Baptism of Princess Alexia: November 19, 2005

[Hannelore]

[quote=Marengo:

Mathilde expressed the following wish:

Sweet Alexia, I wish you the very best for your future, that you may grow up as a beautiful, generous personality in the warm family of your parents and your big sister Amalia. I wish that you may be intensly happy and that you may bring joy to many, especially to those who are in difficulties. That you may grow up as a forcefull (krachtige) woman who will be lead by (...-couldn't understand this word-) values.

[/quote]

She said "diepe waarden" (a woman who will be lead by deep/profound values".

I liked Mathilde's wish best too, very beautiful (a bit like the fairies standing around the cradle in that fairytale - what was it again?). Mr. de Beauffort's and Maxima's friend's were nice as well. Juan Zorreguieta made a very strange impression standing there as if he didn't know what to say ("I wish you ehh... happiness ... ehh...), and that poor Friso, not being able to produce a single smile on his own godchild's baptism!

I thought Maxima looked very elegant. The hat was a risk, but she gets away with any hat, she's got a face for it! Both Mathilde and Maxima were dressed by Natan and their hats (or ornaments) both came from Fabienne Delvigne.

Amalia was very cute indeed. But looked a bit like a little dressed up christmas tree in that dress, it was a bit too much IMO with that giant ribbon on her back. But a clever sweet little thing!

Alexia is a pretty baby, prettier than her big sister was. Very sweet how she was sucking her mother's finger...

I liked the way laurentien looked too. And Eloise was sweet with her little purse :)

[Emily]

Thank you both for the idea of how they traveled and for the complete translation of Mathilde's blessing to Alexia. Mathilde has a great gift for striking the right chord on almost every occasion. We are all lucky that Phillippe found her!

[pollyemma]

did anyone else think Mathilde's hair color was a bit weird.

i think perhaps she needs to touch up her roots.

[mandyy]

#1-3:hotos from ANP
#4-9: Newscom

[selminha]

Mathilde really looks very radiant and elegant.at the same time.:)

[purple_platinum]

I just watched the video...
oh my gosh... little Amalia is really really adorable. she has cute cute voice...
i'm glad she's becoming cheerful and radiate fun & joyfulness everytime we saw her, just like her grandmother and her mother.

[pollyemma]

Originally Posted by purple_platinum

I just watched the video...
oh my gosh... little Amalia is really really adorable. she has cute cute voice...
i'm glad she's becoming cheerful and radiate fun & joyfulness everytime we saw her, just like her grandmother and her mother.

I agree. her little voice is sooooooooo cute. when she said "ik ben amalia" i just about fell off my chair.

its wonderful that she is becoming so confident in public.

[Lourdes]

Can someone please do a fashion makover on the Dutch royal ladies. The outfits were aweful. I really like Maxima's hat but the flower could have been a little smaller. The two best ladies were Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia.

[pollyemma]

Originally Posted by Lourdes

Can someone please do a fashion makover on the Dutch royal ladies. The outfits were aweful. I really like Maxima's hat but the flower could have been a little smaller. The two best ladies were Princess Amalia and Princess Alexia.

I'm with you. Maxima is the only one of Beatrix's daughters in law with anything that could be called a "fashion sense."

Marilene, Margriet's d-i-l,usually does well, but this was not really her day.

the style of Maxima's outfit was ok but that hat...and where on earth did she get the idea that she looks good in grey????

[Hannelore]

I forgot to mention that I really like the official pictures. Very nice and classy, and they radiate the warmth and kindness of the baptism ceremony IMO.

[nayralorenzo]

Maxima is always so elegant. Mathilde is very beautiful too, I like her very much.
Alexia is so cute...jeje

[Little_star]

Lovely photos everybody, thank you!

Maxima looked gorgeous, her hat was breathtaking and she just gloweed, she was every inch the proud mother. Willem-Alexander was very sweet with his permanent smile! As for the lady of the day, Alexia, she is beautiful mashallah and incredibly alert! Her big sister also looks like c complete madame! A lovely little family.

[cristine]

Maxima was astonishing, very elegant and so happy, always with that big and beautiful smile. Alexia is so cute and adorable. And Amalia is getting beautiful as she grows. The official pictures are lovely and they show a very happy family. Very nice.

