State Visit from China: March 30 - April 1st, 2014

[sophie25]

I like the bottom part of the nine provices tiara worn on it's own but I was hoping to see Mathilde in the full tiara tonight-disappointed.

[Tilia C.]

Imo, Mathilde makes the bandeau of the Nine Provinces Tiara look very beautiful.
But it is a pity that not even Astrid and Lorenz are there.

[stephanievl]

Originally Posted by angela

I like the bottom part of the nine provices tiara worn on it's own but I was hoping to see Mathilde in the full tiara tonight-disappointed.

I think we will only see the full version during a state visit of another monarch.

[Tilia C.]

Originally Posted by stephanievl

I think we will only see the full version during a state visit of another monarch.

I quite agree with you. It would have really surprised me, if she had worn the full version for the visit of the president of a republic. We tiara watchers just need to be more patient.

[wartenberg7]

"Poor" Queen of Belgium has less and modest tiaras to choose than some deposed Queens...

"I think we will only see the full version during a state visit of another monarch"

I hope they will soon start to make "real" state visits abroad!

[EmmaNL]

Originally Posted by wartenberg7

"Poor" Queen of Belgium has less and modest tiaras to choose than some deposed Queens...

"I think we will only see the full version during a state visit of another monarch"

I hope they will soon start to make "real" state visits abroad!

You're absolutely true IMO. Poor Queen Mathilde, she only has 2 tiara's: The Nine Provinces (well, in two forms) and her own Laurel Wreath Tiara.. Hopefully she will inherit the tiaras form Queen Fabiola once. If that happens, she already has 4 tiaras (of which at least two can be worn in two forms), although that's not really many for a Queen (compare it to the Dutch or the Swedish)..

[iceflower]

.

Here are some more nice pics of the dinner this evening:



** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** Pic 5 ** Pic 6 ** Pic 7 **



** dpp: King Filip and Queen Mathilde at State Dinner of Chinese President, Brussels, 31 March 2014 **

[leidi]

That shade of blue complements her so well, I think that's a recycled dress from another gala, right?

[GömdNatt]

Originally Posted by leidi

That shade of blue complements her so well, I think that's a recycled dress from another gala, right?

yes, she wore it to Guillaume's pre-wedding dinner in 2012, as I mentioned earlier.

[Al_bina]

Originally Posted by Tilia C.

Imo, Mathilde makes the bandeau of the Nine Provinces Tiara look very beautiful.
But it is a pity that not even Astrid and Lorenz are there.

It is unfortunate that no one else from the Belgian royal family attended the banquet.

[cdm]

Astrid was there. Just saw her on the news.

Sent from my HTC Desire C using The Royals Community mobile app

[Marchesina]

shouldn't the dress code suppose to be highly formal on this kind of occasions? white ties and gala uniforms for men, long dresses and tiaras with orders for women? I was one of the pictures about and there's Andre Flahaut (president of the Chamber of Representatives) wearing a plain business suit. and why the President isn't wearing the Order of Leopold King Philippe gave to him yesterday?
I'm quite confused tbh

[sophie25]

The Belgian royal residencies are huge and impressive. I really hope that Fabiola will bequeath her jewels to Mathilde so that there will be a jewellery collection to match for Princess Elisabeth one day. Although Fabiola only has two tiaras they are versatile and can be set with different stones and she also has some stunning necklaces, earrings etc so fingers crossed.

[Marchesina]

Originally Posted by angela

The Belgian royal residencies are huge and impressive. I really hope that Fabiola will bequeath her jewels to Mathilde so that there will be a jewellery collection to match for Princess Elisabeth one day. Although Fabiola only has two tiaras they are versatile and can be set with different stones and she also has some stunning necklaces, earrings etc so fingers crossed.

she really should give them to Mathilde...at least tiaras. She's the Queen now, queen consort to her beloved nephew Philippe, who she raised like a son. I understand she may have other nieces, but she's the only one who needs them. And Paola should loan her the beautiful Diamond Bandeau, at least when she's not attending official engaments.
As you said...one day the royal family will have two princesses and possibly two wives for the princes...this family is in desperate need of jewels (ok..maybe they're not...but we certainly are )

[An Ard Ri]

Was it just the King & Queen present at the State Banquet from the Royal Family?

[Spheno]

Originally Posted by angela

The Belgian royal residencies are huge and impressive. I really hope that Fabiola will bequeath her jewels to Mathilde so that there will be a jewellery collection to match for Princess Elisabeth one day. Although Fabiola only has two tiaras they are versatile and can be set with different stones and she also has some stunning necklaces, earrings etc so fingers crossed.

Forget about Fabiola's tiaras
70% inheritance taxes mean only one - all tiaras will be sold

[Wayne]

Originally Posted by angela

Whatever we think about human rights in China (and I am sure the King and Queen have their own thoughts) it is thee economic superpower in the world today bar none. Phillipe and Mathilde therefore have to do what they can to ensure that Belgium establishes the best trade links it possibly can with that country. To have the Chinese president as their first visiting head of state since they came to the throne is a massive test, no question. I hope that everything goes well, especially the showpiece Royal Banquet tonight which is the main event.

While I agree that China is an economic superpower, the United States still is the world's largest economy and the dollar is still the preeminent currency

[GömdNatt]

Originally Posted by Marchesina

shouldn't the dress code suppose to be highly formal on this kind of occasions? white ties and gala uniforms for men, long dresses and tiaras with orders for women? I was one of the pictures about and there's Andre Flahaut (president of the Chamber of Representatives) wearing a plain business suit. and why the President isn't wearing the Order of Leopold King Philippe gave to him yesterday?
I'm quite confused tbh

at the end of the day, it is up to the person whether or not they wear orders. It is nice to wear an Order that has been gifted to you, but not mandatory.

As for the dress code, to each their own. There's always someone who doesn't quite fit with the dress code.

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by GömdNatt

at the end of the day, it is up to the person whether or not they wear orders. It is nice to wear an Order that has been gifted to you, but not mandatory.

As for the dress code, to each their own. There's always someone who doesn't quite fit with the dress code.

Normally, at least inside Europe, it is mandatory! A King/ Queen giving an order to another monarch it would be quite unthinkable not to use it for the state banquet. The same goes for some presidents (Finnland, Portugal, some baltic states come to my mind here. Germany gaven it up some years ago when it comes to incoming state visits, but the german president naturally uses orders when he´s invited for a state visit in a monarchy).

African or asian rulers (with the exception of monarchs, such as Japan, Thailand, Brunei or Malaysia), wearing some sort of national costume for the banquet, often don´t use orders.
Of course, at official visits (not STATE visits) orders are sometimes exchanged but certainly not used for a less formal dinner than a state banquet.

[wartenberg7]

Originally Posted by Spheno

Forget about Fabiola's tiaras
70% inheritance taxes mean only one - all tiaras will be sold

??? Queen Fabiola can hand over her jewels whom ever she wants to! "Will be sold" ? "Knowing" so positive, it sounds as if you were a member of the belgian royal family....