Crown Prince Phillippe and Crown Princess Mathilde Current Events: Mar 2005-May 2005

[Hannelore]

Originally Posted by Larzen

Thank you for the pictures Hannelore:) , its nice to see some pictures of Mathilde from the "beginning" I have not seen so many other than the happy entries. I have looked trought the treads here and on the royal website but found very little information about what she did\where she went the first year of marriage. Is there some place that would have information about it?

I've looked around a bit on the internet, but I can't find anything either...So why don't I just share the highlights (that I remember) of her first year as a princess... :)

From the very beginning she's had her own program. There were duties together with Filip but she also went on visits on her own, mainly focussing on the weaker persons in society (children, elderly, psychiatric patients etc.). The first year she did rely on Filip much more than she does now (you could say that now they rely on each other). She launched her own fund, there was a first economic mission to New York and the couple gave an interview to the NY Times or the Washington Pos- I don't remember exactly (unfortunately I didn't keep the article, I just remember Filip saying that living with Mathilde is 'awesome':)). Her first appearance in gala (and with her tiara) was at the Spanish state visit to Belgium.

I'll try to find some more pics from those 'early days' and post them here. If you don't mind I'll skip the happy entries since those are photos we all know by now...

[Hannelore]

One of the first visits after their marriage (so in the first weeks/months of 2000) was a visit to the Belgian senate. Mathilde wore a very pretty suit of Olivier Strelli. And because she placed her hand on her belly a few times, magazines and newspapers all wrote she had to be pregnant. Of course she wasn't :) Mind you, there were rumours she had a miscarriage, but these never got further than the gossippress and they're very unlikely to be true...

[Hannelore]

Just before their marriage, the launch of the website of the prince Filip fund, at the royal palace. Of course very little attention went to the website, and everyone focused on Mathilde and her engagement ring, which was seen in public for the first time. The central stone, a ruby, is Mathilde's favorite gem and this specific ruby was bought for her by Filip himself in Birma.

[Hannelore]

A visit to the psychiatric hospital of Geel in Flanders

[Hannelore]

A private visit to Portugal for the baptism of one of the children of the duke of Bragança and his wife Isabel. Filip is the child's godfather.

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Great!Lovely,thanks lots Hannelore.

[Hannelore]

The launch of the princess Mathilde fund in December 2000. The fund hands out it's annual price on December 4th (their wedding day). Mathilde was quite nervous, so Filip accompanied her. She made her first speech (in Dutch and French). And Paris Match put her on their cover :)

[Hannelore]

Before their marriage, a concert at the royal palace.

[Larzen]

Thank you very much for the information and pictures:) I did not expect that you would dig up all theese pictures, they are a very elegant hard working and descreet couple with beautiful children. She looked very elegant from the start, especially at the visit to the hospital in Geel, and the visit to the belgian senate, and I also loved her blue engagement gown with the ruffles around the neck.

[Hannelore]

Also in 2000, king Albert II had to undergo urgent heart sergery. Filip & Mathilde were on skiing holiday and returned home immediately. Luckily all went well and the king recovered quickly.

Here they are visiting their father (in law)

[Alisa]

Originally Posted by Hannelore

From the very beginning she's had her own program. There were duties together with Filip but she also went on visits on her own, mainly focussing on the weaker persons in society (children, elderly, psychiatric patients etc.). The first year she did rely on Filip much more than she does now (you could say that now they rely on each other). She launched her own fund, there was a first economic mission to New York and the couple gave an interview to the NY Times or the Washington Pos- I don't remember exactly (unfortunately I didn't keep the article, I just remember Filip saying that living with Mathilde is 'awesome':)). Her first appearance in gala (and with her tiara) was at the Spanish state visit to Belgium.

I'll try to find some more pics from those 'early days' and post them here. If you don't mind I'll skip the happy entries since those are photos we all know by now...

I have alot of respect and admiration for this couple. Aside from being my favorites, to me they are ideal. Prince Philippe surprised us all with the perfect choice of the noble, beautiful, and elegant Mathilde.

The Princess also paid a short official visit to London just 4 months after her wedding, and I remember being very impressed. This is how it should work in my opinion, each part of the couple have their own agenda, but also come together for engagements.

[Danielle]

I have really enjoyed looking at the photos from the 'beginning', so to speak. Thanks Hannelore. Mathilde has proven herself to be hardworking and worthy of our admiration and respect from the start. I think it's so sweet how Philippe accompanied Mathilde to the launch of her fund when she was nervous. Aww! :)

[Mette2]

Originally Posted by Hannelore

Of course it's OK Mette, that's what these boards are for! :):)

Thanks Hannelore :).

Also many thanks for the pictures and information. I've never seen the pictures from the concert before their marriage, so it's really great when you also get to see some 'new' old pictures :).

[Hannelore]

Here's some more.

Mathilde visiting a multimedia fair, somewhere in 2000.

[Hannelore]

An official visit to the city Ostende at sea. Don't know about the outfit though...She can still carry it of because she's got such a great figure, but it's really on the edge for me :)