[Layla1971]

Originally Posted by Marengo

Mathilde expressed the following wish:

Sweet Alexia, I wish you the very best for your future, that you may grow up as a beautiful, generous personality in the warm family of your parents and your big sister Amalia. I wish that you may be intensly happy and that you may bring joy to many, especially to those who are in difficulties. That you may grow up as a forcefull (krachtige) woman who will be lead by (...-couldn't understand this word-) values.

I just love this wish, did Mathilde write it herself?

[Layla1971]

Originally Posted by pollyemma

did anyone else think Mathilde's hair color was a bit weird.

i think perhaps she needs to touch up her roots.

Mathide's hair has always been darker at the roots with blonde highlights - not sure if they're natural or not though.

But, either way, I think it suits her and she is a very beautiful woman even if her hair isn't one color!:)

[pollyemma]

Originally Posted by Layla1971

Mathide's hair has always been darker at the roots with blonde highlights - not sure if they're natural or not though.

Nut, either way, I think it suits her and she is a very beautiful woman even if her hair isn't one color!:)

yeah, i agree. though this time the contrast between dark and blond was really exceptionally strong. though Mathilde is always so "in control" i dont think she'd make an important public appearance without touching up her roots first.

[Layla1971]

Originally Posted by pollyemma

yeah, i agree. though this time the contrast between dark and blond was really exceptionally strong. though Mathilde is always so "in control" i dont think she'd make an important public appearance without touching up her roots first.

Mathilde's hair:
Here's a pic from at least 2 years ago. From Bruno Press.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b164/Layla1971/02.jpg

And, one from the christening. From Polfoto.
http://i19.photobucket.com/albums/b1...p4725508zq.jpg

And, I know moderators, I'm going off-topic!

[ap3]

I loved Maxima's outfit: the grey was a lovely soft color, and her makeup was perfect with it. Great fit. Nice hair. Lovely black pearl earrings. And the long, lace spilling out of the cuffs! - I've always thought this style was elegant and.

Hat a little too big, but even so lovely.

I didn't like Carmen's outfit (and I usually think she is very elegant): the skirt is too trendy for someone her age, the color washed her out (unlike Maxima's gray).

[pollyemma]

Originally Posted by ap3

lovely.

I didn't like Carmen's outfit (and I usually think she is very elegant): the skirt is too trendy for someone her age, the color washed her out (unlike Maxima's gray).

i guess the skirt was a bit trendy but i liked the long length. i thought that was nice for an older lady. she looked regal.

[mtbcm]

Hola published an interesting article about this theme. Here is a rough translation of the article. (:o I am sorry for any mistake in the translation, I have no time to check it...)

All babies born in the Dutch Royal Family in the last century worn this brooch the day of their baptism

Allthough many baptismal traditions of Dutch Royal Family have been changed through the years, others, as the christening gown and the historical brooch that wears the new born during the religious ceremony, have remained unalterable in the successive generations of the Orange Family.

In a spontenous ceremony, like her older sister, princess Catherine-Amalia, the small Alexia was baptized with water of the Jordán river and the familiar gown. A precious christening gown, that was made specially for the baptism of Queen Guillermina, in 1880, with embroidery of Brussels. The dress has been used in the last years for the baptisms of Queen Juliana and Queen Beatrix - respectively great-grandmother and grandmother of the neophyte -; her father, prince Guillermo; her uncle Friso and Constantino and, for the last time, as we said by her sister and future Heiress to the throne of Holland, princess Catherine-Amalia. And, showing the historical brooch- a dove of white gold and brilliants taken before by all their predecessors.

Traditions apart, everyone can see how intimate and sponteaneous these cerimonies are at the kingdom of Holland. Thus, the baptism of princess Alexia could be said that was touching, very pleasant and, also, moved enough: the protagonist of the day was smiling during all the celebration, as well as playing with her mother's brooch; princess Catherine-Amalia, older sister of the litle one, was hardly quiet and, even, in a pair of occasions, rose of her seat and began to cross the central corridor of the temple, without paying attention to princess Maxima who indicated with gestures to return to her place; her greater cousin, Eloísa, who looked a young lady, was very proud of the small purse with which she attended the celebration; the Choir of Children dedicated a charming song to litle Alexia and offered her and her sister with two bibles; without forgetting, personal desires of the godparents. Specially, the sweet words of princess Mathilde to Alexia and, also, Amalia.

Prince Constantin Prince Friso

source (article and photos): Hola.com