What is your opinion about Philippe and Mathilde?

**Marengo** · #1 07-12-2007, 09:18 AM

The Duke of Brabant has faced some critisism over the past years, mainly coming from the Flemmish press. Some of the critisism concerned the furniture in his palace, his political remarks about the unity of the country, his speeches at trademissions etc.

How do you feel about the Duke of Brabant? Will he make a suitable king? Are his gaffes really gaffes or are they blown up by elements in the Belgian society who want the country to split up? And related to that, how do you feel about the Duchess of Brabant? She was greeted as the 'savior' of the Belgian monarchy but how is she doing so far?

So in short: What is your opinion on Phillipe and Mathilde?
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Please remember to use a polite tone in this topic.

selminha · #2 07-13-2007, 12:54 PM

They are a such a great couple!!!

Madame Royale · #3 07-13-2007, 01:02 PM

I don't take a particularly large interest in the Belgian royals. They just don't interest me. But from what I've seen of both Philippe and Mathilde, they seem like a very nice couple, are a good and solid support to one another, are wonderful parents and look (and hopefully are) happy

Henri M. · #4 07-13-2007, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by selminha

They are a such a great couple!!!

Why are they 'such a great couple'?

Prince Philippe is really seen as a clumsy goof stumbling over his own feet and not able to have a normal conversation with. It is the Princess which, bits by parts, keeps the Prince up.

That is the general opinion on the Prince. And to be honest, mine is more or less the same. Yesterday on the news I have seen Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde together with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Stiff. Uneasy. Uncomfortable. No chemistry between the two royal couples. Nothing more than the obliged smile for the camera's.

bbb · #5 07-13-2007, 01:14 PM

I think she's wonderful the definition of a princess, he seems painfully shy and uncomfortable alone- but with her and the children he brightens up and and is handsome and animated. they also seem like loving, affectionate parents.

Aurora810 · #6 07-13-2007, 01:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henri M.

Yesterday on the news I have seen Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde together with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Stiff. Uneasy. Uncomfortable. No chemistry between the two royal couples. Nothing more than the obliged smile for the camera's.

Well to be honest I don't have as many advantages as others at TRF's I have the pictures that are posted and other pictures that I manage to find out in cyberspace. And that is it. But I must say that I saw the exact opposite of what Henri saw yesterday. Judging by the pictures I was rather impressed with Philippe. I thought he looked comfortable and confident. I really wouldn't expect there to be much chemistry between the two royal couples. I mean there's such an age difference and just overall difference. But I saw a prince that was really trying yesterday. I kind of question and try not to put too much into the comments about the press making him out to be a goof or stumbling goof. Yes, he doesn't always seem real comfortable in his position but that doesn't mean he isn't going to try his best and it doesn't mean he is a goof.

I should also add that over the last few weeks I have been quite impressed with the crown princely couple of Belgium. The trip to China was an important one and it seems that Philippe has been helping out with as much as he can since the King is still recovering. I think due to the King's health Philippe and Mathilde went to meet Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip, but I could be wrong about that.

Madame Royale · #7 07-13-2007, 01:18 PM

I've based my observations purely on pictorials I think it's safe to say...

What's the general consensus surrounding the Duchess?

Aurora810 · #8 07-13-2007, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

I've based my observations purely on pictorials I think it's safe to say...

What's the general consensus surrounding the Duchess?

I've never heard anything bad about her and I also hear just like what is written by another poster above that she helps make him more relevant. Mathilde seems to balance him out and bring to the table things that are not in Philippe's original make-up.

Henri M. · #9 07-13-2007, 01:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Madame Royale

I've based my observations purely on pictorials I think it's safe to say...

What's the general consensus surrounding the Duchess?

Princess Mathilde, the Duchess of Brabant, is popular and is generally seen as the guide for Prince Philippe. She is very popular in Wallonia and 'norma'l popular' in Flanders. The only criticism she faces is about her linguality: despite being a born Belgian and a certified logopediste (speech therapist), she is hardly able to speak two fluent Dutch sentences by heart. Especially in a comparison with Princess Máxima, who has never ever been in the Netherlands before she got a relationship with the Prince of Orange. And Dutch is the mother language of 2/3 of all Belgians.

But where Princess Mathilde reaches high scores in popularity, her spouse is scoring very low. Especially when you consider this man is the future King, it is a bit worrisome.

Aurora810 · #10 07-13-2007, 01:29 PM

Oops, the not being able to speak fluent Dutch, that is right, that has been the one major criticism I have heard about Mathilde. Not really sure why she doesn't try harder with that either.

anirac · #11 07-13-2007, 01:37 PM

I'm not sure, what I should think about them. Exspeacially about Phillipe because at the one hand he makes this clumsy impression and this questionable sentences (like in South Africa, if I recall right) and at the other hand he regulary is a member of the Bilderberg Group, so he couldn't be so 'stupid' (it is not the right word, but a can't remember another).

stephanievl · #12 07-13-2007, 01:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henri M.

Princess Mathilde, the Duchess of Brabant, is popular and is generally seen as the guide for Prince Philippe. She is very popular in Wallonia and 'norma'l popular' in Flanders. The only criticism she faces is about her linguality: despite being a born Belgian and a certified logopediste (speech therapist), she is hardly able to speak two fluent Dutch sentences by heart. Especially in a comparison with Princess Máxima, who has never ever been in the Netherlands before she got a relationship with the Prince of Orange. And Dutch is the mother language of 2/3 of all Belgians.

