Translation
Filip and Mathilde talk heart-to-heart with the press about the new baby.
First press conference for Mathilde, mother for the third time.
BRUSSELS "We made you wait a while, but it was the little one who was in charge of the agenda"
The tone is set.
In the small conference room of the ... psychiatric ward, at the 9th floor of the hospital, where 4 palm trees were quickly installed to act as decoration, it's an incredibly relaxed princely couple who come to talk about their impressions after the birth of their baby, prince Emmanuel, before leaving the Erasmus clinic under applause and cheers.
Rather unusual, princess Mathilde - wearing an autumn coat, navy blue pants and wine coloured mules - is pushed into the spotlight. At the 2 previous births, it was Filip who did the talking.
A motherly look resting on her baby that's sleeping in a beige little coat with a pom-pom dangling at the end of the hood, the princess radiated joy. "Because there's been more than enough talking with and about me these last days, we're going to focus on my wife" , the prince insists, before letting her do the talking.
"I'm delighted to present Emmanuel to the Belgian population, the princess declares. It's an easy baby. He eats well and has slept untill 5 a.m.! We hope he'll continue like this. My pregnancy went very well. I carried out my official duties untill the very last moment."
Why did you decide to give birth in a completely natural way?
"That's a choice that belongs to my private life. All mothers know what it's like. Giving birth is each time an incredibly important moment you want to live to he fullest. Each birth is different. I was very happy my husband was present."
How did princess Elisabeth and prince Gabriel react when they heard they had a little brother ?
"They were very happy with their little brother. Gabriel is very generous with his brother. But I'm a bit scared when he arrives with his toy tractor" the princess jokingly added. "Elisabeth behaves very responsable: she already feels she's the big sister."
Who does Emmanuel resemble ?
"You can judge for yourselves! He has Elisabeth's eyes. So I think he looks like you, says Mathilde turning lovingly to her husband. Because Elisabeth looks a lot like you."
Prince Filip promised us to explain the choice of the name 'Emmanuel' : why this name ?
"As I said, the prince answers, it's in the first place the choice of our heart. we think this name suits him." When asked about the religious significance of the name - Emmanuel is Hebrew for God is amongst us - prince Filip adds : That's a way of looking at it, but it was in the first place the choice of our heart." at any rate Emmanuel doesn't refer to a friend our acquaintance of the couple. And if it was a girl, would she have been called Emmanuelle ? No, we would have chosen another name then. I think Emmanuel is more of a boy's name."
You're a big family now, are you thinking of having more children ?
"We'll need a little time! One thing at a time. we're very happy with our 3 children. we're going to enjoy the children now and take the time to be with Emmanuel and to find our new place in the family. It's true, we're a large family now...I already noticed it enough when I went to pick up Elisabeth from school, then Gabriel from the nanny, before driving to the hospital to meet their little brother" Filip joked, the happy father of a large family now.