Belgian Introductory Visit to the UK: March 13, 2014

[CyrilVladisla]

Originally Posted by Dman

Video:
Belgium's royals King Philippe and Queen Mathilde met British monarch Queen Elizabeth II today at Buckingham Palace in central London.
Home - ITNSource News

Also in attendance was TRH The Duke & Duchess of Gloucester and The Duke of Kent. The Queen tried to keep her corgis under control.

Dman, Thank you for the ITNSourceNews.
It was nice to see the meeting of Elizabeth II and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde.

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

That is kind of odd, but she seemed to curtsey to Mathilde as an after thought. Perhaps forgetting who they are?

I love how The Queen goes "Now look we've got Richard and Birgitte and Michael"

I would think that the Duchess of Gloucester would know who Philippe and Mathilde are, even if they rarely see each other. If she didn't, then she would've still known that they are important people, since they have come on a state visit to meet HM. However I do think it was a little odd. If it was a case of forgetfulness, then how come she curtsied to Mathilde?

[vkrish]

Originally Posted by Lumutqueen

That doesn't make any sense, seeing as Birgitte was the last to greet Phillipe you're supposed to curtsey/bow upon meeting them else all three would have bowed/curtsied? whilst they were on their way over.

that does make sense. There is no rule that you have to curtsey only after greeting. You can always curtsey as the person approaches you.. The first eye contact, precisely. So there is every chance the duchess curtsied the king before greeting him, and the cameras missed it... The chance of her not curtseying is near-zero

[vkrish]

And btw why did the queen say "richard and birgitte and michael".. The duke of kent is edward right? Not michael.. If it wasnt a joke/any other reason, i hope the press wont blow it out saying she is forgetting names or something like that..

[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

Forgetting who they are? Are you serious?

No it was a joke.

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

I was surprised that the Queen didn´t seem to know that the royal couple went to parliament before cause she said to The King "Oh, you went to parliament!"

She could be feigning ignorance, something to get the conversation going.

Originally Posted by vkrish

that does make sense. There is no rule that you have to curtsey only after greeting. You can always curtsey as the person approaches you.. The first eye contact, precisely. So there is every chance the duchess curtsied the king before greeting him, and the cameras missed it... The chance of her not curtseying is near-zero

Actually it's not near-zero, as evidence by the video she curtsied to Mathilde after greeting her. From the appearance of the video Birgitte first eye contact with Philippe is when he's stood in front of her after speaking to The Duke of Kent and she doesn't curtsey.

Originally Posted by HereditaryPrincess

I would think that the Duchess of Gloucester would know who Philippe and Mathilde are, even if they rarely see each other. If she didn't, then she would've still known that they are important people, since they have come on a state visit to meet HM. However I do think it was a little odd. If it was a case of forgetfulness, then how come she curtsied to Mathilde?

It was a joke hence the . It's not a state visit either.

Originally Posted by vkrish

And btw why did the queen say "richard and birgitte and michael".. The duke of kent is edward right? Not michael.. If it wasnt a joke/any other reason, i hope the press wont blow it out saying she is forgetting names or something like that..

You can't hear the last name, when writing I got confused with names and got the wrong Kent sibling.

[Roslyn]

Originally Posted by vkrish

And btw why did the queen say "richard and birgitte and michael".. The duke of kent is edward right? Not michael.. If it wasnt a joke/any other reason, i hope the press wont blow it out saying she is forgetting names or something like that..

No, she said "Richard and Birgitte and Edward". She mumbled "Edward" but it was definitely "Edward", not "Michael".

[timtonruben359]

Originally Posted by Roslyn

No, she said "Richard and Birgitte and Edward". She mumbled "Edward" but it was definitely "Edward", not "Michael".

I believe she said Audie which is a nickname for Edward.

[Lindy]

Originally Posted by timtonruben359

I believe she said Audie which is a nickname for Edward.

I think she introduced the Duke of Kent as "Eddie" which is his nickname within the family.
[In this article he is referred to as "Steady Eddie." http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/...nted-lovechild]

This meeting seems a lot more formal than the visit from King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima who traveled to Windsor for tea in the Queen's TV room. Quite interesting that Richard, Birgitte and "Eddie" happened to be around. Was this meeting at Buckingham Palace?

[Marchesina]

Originally Posted by Lindy

I think she introduced the Duke of Kent as "Eddie" which is his nickname within the family.
[In this article he is referred to as "Steady Eddie." http://www.express.co.uk/news/royal/...nted-lovechild]

This meeting seems a lot more formal than the visit from King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima who traveled to Windsor for tea in the Queen's TV room. Quite interesting that Richard, Birgitte and "Eddie" happened to be around. Was this meeting at Buckingham Palace?

Yes, it was a Buckingham Palace. And this time the Queen hosted a luncheon, not just a tea. Does it means she has a closer relationship with the Dutch royals, hence the less informal meeting?! And the Duke of Edinburgh wasn't there, was he?

