Philippe & Mathilde in South Africa; March 11-13, 2006

[purple_platinum]

just beautiful... what a sweet couple...

Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium posed for photographers as they arrived for a gala evening, Thursday 16 March 2006, in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa. Prince Philippe of Belgium arrived in Cape Town 12 March 2006, leading a week-long trade mission to South Africa to look at investment opportunities in the country and on the continent at large.

from BELGA PHOTO / BENOIT DOPPAGNE

 

[purple_platinum]

Prince Philippe of Belgium made a speech at the gala evening " Meet Belgium", Thursday 16 March 2006, in JOHANNESBURG, South Africa. Prince Philippe of Belgium arrived in Cape Town 12 March 2006, leading a week-long trade mission to South Africa to look at investment opportunities in the country and on the continent at large.

from BELGA PHOTO / BENOIT DOPPAGNE

 

[purple_platinum]

Philippe and Mathilde in Johannesburg visiting the NCP Alcohols/Alcofinance plant in Durban on March 16th.

more from their arrival in Durban (from facetoface)

 

[purple_platinum]

1 more picture of smiling Mathilde with Nelson Mandela (from wireimage)

 

[Maxie]

Seeing Filip and Mathilde together just makes my day everytime I see them, so looking at pics of them is always a good way for me to distract my mind from my own silly problems . Mathilde really has been looking beautiful this trip and I love seeing her and Filip interact with the people, the 'famous' ones like Anan and Mandela, but also the people in the streets. Thanks for all the pictures to all!

 

[Larzen]

By Olivier Polet for AP

 

[purple_platinum]

South African President Thabo Mbeki (R) receives a Courtesy Call from Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde of Belgium, 17 March 2006 in Pretoria. Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde are paying an official visit to South Africa from Sunday, 12 March 2006.
The visit comes within the context of the South African Government's heightened emphasis on economic diplomacy in support of ASGI-SA and the drive to average 6% growth, and halve poverty and unemployment, by 2014.
In this regard, Prince Philippe is leading a high-profile Belgian economic mission of CEOs/senior managers of close to seventy companies to South Africa. The Prince's delegation includes Marc Verwilghen, Federal Minister of Economy, Energy, Foreign Trade and Science Policy and Fientjie Moerman, Vice-Minister President of the Flemish Government and Flemish Minister of Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade.

from ANP / AFP PHOTO - Jacoline Prinsloo

 

[Adry]

Face to Face
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/ http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/

 

[Adry]

Face to Face
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/ http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/

 

[purple_platinum]

20060317 - SAXID, SOUTH AFRICA
Belgian Princess Mathilde visits the ' Sauth Africa Women In Dialogue ' project, Friday 17 March 2006 during the Belgian Economic Mission to South Africa.

from BELGA PHOTO / POOL / FREDERIC SIERAKOWSKI

 

[purple_platinum]

1-6 : Prince Philippe of Belgium pictured while visiting a cyber cafe for kids, Thursday 16 March 2006, in Tembisa, South Africa.
7-8 : Prince Philippe of Belgium, Flemish Minister Fientje Moerman (C) and state secretary Vincent Van Quickenborne (R) attend the opening of a cyber cafe for kids in collaboration with Alcatel, Thursday 16 March 2006, in Tembisa, South Africa.

from BELGA PHOTO / BENOIT DOPPAGNE

 

[purple_platinum]

20060317 - SAXID, SOUTH AFRICA
Belgian Princess Mathilde visits the ' Sauth Africa Women In Dialogue ' project, Friday 17 March 2006 during the Belgian Economic Mission to South Africa.

more from belgapic :

 

[purple_platinum]

more from belgapic :

 

[purple_platinum]

also from belgapic :

 

[johann]

Something I discovered: Philippe is almost as great as Mathilde when it comes to interacting with children (and she is nearly unbeatable). They are so relaxed, they sure have a very nice time.
Many thanks for the pics!

 

[Alisa]

Thanks to everyone for posting all the pictures. I have really enjoyed watching this couple through pictures throught the trip.

I really like these photos:
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/402234-post97.html

The Duchess looks soo beautiful and serene, she looks like an image from a dream....

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

I really like this one : http://img143.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc24&image=04500_00256110000015.jpg

Such an elegant silhouet, and a bit mysterious...Olivier Polet, who took this picture, is philippe & Mathilde's favorite photographer.

 

[Larzen]

There are already so many pictures posted from the last day but here is a selection from Olivier Polet for AP

 

[purple_platinum]

Thanks a lot, Larzen..
i was hoping to see these pics of Princess Mathilde without watermarks...
She looks gorgeous there..

