General information and questions about the family


If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.

Lady Felicity M

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I have a few questions to ask about Crown Prince Phillipe and Crown Princess Mathilde.

1. How did Prince Phillipe meet Mathilde?

2. How did he propose to Mathilde?

3. How do you all feel about the age gap between them?

4. Do you think Mathilde's character, attitude has changed in the years?
 
1. I think they met playing tennis but I'm not entirely sure.
2. Don't know
3. I think 13 years is acceptable. I personally wouldn't marry anyone old enough to be my parent/young enough to be my child (though I'm not going to have to worry about the second for quite some time!). It might have been more of an issue if Mathilde was under 20 but she was a mature, grown woman and they seem perfect for each other.
4. I've only just started to follow this family so pass.
 
Is there anyone here who can tell me when Mathilde made her first official solo engagement as Duchess of Brabant? (within Belgium) I've gone through the current events archives but they don't seem to cover 2000 and 2001, or even 2002.

How long after her wedding was it? THANKS MUCH in advance!:)
 
I didn't know there was an age gap of 13 years, they have always looked so happy together and so for me, age is not important. I must say Philippe doesn't look his age to me and Mathilde hasn't aged a bit over the last 15 or so years!
Certainly her character and attitude has remained as lovely as ever as far as I can see.
 
I agree, Philippe and Mathilde have always seemed so perfectly in sync with one another. They are one of those matches made in heaven that you hear and read about.
 
Is Princess Elisabeth the crown princess of Belgium?
 
Is Princess Elisabeth the crown princess of Belgium?

I've read that Belgium doesn't have the title of Crown Princess (even though Mathilde was referred to as "Crown Princess" a lot when she was Duchess of Brabant). Instead their title for the heir to the throne is Duchess of Brabant, which is the title Elisabeth currently holds. Only the Scandinavian countries, Dubai (though I've read that it's not used in the same way as the European title as it's not hereditary) and Brunei officially have the title Crown Princess/Crown Prince IIRC. In Spain, it's the Prince/ss of Austrias, in the Netherlands it's the Prince/ss of Orange, in Liechtenstein and Monaco it's Hereditary Prince/Princess and in Britain it's the Prince/ss of Wales. :flowers:
 
Japan and some of the former monarchies like Greece also use the title Crown Prince/Princess.
 
I've read that Belgium doesn't have the title of Crown Princess (even though Mathilde was referred to as "Crown Princess" a lot when she was Duchess of Brabant). Instead their title for the heir to the throne is Duchess of Brabant, which is the title Elisabeth currently holds. Only the Scandinavian countries, Dubai (though I've read that it's not used in the same way as the European title as it's not hereditary) and Brunei officially have the title Crown Princess/Crown Prince IIRC. In Spain, it's the Prince/ss of Austrias, in the Netherlands it's the Prince/ss of Orange, in Liechtenstein and Monaco it's Hereditary Prince/Princess and in Britain it's the Prince/ss of Wales. :flowers:

Well, maybe not officially, but the term Crown prince(ss) ("Kroonprins(es)") was in the Netherlands certainly very often used for Juliana, Beatrix and Willem-Alexander in their time; everybody here knows who you mean (meant) if you use that title :flowers:
 
Thank you all for the information :thumbup::thumbup:
 
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Is there any reports of the Belgian RF doing a Summer Holiday too?
 
Is Princess Elisabeth the crown princess of Belgium?

I've read that Belgium doesn't have the title of Crown Princess (even though Mathilde was referred to as "Crown Princess" a lot when she was Duchess of Brabant). Instead their title for the heir to the throne is Duchess of Brabant, which is the title Elisabeth currently holds. Only the Scandinavian countries, Dubai (though I've read that it's not used in the same way as the European title as it's not hereditary) and Brunei officially have the title Crown Princess/Crown Prince IIRC. In Spain, it's the Prince/ss of Austrias, in the Netherlands it's the Prince/ss of Orange, in Liechtenstein and Monaco it's Hereditary Prince/Princess and in Britain it's the Prince/ss of Wales. :flowers:

The official website and official statements use the style HRH Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant. This is the official styling used by the Royal Court.

Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant | The Belgian Monarchy

Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid Prinses Elisabeth, Hertogin van Brabant, viert haar 18e verjaardag | De Belgische Monarchie


However, it is a traditional Belgian and Dutch practice for the public to unofficially refer to the heir(ess) to the throne as Crown Prince(ss). Philippe was called Crown Prince Philippe in the Belgian media and Willem-Alexander was called Crown Prince Willem-Alexander in the Dutch media when they were the heirs to their respective thrones.

The term "Crown Prince or Crown Princess" was even used in the Royal Decree of November 12, 2015, referring to the position of heir to the throne.

Moniteur Belge - Belgisch Staatsblad


Based on what I see, this unofficial style normally is not used to refer to the spouse of the heir(ess). The media normally referred to Crown Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde (rather than Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde), and after Princess Elisabeth marries, my expectation is that the couple will be called Crown Princess Elisabeth and Prince X in the press, rather than Crown Princess Elisabeth and Crown Prince X.
 
Does the press ever shorten the title and just state Princess Elisabeth of Belgium without using Duchess of Brabant?
 
Does the press ever shorten the title and just state Princess Elisabeth of Belgium without using Duchess of Brabant?

Yes, but within Belgium, the "of Belgium" is frequently dropped from everyday usage.

The Court itself shortens the title to Princess Elisabeth. An example from a post on its social media yesterday:


Photos de famille à l’occasion des 18 ans de la Princesse Elisabeth.
Familiefoto’s ter gelegenheid van de 18e verjaardag van Prinses Elisabeth.
Familienfotos anlässlich des 18. Geburtstages von Prinzessin Elisabeth.
Family photos on the occasion of the 18th birthday of Princess Elisabeth.​
 
My understanding is that, unlike in Denmark or Sweden, Kroonprins is not a title in the Netherlands or Belgium, but rather a generic Dutch word to designate the prince who is heir to the Crown. In French , Prince Héritier is used instead of Kroonprins.

Élisabeth’s official title is HRH Princess Élisabeth , Duchess of Brabant, Princess of Belgium. ‘Princess of Belgium’. Is normally omitted in daily use, but it is always included in official documents like royal decrees or marriage certificates..

It is also interesting that the style “ Prince /Princess xxx of Belgium”, which is common in English, is nevertheless not used apparently in Belgium itself. Likewise, it appears that “Prince xxx of Sweden”, although common in English, is not used in Sweden either where, in daily use, one only says “ HRH Prince/Princess xxx” or, in formal use , HRH Xxx, Prince/Princess of Sweden, Duke/Duchess of xxx”.
 
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It seems that queen Mathilde is rather consistent in wearing glasses for all her virtual meetings and no glasses for her face-to-face meetings. Why would that be?

(question from a non-glasses or contact lenses-wearer)
 
It seems that queen Mathilde is rather consistent in wearing glasses for all her virtual meetings and no glasses for her face-to-face meetings. Why would that be?

(question from a non-glasses or contact lenses-wearer)

As someone who wears glasses and contacts, glasses are simpler to take on and off if you're going to nap or shower or are too lazy to put your contacts in; contacts don't smudge or fog (especially with a mask) or weigh on your nose or ears, and they let you look like you're not wearing glasses.

I imagine it's the same convenience/appearance indoor-outdoor factor for Mathilde. Many royals have glasses, but almost none under 60 wear them on a regular public basis (Baudouin may have been the last major example).
 
As a wearer of both: lenses can be more tiring to the eye than glasses. Especially if you are focussed on a screen (strong blue light) they can start irritating, turn red, you start rubbing them etc. Glasses will not have that side effect and are more calming for the cornea of the eye.
 
Queen Mathilde's Education and Career

The Queen went to primary school in Bastogne and completed her secondary education in Brussels. She studied speech therapy at the Haute École Léonard de Vinci, earned a Master's in Psychology at the Université Catholique de Louvain in 2002, and worked as a speech therapist from 1995 to 1999.
Source: https://www.monarchie.be/en/royal-family/the-queen

Are there any photos of Mathilde as a student or when working as a speech therapist?
 
Some sources says that will be held a Belgian State Visit to Germany, but I didn't find any information neither from the Royal Palace nor from the President's spokeswoman Cerstin Gammelin
 
Some sources says that will be held a Belgian State Visit to Germany, but I didn't find any information neither from the Royal Palace nor from the President's spokeswoman Cerstin Gammelin

They were there last October, nut who knows:D
What sources say so?
TXS.
 
Did King Philippe celebrate his 18th birthday with any event?
 
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