Belgian National Day - 21 July, 1: 2009-2022


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More bad press is the last thing the king needs with the ongoing Delphine Boël and Albert II paternity case ,the kings brother needs to grow up and behave according to his station,he happy enough to lead a very privileged life with the royal perks.
 
Moonmaiden23 said:
In his favor, I can say that his nieces and nephews and children seem to adore him. I have watched informal video of the family together, and they all surrounded him for hugs and kisses.

I think the fact that animals and children are drawn to him is important..but it's the grownups that he has a problem with.....:sad:
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Actually, I think there are people like him that is just naturally annoying. But his carefree and less formal attitude might be the reason why his nieces and nephews adore him.

But I think he doesn't come close to his aunt Princess Marie-Christine.
 
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An Ard Ri said:
More bad press is the last thing the king needs with the ongoing Delphine Boël and Albert II paternity case ,the kings brother needs to grow up and behave according to his station,he happy enough to lead a very privileged life with the royal perks.
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The dossier Boël has little effect on King Philippe and Queen Mathilde I must say. It is really something between Delphine Boël and the former royal couple. In my view the Belgians are able to make that separation. I do not see lower approval because of Boël.
 
This has nothing to do with our National Day.I must say these days were great more than 20.000 people at the place of the Jeu de Balle in the Marolles , and a lot of people for the fire works.

But meanwhile our political Situation is terrible because of the so many votes for the Extremists. We will be without a Government for many weeks.
 
maria-olivia said:
This has nothing to do with our National Day.I must say these days were great more than 20.000 people at the place of the Jeu de Balle in the Marolles , and a lot of people for the fire works.

But meanwhile our political Situation is terrible because of the so many votes for the Extremists. We will be without a Government for many weeks.
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I get the impression that you imply that there are bigger crowds than usual? If so would that be because the King and Queen? Are they popular?
 
JR76 said:
I get the impression that you imply that there are bigger crowds than usual? If so would that be because the King and Queen? Are they popular?
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Yes the Ball at the Eve of the National Day has set a record this year. I think the reason is behind the fact that the celebrations took place during the weekend and many people could participate and profited of the weekend to go to Brussels.
 
Blog Real said:
Yes, but Laurent cannot have these behaviors in public. These are attitudes that are bad for a member of the Royal Family.
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He´s like a 12 oe 13 year old who still has a lot to learn and has to be taught some basic lessons...:ermm::whistling::lol:
I guess a psycho analyst would ask, what happened in this man´s biography when he was 12 or 13....
 
Mbruno said:
The mobile phone incident is quite irrelevant in my opinion. Refusing to shake hands with the members of the government and effectively turning his back on them is far more serious.
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Has he explained his reasons for it?
 
No, it was just noted by the journalists present. But the relationship of the prince and the departing prime minister Michel (soon to be president of the European Counsel) is a difficult one. The PM lowered Laurents dotation in 2018 out of punishment for Laurent attending a diplomatic reception Chinese embassy without the approval of the government. The prince wrote a letter in January of this year to the PM complaining about his human rights being violated by the government refusing to help him retrieve 50 million Euros from frozen Libyan funds. The PM replied in a private letter, perhaps the refusal to shake hands is an indication of the content of the letter.

---
According to Wim Dehandschutter Laurent was not the only one with problems during the defile. Princess Astrid was seen 'furiously fighting' with the chef of protocol and others. He suggests that the princess may not have been happy with the placement of her seat, as she was now further away from the King than Laurent, which was an error.

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190722_04521394
 
Marengo said:
According to Wim Dehandschutter Laurent was not the only one with problems during the defile. Princess Astrid was seen 'furiously fighting' with the chef of protocol and others. He suggests that the princess may not have been happy with the placement of her seat, as she was now further away from the King than Laurent, which was an error.

