Baptism of Prince Emmanuel - December 10, 2005

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Princess Astrid was absent because she had to work: she went to Peutie for the meeting day of the families of Belgian soldiers abroad.

Claire and laurent were absent, but no reason was given. Probably Claire's pregnancy. She's expecting twins for January.

At this exerpt from the news no images of the baptism were shown yet, because it was still taking place. The reporter was waiting outside the beautiful domain of Ciergnon. He said the security was very strict.

You can see the cardinal arriving first, and after him queen Fabiola, Mathilde's parents and the godfather and -mother.

After this exerpt, there's a bit about Astrid's visit at the family day.

http://www.vtm.be/nieuws/index_bekijkonline.htm
Zaterdag 10/12 , 13 u at 05:05

 

[Caroverstr]

There are some pictures released on the site of BELGA:
here's the link:
http://picture.belga.be/cgi-bin/belgapict/belgapicture.sh?ACTIE=DETAIL&FILE=/galleries/138047.html

 

[purple_platinum]

lots from ANP

 

[purple_platinum]

the children looks lovely... gabriel is philippe's mini-me..

more from ANP

 

[Emilia]

what an adorable family ! Little Emmanuel and his brother and sister look sooo cute ! I loved Mathilde's outfit , just like Elisabeth's and Gabriel's jacket , so lovely

 

[elenaris]

They are so cute!!!

it is a wonderfull little family.

 

[saphills]

Prince Emmanuel is really adorable...! it seems his baptism was a familiar celebration... thanks for posting the photos!

 

[Maxie]

Thanks for the pictures, purple platinum!
What a lovely family, they all looked great. In my opnion Emmanuel is still in the running for the title 'cutest newborn of 2005', by the way!

 

[Lucidu]

Thanks for the pics. It's a wonderful Family!!!!

 

[kwanfan]

Beautiful photos. Such a sweet family!

 

[Princess Maxima]

What a cute family!!!!!
IMO Mathilde's suit looks quite boring..

 

[Royal Fan]

Such sweet pics isnt the Archbishop in line to be Pope (how good are his chanes)

 

[cristine]

Thanks for the pics! Emmanuel is so so so so so cute! And their siblings are adorable! It was funny seeing them looking their little brother being baptized. It was probably something new for them.

 

[GrandDuchess]

A lovely family indeed, what a happy and joyos occasion for them all! Princess Elisabeth's jacket is very pretty and elegant, she looks so cute! As does Emmanuel, of course! Thanks for the pictures!

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

I saw a long report on Place Royale about the baptism.

Mathilde carried Emmanuel when they walked into the chapel. Emmanuel wore the same baptism dress as Elisabeth and Gabriel (it was a new one, especially made for Elisabeth at the time). Countess Elisabeth d'Udekem and prince Guillaume were waiting by the font. Guillaume stroked Emmanuel over his cheeks as he saw him, very sweet

There was a beautiful image when they were all standing up, Philippe was flanked by Elisabeth and Gabriel and had a had on Elisabeth's cheek, and one on Gabriel's.

The ceremony was in the 3 official languages of Belgium, even though it was just a family affair. I think it says a lot about the couple's commitment to the country! First lecture was by queen Paola in Dutch (awful Dutch ), the second by queen Fabiola in French. Paola read something from the bible, Fabiola read something that her late husband had written about children and family life, quite touching IMO.

Philippe & Mathilde read the prayer of St Francis of Assisi to Emmanuel ("may you bring love where there's hatred" .... etc.)

Archbishop Danneels lead the ceremony,together with a priest from the abbey of Rochefort. When he actually baptized the boy, the little prince started crying.

During the songs by the boys choir, which lasted quite a bit, Elisabeth & Gabriel's nanny "read" a book about christmas with them. Elisabeth was very very beautiful in her red dress and very caring towards her smallest brother. When Mathilde was standing up with Emmanuel in her arms, Elisabeth was straightening his dress.

I saw grandduchess Maria Teresa and grandduke Henri, princess Marie Astrid of Luxemburg and more people I didn't know. Lorenz and his mother and his 5 (?) children were there too. I didn't really get a good look at who was there. Mathilde's family were all there.

King Albert kept making photos all through the ceremony.

It really struck me how beautiful Mathilde was, on tv a lot more than on these photos, there's this softness in her eyes and she looks very young and slim, even after her 3rd pregnancy. Her outfit was also very elegant, it's lighter than it looks in the photos.

