Belgian National Day - 21 July, 2: 2023 -

[Marengo]

Arms of the Kingdom of Belgium (lesser version)​

Welcome to Belgian National Day 21 July Part 2

Commencing July 21st 2023 ​

The previous thread can be found here
​

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[iceflower]

As every year the National Day speech has been released in three languages today.

A copy of the King's speech in..


** Dutch ** French ** German **

This evening the traditional concert on the eve of the National Day took place at the Flagey concert hall and King Philippe and Queen Mathilde afterwards attended the Bal National concert:


** rex gallery ** gettyimages gallery **

 

[maria-olivia]

Very Important National Day. King Albert II and Queen Paola will be in the morning at the Cathedral . The National Defilé will be very special (10 airplanes). Sadly we will heve Rain.
(drache nationale)

 

[An Ard Ri]

Here are a few more photos from last nights concerts in Brussels.
https://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=20-07-2023 Flagey

 

[iceflower]

The celebrations have started with the traditional mass this morning, July 21:


** twitter video ** gettyimages gallery ** rex gallery ** gtresnews gallery **


** parismatch: Vivez cette journée de Fête nationale en images (Live) **


** lesoir: 21 juillet : les images de la famille royale au Te Deum (photos) **


** dailymail article: Wearing the flag! Queen Mathilde of Belgium and daughters Crown Princesses ..**

 

[Linda_26]

The celebrations have started with the traditional mass this morning, July 21:


** twitter video **

They recreated the Belgian flag with their outfits! Nice to see King Albert and Queen Paola for the first time at the National Day since 2013. Albert looks better than when he was just released from hospital, but he's still frail

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682306979576836096

 

[An Ard Ri]

Was lovely to see King Albert being helped up the Cathedral steps by his grandson.

Few more photos from this mornings Mass at Brussels Cathedral.
https://www.ppe-agency.com/show.php?zoektype=2&search=21-07-2023 Brussels

 

[Linda_26]

Was lovely to see King Albert being helped up the Cathedral steps by his grandson.

Yes indeed! It's Gabriel helping Albert, while Emmanuel was supporting Paola

An air kiss between the two Belgian Queens- while Princess Eleonore (who looks soo beautiful and grown-up) greets her grandfather

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682305644735475712

 

[Adda]

What a beautiful family. What wonderful children (I can't believe how grown up and beautiful they are!) I can't stop smiling.

King Albert looked in such good spirits, that is so wonderful. But of course he is very frail and left immediately after the service.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682313611035783170

 

[leidi]

Was lovely to see King Albert being helped up the Cathedral steps by his grandson.

Yes!
And it was Emmanuel helping his grandmother, they seem to be such nice young men

The King had to help his father with the stairs when they left the cathedral

 

[An Ard Ri]

The King had to help his father with the stairs when they left the cathedral

I actually didn't expect to see old King Albert at the Mass given his recent ill health.

 

[leidi]

I actually didn't expect to see old King Albert at the Mass given his recent ill health.

I noticed that both Philippe and Gabriel seemed to be keeping an eye on him at the cathedral, I guess he's still on the mend and not 100% back.

 

[Linda_26]

Yes!

The King had to help his father with the stairs when they left the cathedral

I find this picture quite touching

 

[Adda]

As every year the National Day speech has been released in three languages today.

It should be mentioned that the portrait of King Boudewijn we can see in this video was painted by King Filip himself. What a talented artist!

The King's siblings and half-sister have arrived for the military parade.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682389626667892738

Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eléonore have arrived as well.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682390870841016320

Queen Mathilde is crying watching her two eldest march in the military parade. Seems like just yesterday they were toddlers.


https://www.instagram.com/reel/Cu9qWSaoGNM/?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==

 

[Somebody]

Claire figured that she could beat Elisabeth with her hat...

 

[An Ard Ri]

What a really proud moment for the King and the Queen!

 

[Adda]

The Royal Family is en route to Jubelpark. The ladies are in green/white. The boys look so handsome.

 

[cdm]

Belgian National Day - 21 July, 2009-2023

The green outfits were worn for the events in the Warandepark across the Royal Palace and on the Koningsplein around the corner.

The evening concert and fire works are at the Jubelpark.

 

[Adda]

The family is very much so in Jubelpark.

