Royal Family of Belgium Part 2

[sunny]

In my opinion Paola was better goodlooking when she was younger (in the 60's and
70's) than Mathilde.

 

[pdas1201]

February 23, 2005: Queen Paola visited the exhibition "Singularly Visions" in Brussels.

 

[pdas1201]

February 24, 2005: [font=verdana, geneva, arial, helvetica]King Albert visted Technopolis on the occasion of its 5th anniversary. He took part in a work meeting before visiting the interactive exhibition[/font]

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Who's the hardest working Belgian Royal?

According to an article in La Nouvelle Gazette:



In 2003:

1. prince Philippe
2. king Albert II
3. princess Mathilde

(2002's ranking was:1.Philippe,2.Mathilde,3.Astrid !)

It should be mentioned that the number of activities is that of the public visits, so not including the hours spent in their offices, or all the audiences.


PRINCE PHILIPPE: 87 activities

The most active member of the royal family. The eldest son of the king actively prepares to take over his father's role. His office is at the royal palace, just like his "house", that coordinates his (and his wife's) agenda . He also receives a great deal of people in audience at the palace, who keep him informed of the current news in all Belgian sectors.

KING ALBERT II: 61 activities

Receiving people at the palace, visiting firms, expositions, gala nights, representing Belgium abroad, presence at sports manifestations (e.g. Tour de France), taking of the oath of the members of governments. To this, and many other activities should be added more than 90 days of audience (3 per day, and one for the prime minister every week), and his daily work that only the king and his staff (4 close counsellers) can mesure.

PRINCESS MATHILDE: 56 activities

She combines her role of princess with that of mother. She goes to her office at the royal palace at 9h00 and returns home at 16h00. That's the minimum program. She also undertakes solo activities or with her husband. Visits in Belgium, economic and humanitarian missions abroad, work for Unicef.

PRINCESS ASTRID: 54 activities

Because of an operation she has been "out" for 3 months. Her activities mainly focus on the medical sector (she's president of the Belgian red cross).

QUEEN PAOLA

Very rarely seen on a visit without her husband. She's less present on the royal scene than her children. No number of activities mentioned.

QUEEN FABIOLA: 21 activities

Queen Fabiola, now 76 years old, is rarely seen in public. When she's present, it's often in the company of the rest of the family, or to honour the queen Elisabeth Competition with her presence. (she's the honorary president)

PRINCESS CLAIRE & PRINCE LORENZ: 15 & 14 activities.

Lorenz works full time as a banker, Claire half time as a surveyer. SOmetimes they accompany their spouse on an activity, and they're usually present when the entire family in united.

PRINCE LAURENT

A big question mark. His foundation (for the well fare of animals) refused to release figures on his activities.

 

[Dennism]

Belgium was founded in 1830, so this year it celebrates it's 175th birthday, and the fact that it's been a federal state for 25 years. This whole year there will be special festivities and exhibitions in Belgium. The king and queen officially opened the 175-25 festivities on 17th February 2005.

Some more photos from Corbis. The last one would be good for a Caption Competition:

 

[Danielle]

According to an article in La Nouvelle Gazette:



In 2003:

1. prince Philippe
2. king Albert II
3. princess Mathilde

(2002's ranking was:1.Philippe,2.Mathilde,3.Astrid !)

It should be mentioned that the number of activities is that of the public visits, so not including the hours spent in their offices, or all the audiences.


PRINCE PHILIPPE: 87 activities

The most active member of the royal family. The eldest son of the king actively prepares to take over his father's role. His office is at the royal palace, just like his "house", that coordinates his (and his wife's) agenda . He also receives a great deal of people in audience at the palace, who keep him informed of the current news in all Belgian sectors.

KING ALBERT II: 61 activities

Receiving people at the palace, visiting firms, expositions, gala nights, representing Belgium abroad, presence at sports manifestations (e.g. Tour de France), taking of the oath of the members of governments. To this, and many other activities should be added more than 90 days of audience (3 per day, and one for the prime minister every week), and his daily work that only the king and his staff (4 close counsellers) can mesure.

