Belgium's National Day 2005

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Catherine,
Do you have any idea why Claire isn't present? Do you think it has to do with being pregnant with twins (understandable) or do rumors persist that she is unhappy in the marriage? Just curious.

I have no idea why she wasn't there. BTW Laurent was absent as well, which i can't appreciate very much, he isn't pregnant (although he does look that way ) so is it too mmuch effort to show up ?

I'm very certain they do have a good mariage. It wasn't Claire who was absent, but both of them, so rumors in that direction make no sense at all. I find it even frustrating to have to hear those lies all the time. If someone goes somewhere without his wife / her husband, or visits his parents alone - does that mean they're having problems? I think the only problem here are newspapers who desparately want to sell more and have lost all respect for other people

Maybe she has a bad day, who knows ? Mathilde was absent of the national day in 2001, when she was expecting Elisabeth.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

A few more from this morning

 

[mandyy]

Belgium's Prince Philippe, with Prince Gabriel on his arm, Princess Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth (2ndL) tour the center of Brussels on Belgium's National Day, 21 July 2005.
Getty images

 

[Emily]

Thanks for your response, Catherine. I didn't realize Laurent wasn't at today's activities, and I am glad the rumors are apparently without substance.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Astrid and her children went for a walk through the park and all its games and activities too. I hope we'll get to see pictures...

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

after the te deum

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

during the military parade

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

After the parade:

1. Philippe and Elisabeth
2. Joachim

 

[Jelka]

More pictures of Filip, Mathilde, Elisabeth and Gabriel during their walk trough Brussels:

 

[Margreet]

Laurent and Claire

Weren't prince Laurent and princess Claire supposed to have attended a Te Deum mass this morning? Was that cancelled as well? Sorry, but this is about the most important day of the year in Belgium, so they should have gone at great lengths to put duty first. If Claire felt too sick to attend and had to stay at home that's fair enough and most understandable, but why prince Laurent had to skip this event as well is a different matter. It is not uncommon for princes to excuse their pregnant wife at a public engagement they were supposed to have attended together, but they usually make it a solo appearance instead. Let's hope there are no very serious medical reasons which forced prince Laurent to stay with his wife!

 

[Jelka]

More pictures of Prince Amedeo in the parade:

 

[Jelka]

Pictures of Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz, Prince Joachim and Princess Laetitia Maria:

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Beautiful pictures Jelka!

I loved to see Amedeo parade this afternoon, Astrid was so proud! And you could see Amedeo tried to keep a serious look on his face but he had to smile when he saw his family. Wonderful moment

 

[Jelka]

This morning Prince Joachim, son of Princess Astrid inaugured the Olympic-nic:

 

[selminha]

Great pictures thanks.

 

[Mette2]

Thank you all very much for all these wonderful pictures. The pictures of Philippe, Mathilde and their children as well as the pictures of Astrid, Lorenz and their children are absolutely adorable.
When I watched the military parade I thought it was strange that Laurent and Claire weren't there, but thought that Laurent had yet again chosen a less than pretty outfit for Claire, and that she refused to wear it and decided to stay home. Just kidding. I do hope like Margreet that nothing seriously is wrong with Claire's health or the twins. It looked a bit empty where Astrid, Lorenz, and Joachim were sitting. Weren't the rest of Astrid and Lorenz's children also at the military parade last year? Any reason why there weren't there this year? Also why is Fabiola sitting between Philippe and Mathilde? I think I remember pictures from one year where Philippe and Mathilde were sitting next to each other, and that Fabiola was sitting next to Mathilde, but I've only seen that one year.
As I think I said earlier I really like Paola's outfit and it's really great she's wearing such a bright color, because I keep thinking it's Philippe in the pictures from Te Deum, but when I see Paola I know it's Albert and not Philippe. Philippe wore that uniform when he got married, wears the uniform at the military parade on the National Day, and also wears the uniform at other events, which is why I think I keep confusing the two of them.

 

[Mette2]

Go to:
http://www.vtm.be/nieuws/index_bekijkonline.htm
Donderdag 21/07: 19u: and then about 17.45 minutes into the news

There's a piece from the military parade, the royal family at Te Deum, Joachim inuagureding the Olypic-nic, and Philippe, Mathilde, Elisabeth, and Gabriel at their walk through Brussels.

 

[Mette2]

July 20th :

"Prelude to the National Day"

From picturedesk/contrast.

More pictures.

 

[Mette2]

From picturedesk/contrast.

More pictures.

Two pictures more.

 

[Danielle]

Thank you everyone for the wonderful photos. Everyone looked great. The pink outfit Mathilde wore looks so pretty. Aww, how sweet about Amedeo and Astrid. She must be very proud. I love this photo: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=171445 Oh, and this one is … nice as well. http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=171550 She’s adorable though. Although Paola's green outfit was a little too 'bright' for my liking, she looked lovely.

 

[Emily]

Yes, again, heartfelt thanks to all you who posted pictures and gave us a sense of joining in the excitement of the day!

 

[Mette2]

http://www.vrtnieuws.net/nieuwsnet_master/default/nieuws/overzicht/050721WarandeFeest/index.html
There are videos to the right from the National Day and most of them include the royals.

 

[Mette2]

From Olycom.

Albert, Paola, and Fabiola at Te Deum.

 

[Mette2]

From Olycom.

Albert, Paola, and Fabiola at Te Deum.

More pictures.

 

[mandyy]

Belgium's Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt, King Albert II, Parliament President Herman De Croo and officials receive a birthday cake during a show in downtown Brussels July 21, 2005. Belgium is celebrating its 175th anniversary of independence and the 25th anniversary of federalism in the country today.
Photos from reuters

 

[Dennism]

Thanks for all of the wonderful photos!

"And Astrid looked fantastic at the concert last night - hard to believe this woman has five children! And I agree with all the comments on the clothes -- what I enjoy most about the royal women is the intention and competence they bring to their jobs, the clothes are icing on the cake and recycling them is great; less wasteful. That said, I do enjoy looking at the clothes they wear - and especially this bunch of classy women."

Well said. They are a great bunch and they economize well too.

 

[Sancia]

According to the palace, Claire had little complications in her pregnancy, nothing nedding to bring her at hospital, but Laurent wished to stay with her. It's something that happens when expecting twins.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

About 175.000 people came to Brussels yesterday to celebrate (or just walk around and relax - I think there's always a wonderful atmosphere in Brussels on the 21st of July). 60.000 watched the fireworks that ended the day.

In the evening there was a wonderful show with Belgian artists, where also members of the RF were present (king Albert and queen Paola, and I think I saw Philippe as well). It was a great show but then it startes raining really heavily (the so called "drache nationale" that's also tradition on the national day ) and the second part of the show was cancelled.

Anyway it was a beautiful day and I'm so happy we got to see Elisabeth, Gabriel and Laetitia!

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

The Te Deums in Brussels and Hasselt

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

the military parade