How large of a family

[Empress]

Just a question, but do any of the other members think that Mathilde and Philippe will have any more children?

They are still young, and they seem to make wonderful parents!

I hope that they have more.

[acegirl1978]

With the babies' announcements today, I think the Belgian Royal family might have some surprise news as well......

[Mathilde1286]

I think they will stop at four children...

[leanne]

Hi,
Have there been other announcements besides the new Netherland's baby?
Leanne

[Emily]

Yes - Letizia is pregnant and due "by the beginning of May". Lots of happy news today. And as far as Philippe and Mathilde, I am hoping for one more but not expecting an announcement for another, oh, 6 months or so.

[Marengo]

I have the feeling the couple wants a large family, like Phillipe's sister Astrid and Mathilde's parents. Circumstances have to enable them to realise that though, but I am hoping for more children for them. They seem to be the perfect parents anyway, so any child born into that family is very lucky.

[Lila Rose]

I think they will have 5 children . But the last one will be born when the others or a little bit older , like Princess Astrid youngest child , Letitea-Maria

[Prinses Lauren10]

They said, that they would a large family!
maybe a lot of 5/6 children???

[martha-louise]

About the number of kids...I think we have to keep in mind that Philippe is turning 47 next year. The question is what their opinion is about that. If Mathilde would get pregnant to have a child in autumn, Philippe will be 57 when the youngest will be only 10. But I think that they don't feel disturbed about the age. They can ask princes Esmeralda how it feels to have an old dad. King Leopold was already 56 when he became dad of Esmée. And as she says herself she has wonderful memories...
So I keep the possibility open that Philippe and Mathilde will perhaps have one more child :)

[kristinvu]

Or they can look at Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, he was 47 when their youngest doughter Laetitia-Maria was born, Princess Astrid was almost 41 years old when she gave birth for the last time.

[HRH Mims]

I think too, they will have large family. I guess 4-5 kids. Like Luxemburgian grand ducal families have always around 5 kids.

[Hannelore]

Maybe 4, but certainly not more. You still have to have time for your kids as well and although they have a lot of benefits they do lead a demanding life.

[ZandraRae]

I think they will have around 5, bigger families seem to be the going thing these days.

[Fie]

Personally I'm guessing that one more baby will join the Royal Nursery at Laeken. Then they will have 4 kids. King Albert and Queen Paola had 3 kids, Mathilde's parents had 5 kids (Mathilde, Marie-Alix, Elisabeth, Hélène and Charles-Henri) so 4 should be a good number for them. The age-difference between the kids is about 2 years, and Emmanuel has turned one in October, so I'm not expecting a pregnancy announcement before 2007.

[mirrjam]

She allready has a sweet bump in the last pictures of her.. in the black dress, but it also can be her 'mother of three little ones' belly! :P