But where Princess Mathilde reaches high scores in popularity, her spouse is scoring very low. Especially when you consider this man is the future King, it is a bit worrisome.

Mathilde has improved a lot in het Dutch, nowedays she speaks it verry fluent you can hear in intervieuws and speeches that she improver a lot.
Her childern all go to a Dutchspeaking school in Brussels and recently Mathilde said that they start speeking Dutch among each other at home.
She puts a lot of effort in het duch and it paid of, she speaks it verry good.

stephanievl · #13 07-13-2007, 01:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Henri M.

Why are they 'such a great couple'?

Yesterday on the news I have seen Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde together with Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh. Stiff. Uneasy. Uncomfortable. No chemistry between the two royal couples. Nothing more than the obliged smile for the camera's.

When I look at this picture it seems that they are having a really good time.
Supload.com // Free Image Hosting

Henri M. · #14 07-13-2007, 01:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stephanievl

Mathilde has improved a lot in het Dutch, nowedays she speaks it verry fluent you can hear in intervieuws and speeches that she improver a lot.
Her childern all go to a Dutchspeaking school in Brussels and recently Mathilde said that they start speeking Dutch among each other at home.
She puts a lot of effort in het duch and it paid of, she speaks it verry good.

As long as the separatistic tendences are kept under control, the monarchy is safe thanks to Princess Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth.

The little Princess is an angel, but you already can see she is a total different type of person as for an example Princess Catharina-Amalia, who seems so much more extravert. But in general we can say that the Belgians are more reserved than their 'noisy' northern neighbours. As long as Princess Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth are around, Prince Philippe and the monarchy are safe.

stephanievl · #15 07-13-2007, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bbb

I think she's wonderful the definition of a princess, he seems painfully shy and uncomfortable alone- but with her and the children he brightens up and and is handsome and animated. they also seem like loving, affectionate parents.

That is true, he chaged a lot after the birth of his oldest daughter Elisabeth. Right after the birth he gave press conference in his green hospital shirt. He spoke open and showed his emotions. We in Belgium had never seen him like that.

It is tru that during public occation somethimes he is a bit stiff but Filip is someone who does not like verry much he press attention. However, when he is with his kids he is verry open with them, spontanious, ...

I think Filip and Mathilde are a verry good couple and you see that they really love each other. Mathilde can look at him with lot of love and she is a good support and the strong woman he needs.

some pictures of them together
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Henri M. · #16 07-13-2007, 02:03 PM

If it was about fashion alone, I would easily swap Princess Máxima for the ever elegant, serene and dignified Princess Mathilde!

Tinika · #17 07-13-2007, 07:59 PM

To my mind they are the epitome of old-style royals: reserved, handsome, dignified, and involved with their people yet slightly removed. I think they're wonderful.

BMC · #18 07-13-2007, 08:25 PM

I get the impression that Prince Phillippe is just one of those people who are very uncomfortable in the spotlight but who are just fine in private. Sadly for him, his work requires that he be the center of attention.

I don't think he is stupid [he graduated from Stanford University, no school for dummies], just inarticulate. Nothing wrong with that, there are a lot of smooth talking people out there that you don't dare believe a word they're saying.

Aurora810 · #19 07-14-2007, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tinika

To my mind they are the epitome of old-style royals: reserved, handsome, dignified, and involved with their people yet slightly removed. I think they're wonderful.

I think you got it right, this is a very good description of them.

**Marengo** · #20 07-16-2007, 05:09 AM

My opinion about the couple is a bit ambiguous, I don't really know how to think of them. Personally Mathilde is indeed the reserved, discrete 'old-fashioned' royal that I prefer. The noble background doesn't hurt either; I don't want my neighbours daughter as my crowprincess for example. Sadly I think that in this day and age the old-fashioned style that I like isn't sufficient enough. Her Dutch was a problem but I think that was exploited by the flemmish press too negatively, as others said it wasn't that bad and she made a lot of progress. Anothger thing is that she seems rather stiff at times, old-fashioned, etc.

Anyway, I have all these reservations with the duchess but when I see her on television and she gives a smile one just can not help but melt, her smile is so warm, genuine and sweet that the saint-mathilde aura that some are ironically referring to at times, becomes almost visible.

About Phillipe... I think he is a bit 'welt-fremd' (world-strange) and he lives in his own cocon surrounded by incompetent courtiers and fiercly religious relatives. This made him into the insecure man he is now. I remember that I was watching his wedding and Queen Paola seem to show her son that he had to wave, where he had to wave etc. The flemmish media IMO now started a campaign against Phillipe that has little to do with him. His supposed gaffes aren't thar shocking IMHO and in The Netherlands or elsewhere I am sure that crownprinces made simular mistakes but they were covered up with the mantle of love, something that certain parts of the press/public isn't willing to do in Flanders.

What does speak for him is that his personal staff seems much more professional and selected for their merits then the palace staff. Not many noble names etc in his entourage. That he was orientating himself in Ther Hague, so to get ideas how to reorganise the old-fashioned court in Brussels, is a very good thing too, it shows that he might be more modern then we think.