Belgian Royal Christmas

[Emily]

Wow! More photos and they are fantastic! I love some of the expressions on QP's face. A question -- does anyone know what is played? Is it Christmas music or a concert of general music?

 

[purple_platinum]

King's Christmas Speech 2005

translated from RTL : RTL Infos - Discours du Roi à l'occasion des fêtes de fin d'année

http://www.rtl.be/GED/Articles/king.jpg



Speech of the King at the time of the festivals of end of the year

"Mesdames and Messieurs,

the festivals of Christmas and New Year are for many families a traditional occasion to find itself in a slackened atmosphere. Together one evokes the outstanding moments of the past year and one addresses oneself want for the new year. He can be the same for it for our country, especially in this year or we celebrated the 175ème anniversary of Belgium and the 25th anniversary of our federalism. The user-friendliness, the gaity and the agreement which characterized these festivities me impressed.

The popular days which surrounded on July 21 were radiant of good mood. Who does not remember the festival "Belgium dances" organized at the same time in ten cities of the country. The Queen and myself took part in it with joy on the great place of Ypres. It still arrives to me of fredonner "ik hou van U, I love you, you know". The concert given to the our national festival day before on the initiative of the Musical Contest Queen Elizabeth particularly was successful. The evening from July 21 in Brussels, with the spectacle of the large barge descending the Botanical Boulevard was memorable.

With the Place of the Palates we were pleased to inaugurate the new Bellevue Museum. It is devoted to the history of Belgium and attracts already a very many public. The exposure "Made in Belgium" points out great moments of our history and the many extraordinary talents to us which developed on our grounds.

The economic world also recalled in a very attractive way the history of our country and its economic and social evolution. Our scientific and cultural Institutions federal carried out remarkable demonstrations while the Ministry for Foreign Affairs organized a fort interesting exposure on the topic: 175 years of diplomacy in Belgium.

Personally, I was particularly sensitive to the commemoration, as well in Stockholm as in Brussels, of centenaire of the birth of my mother, the Queen Astrid. The festival of November 26 which enclosed the celebration of anniversarys 175-25, us rained much and very especially this splendid choral society of 600 young singers coming from all the country.

We also were pleased to take part in each festival of our Communities and Areas. In May, it was in area of Brussels. A concert of jazz was organized with Fine sand or we also could meet the persons in charge for organizations which are invested in aspects of the common good such as the defense of the environment, the creation of jobs, the training of young people by teaching, the sport and the culture.

In July, we took part in the festival of the Flemish Community in a rural district of the South of Limbourg, in Heers. We met there artists who exposed their open in the large ones and beautiful farms. This original mixture of art and rurality conquered us. At mid-September, we were in Namur at the time of the Festivals of Wallonia.

There we could traverse an interesting didactic exposure on the history of our federalism, take part in the popular festival and admire the address of the waders. At the end of September, we celebrated in Liege the French Community with a very appreciated spectacle of the Higher School of Arts of the Circus. Lastly, in November, it was with the tower of the German-speaking Community to organize a beautiful celebration of its festival with Btgenbach.

With the occasion of these many contacts with the population, I felt how much, in spite of the obstacles, the desire of "better living together" is real. It is a little like if each Area or the Community, having acquired a broad autonomy, wished to approach the others in a new way. That appears of many manners like, for example, the desire to learn the language from other Communities. That is also expressed by the bringing together between universities of North and the South in particular between the ULB and the VUB, and between the KUL and the UCL. That is still illustrated by the growing success of the initiatives of the Funds Prince Philippe which encourages the exchanges between Communautés, particularly between young people. Not less revealing is the satisfaction of the Areas or the Communities, when they perceive successes or the efforts of economic recovery undertaken by another Area.

All these facts express a message of agreement and harmony which we owe, in spite of the difficulties, to continue to promote with courage, between our Areas and our Communities and all the inhabitants of our country. In any case, any form of separatism is rejected by the immense majority of our fellow-citizens. It is with this will of harmony and peace, that the Queen and me and all our Family, we wish you with each one and each one of happy festivals of Christmas and an excellent news year. "

 

[purple_platinum]

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Belgian King Albert II delivers his Royal Christmas speech and his best wishes, Tuesday 20 December 2005, at the Royal Palace of Brussels.
(from belgapic)

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

more from the christmas concert (cover)

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

from vanparys

 

[maxima88]

Where was crownprincess Mathilde???

 

[Coquine]

I don't remember where I read it but they said she was ill.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

No she wasn't ill, she was absent.