PRINCESS MATHILDE: 56 activities

She combines her role of princess with that of mother. She goes to her office at the royal palace at 9h00 and returns home at 16h00. That's the minimum program. She also undertakes solo activities or with her husband. Visits in Belgium, economic and humanitarian missions abroad, work for Unicef.

PRINCESS ASTRID: 54 activities

Because of an operation she has been "out" for 3 months. Her activities mainly focus on the medical sector (she's president of the Belgian red cross).

QUEEN PAOLA

Very rarely seen on a visit without her husband. She's less present on the royal scene than her children. No number of activities mentioned.

QUEEN FABIOLA: 21 activities

Queen Fabiola, now 76 years old, is rarely seen in public. When she's present, it's often in the company of the rest of the family, or to honour the queen Elisabeth Competition with her presence. (she's the honorary president)

PRINCESS CLAIRE & PRINCE LORENZ: 15 & 14 activities.

Lorenz works full time as a banker, Claire half time as a surveyer. SOmetimes they accompany their spouse on an activity, and they're usually present when the entire family in united.

PRINCE LAURENT

A big question mark. His foundation (for the well fare of animals) refused to release figures on his activities.

That is very interesting. Thanks Cathérine. I would have thought Paola would have done more activities that she has. Hmm, that's strange about Laurent's activities being kept 'silent'. I wonder how much work/activities he's actually done.
Thank you pdas1201 and Dennis for the photos.

 

[Dennism]

You´re welcome. We have some sad news to report. A while back, King Albert II had invited to the palace for a meeting a woman and her employer who had received death threats because she is Muslim and wears a headscarf. The woman had just resigned because another letter came:

BBC

A Muslim woman in Belgium who received national attention after her employer was targeted with death threats has left her job.

Naima Amzil resigned after another threatening letter arrived.

Belgian Prime Minister Guy Verhofstadt said he was disappointed and he vowed that the people responsible for the threats would be caught.

Ms Amzil is originally from Morocco. She has been singled out because she is a Muslim and she wears a headscarf.

The latest in a series of letters sent to her employer from a group calling itself New Free Flanders was too much for her.

Royal praise

The letter contained two bullets and said an execution was being prepared. It also threatened to poison produce made at the delicatessen factory in west Flanders where she worked.

Politicians and trades unions have condemned the threats but Ms Amzil has now succumbed to the pressure and resigned.

The first threatening letter was sent to her boss, Rik Remmery, in November; a series of others following, containing threats of arson and murder.

Mr Remmery and Ms Amzil were congratulated in the media for refusing to give in to blackmail.

King Albert invited them to the royal palace in a very public show of support. But the letters kept coming and, for the moment, the people responsible for sending them have got what they wanted.

 

[Lyonnaise]

Caption:
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM: Belgium's King Albert II (R) stands with his host Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas (Abu Mazen), as they meet for talks, 02 March 2005 in Laeken / Laken Royal castle. Mahmoud Abbas is on a three day visit in Belgium. AFP PHOTO BELGA VINCENT VAN DOORNICK

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Thanks lots for pics.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Brussels - March 3, 2005.

King Albert of Belgium attended the opening ceremony of the 3rd International Conference on Federalism at the European Parliament in Brussels. The Third International Conference on Federalism is a joint initiative of federal and federated authorities (Communities and Regions) of Belgium. The Conference follows those of Mont Tremblant, Canada (1999) and St. Gallen, Switzerland (2002).

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Ghent - March 3, 2005.

Queen Paola visits Habbekrats in Ghent. This association is trying to help young people from 12 years to 25 years to have a good way of life.

 

[Lyonnaise]

Polfoto 03-03-2005 Belgium's King Albert II listens to a speech during the opening session of an International Conference on Federalism held at the European Parliament in Brussels Thursday March 3, 2005. The three-day conference is a part of a series of events aiming to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Belgium's independence and the 25th anniversary of federalism in the country. (AP Photo/Thierry Roge, Pool)

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Thanks for pics Lyonnaise.