Here's Princess Claire and her children greeting Delphine and her family.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682462625836269568

Their Majesties and their children in Jubelpark for the concert.
https://www.shutterstock.com/es/edi...ippe---filip-belgium-queen-mathilde-14017906b

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682469041267519495

Besides showing off his painting skills, King Filip was also filmed playing the Moonlight Sonata.
https://instagram.com/stories/belgi...e=ig_story_item_share&igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Annnnd finally, The King's speech at the end of the concert.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682497514669322244

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682499916948557825

And the Fireworks.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682506357490974720

 

[maria-olivia]

Concert and at the end ,the whole Royal family went on the stage and the King said "Happy Belgium", a great firework and our Brabançonne . Unforgettable !

 

[Marchesina]

Lovely moments before the concert of the family greeting eachother and having a little chat. It is really wonderful to see them all getting on so well together after all the struggles.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682476193411465218

 

[Prinsara]

Lovely moments before the concert of the family greeting eachother and having a little chat. It is really wonderful to see them all getting on so well together after all the struggles.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682476193411465218

Laurent's gonna Laurent, it seems.

What on Earth is wrong with saying "Mathilde, your adult son wants you"? Then she has to apologize to Delphine for him!

It's just a minor moment but this family is too fragile for him not to act a little more politely, however difficult it might be for him.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

Philippe, Mathilde and their 4 gorgeous children in full effect are simply stunning.

Lucky Belgians.

 

[leidi]

The family is very much so in Jubelpark.

Here's Princess Claire and her children greeting Delphine and her family.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682462625836269568

Their Majesties and their children in Jubelpark for the concert.
https://www.shutterstock.com/es/edi...ippe---filip-belgium-queen-mathilde-14017906b

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682469041267519495

Besides showing off his painting skills, King Filip was also filmed playing the Moonlight Sonata.
https://instagram.com/stories/belgi...e=ig_story_item_share&igshid=MTc4MmM1YmI2Ng==

Annnnd finally, The King's speech at the end of the concert.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682497514669322244

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682499916948557825

And the Fireworks.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1682506357490974720

I don't think anyone realized how artistic Philippe is, he's a very good painter and also likes to play the piano.

Laurent's gonna Laurent, it seems.

What on Earth is wrong with saying "Mathilde, your adult son wants you"? Then she has to apologize to Delphine for him!

It's just a minor moment but this family is too fragile for him not to act a little more politely, however difficult it might be for him.

Even Gabriel was kind of embarrassed about his uncle tbh

 

[Prinsara]

Even Gabriel was kind of embarrassed about his uncle tbh

In closer families without decades of headlines, you can grab people and it's not that big a deal. In this one, no. It's one thing when Laurent does his attention-getting/disruptive shtick like using his phone, but this is actually interfering with what other people are doing.

Mathilde may be too nice. (Also, female.) I don't think he would dare grab Philippe out of a conversation... Would he?

 

[leidi]

In closer families without decades of headlines, you can grab people and it's not that big a deal. In this one, no. It's one thing when Laurent does his attention-getting/disruptive shtick like using his phone, but this is actually interfering with what other people are doing.

Mathilde may be too nice. (Also, female.) I don't think he would dare grab Philippe out of a conversation... Would he?

Terribly rude but we don't really expect more from Laurent, he does need a LOT of therapy to deal with all his issues.

 

[Prinsara]

Terribly rude but we don't really expect more from Laurent, he does need a LOT of therapy to deal with all his issues.

Yes, but even with the very low bar that is "public expectations for Laurent", now we've seen him grab someone who happens to be both female and the Queen -- but I just can't imagine him having the nerve or stupidity to do that to his brother. (And Mathilde should be firm enough to say "thank you, in a minute", but she's not the problem.)

But Laurent always leaves one wondering. So now I'm going to wait for the day when he grabs Philippe...

 

[rominet09]

So what ? Is it important ? It only shows that he is at ease with his family.

 

[Prinsara]

So what ? Is it important ? It only shows that he is at ease with his family.

Actually, most of the clips pointedly showed him avoiding Delphine, and thus being rude to Mathilde and ruder to Delphine when he felt the need to physically remove the former from a conversation with the latter rather than simply say she was needed elsewhere, when even her son had had the manners not to interrupt.

Basically the opposite of "at ease", with a splash of chauvinism, but although it's a drop in the "Laurent has no manners" river, him feeling this is behavior he can get away with is not such a great pattern.

 

[Marchesina]

In closer families without decades of headlines, you can grab people and it's not that big a deal. In this one, no. It's one thing when Laurent does his attention-getting/disruptive shtick like using his phone, but this is actually interfering with what other people are doing.



Mathilde may be too nice. (Also, female.) I don't think he would dare grab Philippe out of a conversation... Would he?

I thought it was a funny thing that family members at ease with eachother do all the time, but then I remembered this is Laurent and you can read more into his behaviour than you normally would with any other person. He just can't help himself.