariella

 

[Mette2]

If anyone else can receive the channel and is interested in seeing the program you can see it Friday July 22nd at 3.29 p.m. - 2.29 p.m. in London.

Looked at TV5 Europe's teletext and the program (Cote Cour) is still on tomorrow, but at 3.27 p.m. - 2.27 p.m. in London. Not a big change in time, but I myself hate when I turn on the tv too late and miss the beginning of a program or movie, so I thought I'd just give the correct information.

 

[Sancia]

I know that lot of you will react to what I'm about to say, but I find it exaggerate to speak of Mathilde like a saint on earth, a sort of new Sancta Gracia. As for myself, I don't like the image of "perfect princess" she tries to give us; I prefer princesses who are making little errors, who are some times more hesitant. And I don't like very much hear someone speaking of '"always perfect princess Mathilde". Look, it's just what she does want to show us (and I hate this), but does someone really know her? Maybe she's in private egoist, coleric, bad mood, and whatsoever.
My point is: princesses and princes are human like us, no human is perfect, even not Mathilde. You'll say I don't like Mathilde. No, I don't like her very much because of this image of "I'm perfect and I show it", which bothers me.
What's the point of idolatring a prince or princess? What's the point of idolatring someone? And, please, don't reply "all the Belgians love her", because it's not true. I have plenty of belgian friends, who are monarchists, but who can't stand anymore hearing "perfect princess Mathilde" or just speaking of Mathilde everytime at the information.
By the way, look at the way she dresses her children: nice, yes, but as perfect little children. Is it good for children to be shown by their parents like little perfect one? I don't think so. When they will be teenager, when they will have difficulties in the life, one will say "ah, but they were so perfect kids"...

Cathérine and others, I know perfectly well your opinion, but give me the right to think differently. I don't criticize Mathilde for the pleasure to criticize her, but I wanted to discuss this point with other people.

 

[Jelka]

Well Danielane, I respect your opinion, but I don't think she tries to achieve a perfect image, I simply can not believe that it is Mathilde's intention to create the image of herself being a perfect princess, because I agree with you that such a thing does not exist, nobody is perfect, not even a prince/princess. I think she looks more humble to me than the other princesses, more casual. She just doesn't search the spotlights, and doesn't often make mistakes in her wardrobe (although I've seen her make some mistakes), that's all. But of course you have the right for your own opinion, although I don't think many people share it.

 

[Sancia]

Well Danielane, I respect your opinion, but I don't think she tries to achieve a perfect image, I simply can not believe that it is Mathilde's intention to create the image of herself being a perfect princess, because I agree with you that such a thing does not exist, nobody is perfect, not even a prince/princess. I think she looks more humble to me than the other princesses, more casual. She just doesn't search the spotlights, and doesn't often make mistakes in her wardrobe (although I've seen her make some mistakes), that's all. But of course you have the right for your own opinion, although I don't think many people share it.

Oh, you know, I don't care of how mant people are sharing an opinion, because it's not a basis to determinate if this opinion is valuable.
I was simply reacting to what I'm reading on many forums, where Mathilde is celebrated like the "perfect, as always, duchess of Brabant".
More humble and more royal, maybe, after all, she was born in an aristocratic middle. But I can't help thinking she has a "perfect-little-girl" side.

 

[princess gertrude]

Well Danielane, I respect your opinion, but I don't think she tries to achieve a perfect image, I simply can not believe that it is Mathilde's intention to create the image of herself being a perfect princess, because I agree with you that such a thing does not exist, nobody is perfect, not even a prince/princess. I think she looks more humble to me than the other princesses, more casual. She just doesn't search the spotlights, and doesn't often make mistakes in her wardrobe (although I've seen her make some mistakes), that's all. But of course you have the right for your own opinion, although I don't think many people share it.

I have to agree with Jelka on this one. Mathilda is not perfect, but she definately has her act together and that shows. I also feel that she is comfortable in her position and in her own skin which makes a big difference in the way that she presents herself to the public. I'm sure that their "home life" is like anyone elses, they just choose to keep it out of the public eye, which I think is admirable.