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190722_04521394
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I have seen the parade on RTBF as it was available even outside Belgium. I noticed the whole "seating affair" and, once again, it is Laurent's fault I am afraid. Astrid arrived first and she was invited to seat the closest to the King. Then Laurent arrived when Astrid and Lorenz were busy talking to the politicians present at the parade and Laurent went to seat where Astrid was supposed to be. The Chief of the Protocol asked Laurent to change his seats but he replied rudely. At this point Astrid intervened and accepted to sit elsewhere, in order to calm her brother down.
 
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Marchesina said:
I have seen the parade on RTBF as it was available even outside Belgium. I noticed the whole "seating affair" and, once again, it is Laurent's fault I am afraid. Astrid arrived first and she was invited to seat the closest to the King. Then Laurent arrived when Astrid and Lorenz were busy talking to the politicians present at the parade and Laurent went to seat where Astrid was supposed to be. The Chief of the Protocol asked Laurent to change his seats but he replied rudely. At this point Astrid intervened and accepted to seat elsewhere, in order to calm her brother down.
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I can't believe this really happened. It sounds really messy.
 
It seems to me that Astrid accepted her place but those in charge of protocol and organising were pushing for her to have her correct seat. Ever the family peace maker it seems, Astrid simply accepted the seat that was left. Notice, Claire sits in her usual seat even though Laurent won't, it seems as he arrived last he simply took the seat he wanted.
 
Marengo said:
No, it was just noted by the journalists present. But the relationship of the prince and the departing prime minister Michel (soon to be president of the European Counsel) is a difficult one. The PM lowered Laurents dotation in 2018 out of punishment for Laurent attending a diplomatic reception Chinese embassy without the approval of the government. The prince wrote a letter in January of this year to the PM complaining about his human rights being violated by the government refusing to help him retrieve 50 million Euros from frozen Libyan funds. The PM replied in a private letter, perhaps the refusal to shake hands is an indication of the content of the letter.

---
According to Wim Dehandschutter Laurent was not the only one with problems during the defile. Princess Astrid was seen 'furiously fighting' with the chef of protocol and others. He suggests that the princess may not have been happy with the placement of her seat, as she was now further away from the King than Laurent, which was an error.

https://www.nieuwsblad.be/cnt/dmf20190722_04521394
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The whole event was a bit weird organized. Plastic chairs, the dais was "decorated" with the cheape garden fence elements from the Brico hypermarché. I don't know what was going on.

In older years the main dais and the two side dais were in a nice design with red cadre, see picture:
http://www.1grdeporte.info/1grdeporte/Agenda_files/090720_defile.jpg

Then these stylish tribunes were replaced by a non-descript one:
https://bx1.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Défilé-militaire-Fête-Nationale-2017.jpg

Then they decided to have a sort of royal dais in between, with all members of the royal family: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0xNo7U8a8U/Ti067LRi5gI/AAAAAAAAA84/K2oUTD9UwnA/s1600/1.jpg

Then they decided to muffle Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent away, it looked awkward but for the rest okay:
https://dsocdn.akamaized.net/Assets...1e6-a92e-7a82d8163849_web_scale_0.1_0.1__.jpg

And now suddely they went shopping at Brico, to find garden fences and plastic pots:
https://blauwbloed.eo.nl/fileadmin/.../0/3/csm_laurent-bellen-defile_46b495dbed.jpg

WHY???? The old red dais was so stylish, with the King's monogram above. What happened with that one? Bring it back!
 
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Duc_et_Pair said:
The whole event was a bit weird organized. Plastic chairs, the dais was "decorated" with the cheape garden fence elements from the Brico hypermarché. I don't know what was going on.