 

[Coquine]

I checked where I read that she was ill. It was in the magazine 'Familie' of 28 december 2005. But I admit, it's not really a reliable source.

 

[Mathilde1286]

Why was Mathilde absent? To take care of Emmanuel??

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Court didn't give a reason.

 

[stephanievl]

Christmas concert: 20.12.2007

On thurseday there will be a christmas concert which will be attended by the entire belgian royal family

20/12/2007

De Koning, De Koningin, Koningin Fabiola, Prins Filip, Prinses Mathilde, Prinses Astrid, Prins Lorenz, Prins Laurent, Prinses Claire

Kerstconcert

De Koning en de Koningin bieden en Kerstconcert aan, gevolgd door een receptie, in het Paleis te Brussel.
De Koning en de Koningin wensen hiermee in het bijzonder de personen te bedanken die hebben bijgedragen tot het goede verloop van de Koninklijke activiteiten in 2007.
De andere leden van de Koninklijke Familie zijn eveneens aanwezig.
Het concert wordt opgeluisterd door de Muziekkapel Koningin Elisabeth onder leiding van de Heer Etienne Rappe.

20/12/2007

Le Roi, La Reine, La Reine Fabiola, Le Prince Philippe, La Princesse Mathilde, La Princesse Astrid, Le Prince Lorenz, Le Prince Laurent, La Princesse Claire

Concert de Noël

Le Roi et la Reine offrent un concert de Noël, suivi d’une réception, au Palais de Bruxelles.
Le Roi et la Reine souhaitent ainsi remercier en particulier les personnes qui ont contribué au bon déroulement des activités royales tout au long de l’année 2007.
Les autres membres de la Famille Royale sont également présents.
Le concert est assuré par la Chapelle Musicale Reine Elisabeth sous la direction d’Etienne Rappe.

The king, queen, queen Fabiola, Prince Philippe, Princess Mathilde, Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz, prince Laurent, Princess

Christmas Concert

The king and the queen offer a christmas concert, followed by a reception in the palace of Brussels.
The king and the queen wish to thank especially the people who have helped the good process of the royal activities in 2007.
The other members of the royal family will be presented ass well.
The concert is given by the royal chapel queen Elisabeth under the direction off Etienne Rappe.

 

[stephanievl]

Pictures of last year

PPE Agency

 

[Aurora810]

Pictures of last year

PPE Agency

Thanks for posting this link! It was nice to take a look back at last year's concert.

 

[indian princess]

do u think amadeo will be attenting?

 

[stephanievl]

do u think amadeo will be attenting?

They say in the press release: "The other members of the royal family will be presented ass well. " so I assume everyone will be there! But I don't know if Amedeo should go to school in Londen (maybe he has exams) and I also don't know if Maria Laura will be there since she is studying in China. Maybe she is already in Belgium for the christmas holidays!

 

[indian princess]

i'm guessin that joachim will be there as he's in sevenoaks and they must be closed for christmas

 

[marmi]

Does anyone know what time the concert is? (i.e. when we might expect photos)

 

[stephanievl]

First pictures
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[crm2317]

Everyone looks lovely. Was this before or after the concert?

 

[jinigirl]

...but maybe Princess Astrid should have used a bra.....

 

[Stefanie]

Astrid resembles her mother more and more. Unfortunately she starts growing fat around her hips.

 

[tdarlene]

Belgium Royals Attend A Christmas Concert At The Royal Palace
pictures from Getty Images

Getty Images - Unsupported browser detected#

 

[marmi]

ANP Have more

The best IMHO:

Mathilde Group Group 2

 

[Moonmaiden23]

I really admire the way the BRF just gets on with it and continues to plug away and do their best, despite all the political chaos and uncertainty.

Mathilde looks magnificent, I love her dress. That's a beautiful color.

Philippe looks like he has been on holiday, he looks great.

Queen Paola has the most beautiful bone structure!

And of course Queen Fabiola, with her heart shaped pendant bearing Baudouin's image always make me want to cry.

 

[Rice]

I agree, her majesty has great bone structure! She looks fabulous for her age.
I love this family--they really seem to get on so well. I always look forward to seeing them
Princess Mathilde looks beautiful.
I guess none of the children attended this year?

 

[kyansaunt20]

Wonderful Pictures Queen Paola looks wonderful. Princess Mathilde also looks very beautiful in that wonderful dress. Where is Amedeo and the other grandchildren? Love to see pictures of them as well.

 

[galatea_12]

Didn't any of the children attend???

 

[indian princess]

where were the children? a real damper that they didn't attend....

 

[emilieweber2004]

pics from PPE
PPE Agency