 

[purple_platinum]

20060317 - PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
Belgian Prince Philippe (L) and State Secretary Vincent Van Quickenborne pictured in the garden of the Belgian embassy in South Africa, Friday 17 March 2006, last day of the Belgian Economic Mission to South Africa.

from BELGA PHOTO / BENOIT DOPPAGNE

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

I just saw a part of the report on this mission in Place Royale. There were a lot more activities than the pictures we have here (and a lot more outfits , which also look a lot better on video than on photos somehow)

Maybe you were wondering what Philippe & Mathilde were laughing with in this photo:

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=232352&d=1142363019

They were visiting a boarding school for young navy cadets. The buildings were built by a Danish firm with material from Denmark. A young student welcomed the prince and princess. He gave a very nice speech ending with the words ... It's a great pleasure for us to welcome the prince and princess of Denmark! Someone corrected him saying "No, Belgium, Belgium!". It was a funny situation and Philippe said to the boy "Don't worry, we'll pass the word to the prince and princess of Denmark!"

 

[leanne]

Thank you to everyone for posting the wonderful photos of the trip to South Africa.
Catherine, would you be able to post the link to the video that you mentioned?
Leanne

 

[Saragli]

I love the photos, thanks for posting them. Question, is she pregnant? Was there an announcment that I missed or something.

 

[Saragli]

Never mind I went back and read some of the posts rather than just looking at the photos.

 

[Mette2]

I just saw a part of the report on this mission in Place Royale. There were a lot more activities than the pictures we have here (and a lot more outfits , which also look a lot better on video than on photos somehow)

Maybe you were wondering what Philippe & Mathilde were laughing with in this photo:

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=232352&d=1142363019

They were visiting a boarding school for young navy cadets. The buildings were built by a Danish firm with material from Denmark. A young student welcomed the prince and princess. He gave a very nice speech ending with the words ... It's a great pleasure for us to welcome the prince and princess of Denmark! Someone corrected him saying "No, Belgium, Belgium!". It was a funny situation and Philippe said to the boy "Don't worry, we'll pass the word to the prince and princess of Denmark!"

That's hilarious. Thank you for telling this Cathérine. Now if Philippe and Mathilde could come to Denmark, tell Frederik and Mary this, and meet them in Aalborg in a café that would be really nice. I'm allowed to dream right.
Also thank you to everyone for the recent pictures.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

That's a nice dream Mette. If it comes true, I'm sure you'll post outside the café to take pictures for us

Leanne, I can't put the link to that specific program here, because it isn't online, but another program is, so I'll post that in a day or two...

 

[martha-louise]

In 'De Standaard' a Belgian newspaper I read an article about the prince and the economic mission. There was a businessman who attacted the prince by saying that after seven meetings with the prince, he still didn't know his name. (The prince meets hundreds of people, it's understandable one could forget the name of an unfriendly businessman)
But there were also other comments on the prince. Van Quickenborne, a republican said he found this first trip with the prince usefull and to learn from. "The prince opens doors and the businesslive gets its profits from it". Aslo minister Moerman was content. They maid a great deal with the diamondsector. The frontman of UNIZO was also very enthousiast and told those critics were overreacting. The prince knows a lot and is truely interested.
(Somehow there are always people who have to gave critics on the prince. And sometimes, very stupid critics IMO ...)

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

People will always be criticizing if they don't manage to sell (they have to do a little effort themselves of course). If even a republican is content about the prince, I don't think he did a bad job...

 

[purple_platinum]

Maybe you were wondering what Philippe & Mathilde were laughing with in this photo:

http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=232352&d=1142363019

They were visiting a boarding school for young navy cadets. The buildings were built by a Danish firm with material from Denmark. A young student welcomed the prince and princess. He gave a very nice speech ending with the words ... It's a great pleasure for us to welcome the prince and princess of Denmark! Someone corrected him saying "No, Belgium, Belgium!". It was a funny situation and Philippe said to the boy "Don't worry, we'll pass the word to the prince and princess of Denmark!"

thank you for this annectode, Catherine... i find it very amusing and funny...

 

[Mette2]

That's a nice dream Mette. If it comes true, I'm sure you'll post outside the café to take pictures for us

You can be sure I will Cathérine. I don't own a digital camera, but I'm sure some of my friends have a scanner, and would be able to help me out, so I could scan my pictures and post them here. Aaahhh, I'm still dreaming.