In older years the main dais and the two side dais were in a nice design with red cadre, see picture:
http://www.1grdeporte.info/1grdeporte/Agenda_files/090720_defile.jpg

Then these stylish tribunes were replaced by a non-descript one:
https://bx1.be/wp-content/uploads/2017/07/Défilé-militaire-Fête-Nationale-2017.jpg

Then they decided to have a sort of royal dais in between, with all members of the royal family: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-K0xNo7U8a8U/Ti067LRi5gI/AAAAAAAAA84/K2oUTD9UwnA/s1600/1.jpg

Then they decided to muffle Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent away, it looked awkward but for the rest okay:
https://dsocdn.akamaized.net/Assets...1e6-a92e-7a82d8163849_web_scale_0.1_0.1__.jpg

And now suddely they went shopping at Brico, to find garden fences and plastic pots:
https://blauwbloed.eo.nl/fileadmin/.../0/3/csm_laurent-bellen-defile_46b495dbed.jpg

WHY???? The old red dais was so stylish, with the King's monogram above. What happened with that one? Bring it back!
Click to expand...

Maybe they change designer every year or so. I have to say I like this year's floral decor.
The year they left Laurent alone was a mistake I hope someone payed for afterwards, whomever came up with this silly idea. And I am still surprised Philippe permitted it.
 
It saddens me that after all the hard work Philippe and Mathilde have put into rebuilding the image and prestige of the monarchy in Belgium, some silliness by Laurent is seized upon online and has now reached the mainstream media.

Hopefully the King and Queen and their attractive, immaculately behaved children can continue to turn things around despite the Boel scandal and Laurent's ill-timed antics.
 
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An Ard Ri said:
Can you imagine the palace protocol office following that blunder :whistling:
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There must have created a bigger issue inside the RF. I wonder how King Philippe reacted to it.


An Ard Ri said:
Princess Claires's face says it all in this photo
https://www.ppe-agency.com/preview.php?start=50&id=258802&zoektype=2&search=21-07-2019 Defile
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Claire can't just hold it in. If I were Laurent's wife, I would have walked out. I respect Claire so much as to how she manages herself in awkward situations like this.
 
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An Ard Ri said:
The Royal Dais under King Baudouin on Belgian National Day.

https://images.app.goo.gl/GPW4nsXnyUWpnxhMA
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Yes, it was the red tribune with the white lining inside. Interesting that King Baudouin wore the breast star but not the purple cordon of l'Ordre de Léopold.

I believe that is Solange gravin / comtesse de Liedekerke de Pailhé, we see next to Queen Fabiola. This Dutch-born lady was (for 50 years) Fabiola's Eredame / Dame d'honneur.
 
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Yes you are right about her dame d' Honneur, Comtesse de Liedekerke.
This year the lady in waiting of the day , a small and old lady , was completely hidden behind Queen mathilde's hat.
 
theroyalfly said:
There must have created a bigger issue inside the RF. I wonder how King Philippe reacted to it.




Claire can't just hold it in. If I were Laurent's wife, I would have walked out. I respect Claire so much as to how she manages herself in awkward situations like this.
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I think she probably sublimates her own feelings in consideration of the well being of her children. She does not want to disrupt lives with a divorce and the subsequent breakup of their family. They apparently adore their father.

I admire her a great deal.:sad:
 
Moonmaiden23 said:
I think she probably sublimates her own feelings in consideration of the well being of her children. She does not want to disrupt lives with a divorce and the subsequent breakup of their family. They apparently adore their father.

I admire her a great deal.:sad:
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For sure, she is a formidable woman. One of the less controversial figures of the modern royal families of the world. :flowers:
 
Moonmaiden23 said:
I think she probably sublimates her own feelings in consideration of the well being of her children. She does not want to disrupt lives with a divorce and the subsequent breakup of their family. They apparently adore their father.

I admire her a great deal.:sad:
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There's also the possibility that in spite of everything she loves her husband. He might be problematic and he might have personal issues, but to Claire he might foremost be the man that she promised to stick with through thick and thin.
 
:previous: I agree 100%. She knows her husband better than anyone...the good and the bad.

She seems strong, intelligent and committed to her family.
 
I also like Princess Claire. She seems to have exemplary behavior.
 
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