Well, that was Cathérine's report

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

At Zaterdag 10/12, 19u, 15:00

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

you can see a short video of the ceremony. I noticed princess Sibilla now as well.

 

[Danielle]

Thank you everyone for the beautiful photos, and thank you Cathérine for your report. Look how alert Emmanuel is: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=219319&d=1134234598 He's just so adorable and this would have to be one of my favourite photos: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=219339&d=1134235066 They're such a wonderful, kind, loving family, and Elisabeth, Gabriel, and now little Emmanuel are so lucky to have parents who love them like Mathilde and Philippe do. The photos of Paola and Albert taking photos of the Baptism is great. As I've said numerous times before, I just like seeing Royals taking their own personal photos.

 

[wimaamal]

Are there no pics from polfoto without watermarks? And maybe as big as the ones of Alexia?
Thanks anyway for the ones allready posted....

 

[Alexandria]

Thanks for this report Catherine; it was great to hear all the personal and private touches that took place such as Albert taking pictures and Elisabeth straightening her baby brother's dress.

I thought the pictures of Elisabeth and Gabriel peering over the baptismal fountain were quite cute. I got the impression that they probably had to stand on their tippy toes!

 

[martha-louise]

Sunday 11/12 at 13:45 you can watch Place Royale again on RTL-TVI.

 

[Mette2]

Thank you very much for the pictures Caroverstr and purple_platinum. The pictures are so beautiful. I think it's great they made those group pictures. I think this is a sweet and funny picture: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=219343&d=114235252 I think it's very sweet, because not only is Philippe holding Gabriel, but he's also holding Elisabeth by the hand. And I think it's funny, because it's almost like Emmanuel is looking at Gabriel thinking: "Hey Gabriel, do you know what's going on? Why is someone taking our picture". I really wish there were pictures showing these moments:

Mathilde carried Emmanuel when they walked into the chapel. Emmanuel wore the same baptism dress as Elisabeth and Gabriel (it was a new one, especially made for Elisabeth at the time). Countess Elisabeth d'Udekem and prince Guillaume were waiting by the font. Guillaume stroked Emmanuel over his cheeks as he saw him, very sweet

There was a beautiful image when they were all standing up, Philippe was flanked by Elisabeth and Gabriel and had a had on Elisabeth's cheek, and one on Gabriel's.

During the songs by the boys choir, which lasted quite a bit, Elisabeth & Gabriel's nanny "read" a book about christmas with them. Elisabeth was very very beautiful in her red dress and very caring towards her smallest brother. When Mathilde was standing up with Emmanuel in her arms, Elisabeth was straightening his dress.

Not that I'm complaining at all about the pictures that were taken. Cathérine, thank you very much for your report and for the news clip. It's really great to get a detailed description of what went on at the baptism. Unfortunately the quality of the news clip on my computer is not very good. But bad quality is still better than not being able to see it at all. However, luckily for me two German programs showed something from the baptism, so I was really glad I was able to see that.
Everyone looked very beautiful and wonderful, and Elisabeth, Gabriel, and Emmanuel are so adorable. In one of the close-ups of Emmanuel I think he looks a lot like Philippe. But that's of course also what Mathilde said at the press conference at the hospital the day they went home.

 

[purple_platinum]

there're some Polfoto.. perhaps someone with access can put the hi-res ones?

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Pictures without watermarks by nieuwsblad.be

 

[selminha]

Lovely photos, and lovely to see! Thanks!

 

[Emilia]

On vtm ( flemish tv) there will be a report about the baptism of Emmanuel , at 18.20 in Royalty

 

[Royal Fan]

sry if my question about the Archbishop was a bit off the mark

 

[mandyy]

Chubby faced and cherubic, the latest addition to the Belgian royal family, Prince Emmanuel looked unfazed at being at the centre of a big occasion - his christening. The two-month-old baby - Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde's third child - was smartly dressed in a long satin gown, with a lace overlay for the ceremony in remote, 19-century Castle Ciergnon in the Belgian Ardennes........
An intimate, candlelit baptism for Prince Emmanuel

#1-6: Photos from HELLO magazine

 

[maxima88]

Why are they all keeping on their coats?? Is it so cold in there??

 

[purple_platinum]

big photos without watermark

photos without watermark (some quite big!) courtesy of corbis

 

[purple_platinum]

"CHubby face and cherubic"... haha....
let see if we compare little emmanuel to his elder brother on his own baptism...



(pictures from TRF)