 

[Alexandria]

I've never gotten the impression that Mathilde thinks of herself as the perfect princess and as such tries to further promote her self image as that. I think, as others have mentioned, that Mathilde is simply someone who is quite humble, perhaps even shy, in her approach to her role as the Crown Princess of Belgium. She is someone who likes to be behind the scenes, and reminds me (and not in a bad way either) of someone who lives with the phrase of "the woman behind the man."

One of the (many) things I like about Mathilde is that she reminds me of a throwback to the heyday of royalty, albeit with a modern twist -- she's traditional, classic, graceful and goes about her royal duties without much fuss or demands. I've read many arguments/commentary of late that it's 2005 and royalty has to evolve and that royals can't behave as they would have in Queen Victoria's day and age in today's time. And that the modern face of monarchy are those who wear glamorous gowns and attend the big parties and galas, pose in magazines, who give lengthy interviews dispersing their every thought on love, life, the environment, society's issues, etc.

I've never been attracted to monarchies and royalty for that reason and modern or not. I like monarchies because of their neutrality they can represent their respective countries without impartiality and be the faces of a nation over time.

I think it's enough when Mathilde (or Maxima or Mette-Marit, etc.) grace the cover of Point du Vue or Royalty magazine based on some picture taken of them at an engagement, or when the royal families set up semi-formal photoshoots periodically (as the Belgian royals do annually and most recently we saw with Willem, Maxima and their daughters) or through formal portraits. I don't need to see a fashion spread a la VOGUE magazine of Mathilde in six stunning gowns from Natan's latest collection. I'll see them and admire them even more when she wears those gowns to greet foregin dignitaries at a state dinner hosted by the King and Queen.

I see Mathilde as someone who is not interested in stealing the spotlight from anyone or needing to be in the spotlight at all times. She is someone who is content with her husband, her children, and to carry out her role in representing Belgium to the best of her abilities. She's all substance and no flash -- which is a good thing in my books.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Danielane, I do respect your opinion. I completely understand it if it gets on your nerves when people see Mathilde as the "one and only perfect princess". For me she is perfect as the wife of the current crownprince of Belgium in the country I'm living in, but I'm sure that Mary is the exact same thing for Denmark nowadays, and Sophie for Liechtenstein etc.

It's not a good thing to put Mathilde up as some sort of example. Each monarchy in Europe is different because it are all very different countries, with different habits and opinions, different societies altogether.

But I also think the problem is that you only get to see Mathilde and the children on photos, with the comments on boards like these (which are usually positive to very positive comments). If you see her on tv (royalty programs et all) she comes across as a very normal woman, and her family life is very normal too (apart from the rather strange job she has). And that's what makes her so popular. She's never given me the impression that she's trying to act as a princess , or a perfect princess. She's just being who she is - and not at all trying to get on the foreground.

She is no saint and she isn't perfect, and there are people who won't like her. OK, there's nothing wrong with that and we shoudn't try to portray it in any other way. But she do is very popular in Belgium and so is her family. This doesn't mean that Belgians like her because they think she's "perfect", it's thoughts like these that start coming up when you compare people - mainly on these boards (who's your favorite princess ? Who has the prettiest shoes ? blablabla). She's a unique person just like every other person is unique.

 

[KikkiB]

I have to agree with Jelka on this one. Mathilda is not perfect, but she definately has her act together and that shows. I also feel that she is comfortable in her position and in her own skin which makes a big difference in the way that she presents herself to the public. I'm sure that their "home life" is like anyone elses, they just choose to keep it out of the public eye, which I think is admirable.

Danielane, I do respect your opinion. I completely understand it if it gets on your nerves when people see Mathilde as the "one and only perfect princess". For me she is perfect as the wife of the current crownprince of Belgium in the country I'm living in, but I'm sure that Mary is the exact same thing for Denmark nowadays, and Sophie for Liechtenstein etc.

It's not a good thing to put Mathilde up as some sort of example. Each monarchy in Europe is different because it are all very different countries, with different habits and opinions, different societies altogether.

But I also think the problem is that you only get to see Mathilde and the children on photos, with the comments on boards like these (which are usually positive to very positive comments). If you see her on tv (royalty programs et all) she comes across as a very normal woman, and her family life is very normal too (apart from the rather strange job she has). And that's what makes her so popular. She's never given me the impression that she's trying to act as a princess , or a perfect princess. She's just being who she is - and not at all trying to get on the foreground.