 

[Lyonnaise]

My pleasure.

Thanks for pics Lyonnaise.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Brussels 07/03/2005 King Albert of Belgium and Queen Paola attended the opening of 'Made in Belgium', an exhibition at the Dexia Art Center in Brussels. This exhibition is organized in the framework of the 175th anniversary of Belgium and 25th anniversary of federalism in Belgium. After the visit, the sovereigns took part in a reception.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

More.........

 

[Hannelore]

The queen is looking for a cook....

Koningin zoekt kok

DUINBERGEN - Marc Germonprez van restaurant Den Baigneur in de Knokse deelgemeente Duinbergen heeft zijn kandidatuur gesteld om kok te worden van koningin Paola. ,,Ik ben steeds op zoek naar nieuwe uitdagingen en deze is er zeker één buiten alle proporties'', zegt Marc Germonprez

Koningin Paola is op zoek naar een nieuwe kok voor haar vakantieverblijf in Zuid-Frankrijk. De koningin probeerde het al met buitenlandse koks maar die voldeden niet aan haar wensen. Ze zoekt nu een Belgische keukenpiet die zijn verantwoordelijkheid kan nemen en ook aardig kan koken.

Marc Germonprez, die reeds acht jaar samen met zijn vader in de keuken staat, vindt de vacature een uitdaging. ,,In het restaurant hebben wij prins Alexander al over de vloer gekregen maar nog niemand van de koninklijke familie. Wij hebben wel meegewerkt aan het banket naar aanleiding van het bezoek van Filip en Mathilde in New York. De koningin zou een voorkeur hebben voor Italiaanse gerechten en de mediterrane keuken. Ik heb een boontje voor de zuiderse keuken'', besluit Marc Germonprez.

 

[Danielle]

I found some another from when President Bush visited Belgium. from: www.whitehouse.gov
1) Laura Bush and Queen Paola

 

[Hannelore]

Translation

Koningin zoekt kok

DUINBERGEN - Marc Germonprez van restaurant Den Baigneur in de Knokse deelgemeente Duinbergen heeft zijn kandidatuur gesteld om kok te worden van koningin Paola. ,,Ik ben steeds op zoek naar nieuwe uitdagingen en deze is er zeker één buiten alle proporties'', zegt Marc Germonprez

Koningin Paola is op zoek naar een nieuwe kok voor haar vakantieverblijf in Zuid-Frankrijk. De koningin probeerde het al met buitenlandse koks maar die voldeden niet aan haar wensen. Ze zoekt nu een Belgische keukenpiet die zijn verantwoordelijkheid kan nemen en ook aardig kan koken.

Marc Germonprez, die reeds acht jaar samen met zijn vader in de keuken staat, vindt de vacature een uitdaging. ,,In het restaurant hebben wij prins Alexander al over de vloer gekregen maar nog niemand van de koninklijke familie. Wij hebben wel meegewerkt aan het banket naar aanleiding van het bezoek van Filip en Mathilde in New York. De koningin zou een voorkeur hebben voor Italiaanse gerechten en de mediterrane keuken. Ik heb een boontje voor de zuiderse keuken'', besluit Marc Germonprez.

The queen is looking for a cook

DUINBERGEN- Marc Germonprez of the rstaurant "Den Baigneur" in Duinbergen, part of the community Knokke, has applied to become the new cook of queen Paola. "I'm always looking for new challenges, and this is one if any", says Marc Germonprez.

Queen Paola is looking for a new cook for her holiday residence in the south of France. The queen tried out some foreign cooks but none of them was up to her wishes. she's now looking for a Belgian chef who can take his responsabilities and who can prepare a good meal.

Marc Germonprez who'se been working in the kitchen of a restaurant with his father for the past 8 years thinks the vacancy is a real challenge. "We've already received prince Alexandre [the king's half-brother] in our restaurant but never anyone from the royal family. We did cook in a banquet for the trip of Filip & Mathilde to New York. The queen is said to have a preferance for Italian & mediterranean cuisine. And I'm especially fond of the southern cuisine", Marc Germonprez concludes.