I too noticed the Duchess of Gloucester didn't curtsey to King Philippe...it's odd tbh, since did curtsey to Queen Mathilde.

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[Lumutqueen]

Originally Posted by Lindy

Quite interesting that Richard, Birgitte and "Eddie" happened to be around. Was this meeting at Buckingham Palace?

They didn't happen to be around, they were invited. Yes the meeting and lunch was at BP.

[Marchesina]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

Yes, I liked the Queen´s informal introduction of the two Dukes and the Duchess, too. But they in their turn seemed to be very formal towards Philippe and Mathilde. Did the Dukes say "Your Majesty" when they shook hands?
There was not much to hear, but what I heard from the D o Gloucester´s voice reminded me a lot of his father Prince Henry.
I was surprised that the Queen didn´t seem to know that the royal couple went to parliament before cause she said to The King "Oh, you went to parliament!"

Philippe is a King, so while the Queen can be informal with him because they're the same rank, the Dukes cannot since they are "just" Royal Highnesses, and they have to show him the respect his position entitles him to.

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[Marchesina]

VTM NIEUWS

For those who speak Flemish/Dutch: did the journalist say something about other introductory visits to Sweden, Norway and Spain perhaps? I caught and understood a few words (zweedse, noorse en spaanse monarchen ... I think)

[Nico]

I will go for "the first eye contact" theory about the Duchess of Gloucester and her curtsey judging by these pics :

Les souverains belges en visite à Londres | Noblesse & Royautés

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by HereditaryPrincess

I would think that the Duchess of Gloucester would know who Philippe and Mathilde are, even if they rarely see each other. If she didn't, then she would've still known that they are important people, since they have come on a state visit to meet HM. However I do think it was a little odd. If it was a case of forgetfulness, then how come she curtsied to Mathilde?

Pleeeaaase! You as a royal watcher wouldn´t really think british royal Dukes/ Duchesses wouldn´t know the King and the Queen of the Belgians, especially when they were particularly invited by the Queen to greet them, would you?! The Royals do have much more contact "behind the scenes" when we wouldn´t know about.
The Gloucesters and the D o Kent were certainly not in Buckingham Palace "by accident" when Philippe and Mathilde arrived (this is not the way things being done at a royal court), but have been asked by HM weeks (perhaps even months) ago to attend this meeting!
So this curtsey-thing was surely just a little mishap by the Duchess, nothing more... And King Philippe, if he ever noticed, surely forgave her this littel "accident" of protocol.

[maria-olivia]

You are right Nico and it is seen on the second picture.
The Duchess of Gloucester did not expect to be kissed by the Queen of the Belgians and after the Kiss she curtsied. For her, British Royal minor Duchess, it was unexpected.
Wartenberg, I agree your post !

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by Marchesina

VTM NIEUWS

For those who speak Flemish/Dutch: did the journalist say something about other introductory visits to Sweden, Norway and Spain perhaps? I caught and understood a few words (zweedse, noorse en spaanse monarchen ... I think)

Yes, that´s right. He said that the royal couple has been visiting these monarchs some weeks ago, too.

[Marchesina]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

Yes, that´s right. He said that the royal couple has been visiting these monarchs some weeks ago, too.

but they didn't! the only monarch they visited was their cousin the Grand Duke of Luxembourg and of course WA and Maxima. I thought they were planning other visits

[*Mara*]

Originally Posted by Marchesina

but they didn't! the only monarch they visited was their cousin the Grand Duke of Luxembourg. I thought they were planning other visits

These visits will take place in the next weeks. They are going to Spain on March 25th and there will be visits to Sweden and Norway. The journalist said Philippe wants to finish these trips ahead of the elections in May.

[timtonruben359]

Originally Posted by Marchesina

Yes, it was a Buckingham Palace. And this time the Queen hosted a luncheon, not just a tea. Does it means she has a closer relationship with the Dutch royals, hence the less informal meeting?! And the Duke of Edinburgh wasn't there, was he?

Well, I've heard rumours through the years that the Queen wasn't overly fond of King Albert II. The Belgian Royals and the British Royals seem to have a distant relationship.

I think the Queen knows the Dutch Royals on a more personal level than the Belgians. I know the Queen and Princess Beatrix are good friends.

Also a few months back, the Queen hosted tea with Crown Princess Victoria and Prince Daniel when the were in London.

[AdmirerUS]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

In the ITN video, how odd that the Duchess of Gloucester curtsied to Mathilde, but not to Philippe?

Indeed, but I guess she didn´t do it on purpose. Normally the duchess is very self-assured about protocol.
It´s a pity the sound is so quiet - I didn´t understand anything...[/QUOTE]

It's nice to note that even for people that wear tiaras, these things can be awkward. Queen Matilde looked surprised at the threshold. Queen Elizabeth insisted on a double kiss - and then Queen M missed the double kiss as well.
I would guess a couple of the ladies have been flummoxed by that lovely kiss on the back of the hand over the years.
What's the norm for the European royals. Who does the kiss on the hand? How many air kisses usually follow? My goodness, I'll have to start paying attention.