She is no saint and she isn't perfect, and there are people who won't like her. OK, there's nothing wrong with that and we shoudn't try to portray it in any other way. But she do is very popular in Belgium and so is her family. This doesn't mean that Belgians like her because they think she's "perfect", it's thoughts like these that start coming up when you compare people - mainly on these boards (who's your favorite princess ? Who has the prettiest shoes ? blablabla). She's a unique person just like every other person is unique.

Just wanted to say; hear, hear!! I fully agree with you! We can only get an impression of how royals are through the media, so our opinion of the royals will always be partial (and not varied) since we don't know how they are privately. I like Mathilde because she seems so down to earth in her public presense, and that she seems to feel comfortable in her role, and thus, in my opinion, doing a good job.

 

[Sancia]

Wow! So many comments! Thank you.

I think Cathérine got a very important point. It gets me on the nerves when a prince or princess is discribed like the absolute perfect one (which happens on several boards about several princess, inculded Mathilde) or, on the contrary, like the model of "what-shouldn't-absoultely-be-a-prince-or-a-princess". I don't like these comments and that's giving me a, maybe, stronger image of the prince or princess in question.
I would say that I'd like very much see or hear Mathilde act, to discover more about her. Maybe my opinion will change, but I read such comments that sometimes, I just want saying "stop".
But, even if I don't like her very much, I must say she's really classy (sometimes a little bit too old-fashioned for my taste) and has really cute children.

 

[Hannelore]

By the way, look at the way she dresses her children: nice, yes, but as perfect little children. Is it good for children to be shown by their parents like little perfect one? I don't think so. When they will be teenager, when they will have difficulties in the life, one will say "ah, but they were so perfect kids"...

What complete rubbish.

Those children are dressed as any other children who come from a decent family. 21st of July is our national day, in which not only the country but also the RF is celebrated. So you put on something pretty yes. When I take my daughter (4 years) to a special celebration she gets to wear a pretty dress as well.

We've seen pics of Elisa being picked up at school when she wore more casual clothes, a pair of jeans and a brown jacket with flowers. Just like every other kid.

They aren't perfect children, they're normal children who are being brought up properly and will have a special future ahead of them but can find a nice warm nest in a family that tries to raise them as normal as is possible in their situation.

And I don't think they'll have problems as teenagers. Look at Astrid's kids (Amedeo, Laura and Joachim). They're perfectly normal, fine kids who have an even more royal and aristocratic background than Elisabeth and Gabriel.

If you can't stand a family being popular in Belgium for who they are and what they mean to the country then perhaps it's best to focuss on something else. This will only lead to arguments.

 

[Alexandria]

If you can't stand a family being popular in Belgium for who they are and what they mean to the country then perhaps it's best to focuss on something else. This will only lead to arguments.

I don't believe we're heading towards an argument here at all. I think some very differing views are being exchanged. And Danielane, whose comments "sparked" such a discussion may still not agree with the many comments in "defence" of Mathilde, but has certainly been open to them even if she's not fully convinced yet by the arguments put forth -- and isn't that the sign of a good discussion?

I think everybody who has made comments, from Cathérine Bergeyck to princess gertrude and Jelka, have been very polite and civil in their replies, which is all that we ask for. If we end all discussions because of the potential for arguments then we'd just be left staring at pictures.

As a moderator of this forum, I don't think this discussion is "rubbish" and find it quite enlightening and hope that others will continue to discuss their various opinons.

 

[Hannelore]

OK, as long as no-one gets overheated (wich would be a pitty) there's no problem for me either.

And I didn't call the discussion 'rubbish' but the things Danielane foresaw for the future of a 3-year and 1,5-year old.

 

[Sancia]

Thanks Alexandria!
Hannelore, I'd like just to react to "decent family": I have the pretention to say I come from a decent family, but I've never been dressed like this. I think there are many ways to dress a children. In France, in my background, when parents dress a girl like Elisabeth yesterday, it has a certain meaning.

I was just saying that I don't like the image I'v got from Mathilde. Maybe my point of view will evolue. I would have like to see the documentary about her family's life, with a reporter filming them during a whole year.