 

[Danielle]

Thank you Hannelore for the translation.

 

[GrandDuchess]

BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MARCH 14: Belgium's King Albert receives a delegation of The Ducal Society from Hoogstraten, which is also called the strawberry region, who present him with a basket containing the first strawberries of the year, at the Brussels Royal Palace on March 14, 2005 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)

Very, hmmm, "nice" and perhaps traditional costumes....

 

[Lyonnaise]

Caption:
BRUSSELS, BELGIUM - MARCH 16: King Albert of Belgium (L) speaks with CEO of D'Ieteren, Roland D'Ieteren (R), at an exposition at Volkswagen distributor D'Ieteren on the occasion of their 200th anniversary, at Brussels on March 16, 2005 in Brussels, Belgium. (Photo by Mark Renders/Getty Images)

 

[Danielle]

Thank you GrandDuchess and Lyonnaise for posting the photos. I guess a lot of countries have those 'first fruit of the season' events. We have them in Australia with the first mangos and cherries etc, and the money raised often goes to charity.

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Thanks so much GrandDuchess and Lyonnaise for pics.So great.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Le couple royal de Belgique passera les fêtes de Pâques en Pologne

VARSOVIE (AFP),
le 23-03-2005




Le roi des Belges Albert II et la reine Paola arriveront samedi en Pologne pour y passer les fêtes de Pâques avec le président Aleksander Kwasniewski et son épouse Jolanta, a-t-on appris mercredi auprès de la présidence polonaise.

Il s'agit d'une "visite strictement privée, les deux couples se connaissant bien" après plusieurs visites bilatérales, a-t-on précisé de source belge.

Le roi et la reine seront accueillis par leurs hôtes dans une résidence d'apparat à Wisla, une station balnéaire des Monts Beskides, dans le sud de la Pologne.

Cette résidence officielle, un palais néo-classique, avait servi au dernier président polonais d'avant la seconde guerre mondiale, Ignacy Moscicki. Désaffecté à l'époque communiste, le palais a récemment été rénové à l'initiative du président Kwasniewski.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Translation

The Belgian royal couple will celebrate easter in Poland

King Albert II of the Belgians and queen Paola will arrive Saturday in Poland to celebrate the easter days with president Kwasniewski and his wife Jolanta.

A Belgian source confirms it's a strictly private visit, after many bilateral visits both couples know each other well.

The king and queen will be welcomed by their hosts in a majestic residence in Wisla, a bathing resort in the Beskide mountains, in the South of the country.
This official residence, a neo-classical palace was in the use of Ignacy Moscicki, the last Polish president before the second world war. Abandonned during the communist era, the palace has recently been renovated on the iniciative of president Kwasniewski.

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Thta's a great news!I have never had the royals have holidays with the other countries politician.I think the Beligan King and Queen seem good friendship with the President of Poland.

 

[Alisa]

Thanks for the translation Catherine. I find it interesting that the couple would rather spend the Easter holidays with the Prime Minister and First Lady, than their own family....

 

[Hannelore]

Thanks for the translation Catherine. I find it interesting that the couple would rather spend the Easter holidays with the Prime Minister and First Lady, than their own family....

Mmm... Easter is not really a family occasion in Belgium (parents and kids and searching for eggs of course - but not much further than that).

I believe Mathilde & Filip & the kids go on skiing holiday each year during the easter holidays. It are going to be a couple of quiet weeks...

 

[Hannelore]

Belgian Royal couple Queen Paola and King Albert II accompanied by Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski and his wife Jolanta leave for a chapel for the blessing of food in the wicket baskets on the day before Easter Sunday, Saturday, 26 March 2005.
The Belgian couple arrived on Saturday to spend Easter holiday in Zadni Gron, the new holiday residence of Polish president Aleksander Kwasniewski near Wisla, south Poland.
It's a Polish Easter tradition to bring eggs, sausage, bread, salt and pepper to church for blessing.