Greek state visit to Belgium
 

From 1st untill 3rd February 2005 president Stephanopoulos of Greece and his wife will pay an official state visit to Belgium.

Prince Philippe and princess Mathilde welcome Greek President Costiss Stephanopoulos and his wife at Melsbroek military airport, 01 February 2005. Greek President Constantinos Stephanopoulos arrived in Belgium for a 3-day official state visit.

It seems to be the traditional task of the duke & duchess to pick up the guests from the airport. Afterwards they drive to the royal palace where there's an official welcome, where also the king and queen are present (and the most important members of the governement). Afterwards there's usually a private dinner and tonight there will be a first gala event.

Let's hope we get to see a lot of pictures!

Belgian Prince Philippe and Queen Paola, Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, Belgian King Albert II and Princess Mathilde stand before an honor guard

at the royal palace

more pics of this morning's ceremony at the place des palais in Brussels. Princess Mathilde looked very elegant IMO. Great coat :)

Inside the royal palace

Van Parys Media

from Seegerpress

And one of Paola...Nice necklace, but her make up could be a bit better I think.

the duchess of Brabant

Wow, Mathilde looks wonderful! Classic elegance, wonderful coat and nice matching earrings to go with it. She's so classy!

More pics of the duke and duchess picking up the Greek president from the airport.

and in to the limo :)

1, 2) Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos greets the crowd on the Grand Place of Brussels, 01 February 2005. Gettyimages

3 to 5) Queen Paola of Belgium, Greek President Costis Stephanopoulos, Brussels' Mayor Freddy Thielemans and King Albert II of Belgium greet the crowd from the balcony of the City Hall on the Grand Place of Brussels. Gettyimages

6, 7) President Stephanopoulos on a meeting with Belgian prime minister Verhofstadt. Gettyimages

I agree, the Princess looks wonderful. I've seen some people complain that she's not "flashy" enough in her dress, that's she "boring", when in fact she is classically elegant.

a few more from today...

Hannelore, thank you for the wonderful photos! And I agree wholeheartedly with your statement, Lucys. Far from being boring, she dresses very tastefully, "classically elegant" as you say. And at the same time that her appearance is immaculate, I enjoy a very "down to earth" quality about her as she undertakes her obligations.

Princess Mathilde looks wonderful clothes and more tastes! i hope so she will attend at gala dinner what about Prince Laurent and Princess Claire and Princess Astrid? and Queen Fab?

Sara Boyce

The Belgian Royal Family attend a gala dinner for the President of Greece, Constantinos Stephanopoulos, at the Royal Castle

Mathilde indeed looks elegant, but I don't like the top part of the dress very much. Astrid and Claire looks nicer.

Wow! All three royal ladies look fairytale like, stunning!!

I especially like Mathilde's outfit, the beautiful lace top (she wore it once before in Poland) combined with the delicate looking chiffon skirt/pants.

Claire wore her outfit before on a gala occasion in Paris.

And Astrid wore this beautiful gown in Denmark this summer.

I also like Mathilde's hairdo very much, every inch a princess.

When you look at the three princesses and the wife of the president (who is quite pretty as well) you can easily tell who's royal and who isn't!