Crown Prince Philippe To Marry Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

In 1999 crownprince Philippe of Belgium (39) got engaged to jonkvrouw Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz, a 26-year old Belgian aristocrat, who untill her marriage worked as a speech therapist.
The couple had been able to keep their relation secret for 3 years.

Here are some pictures from september 1999, when Belgium first saw the face of their new future queen.
The presentation was in the park of the castle of Laeken, where the couple settled down after their marriage.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Answering questions of the press.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Posing with their families.

Here with Philippe's parents, the king and queen of the Belgians.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Toasting with their family and the press

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

2 months later the couple gave an engagement party in the castle of Laeken, where 1500 guests from all over Belgium were invited (apart from their own family and friends).

1.The couple arrives and is being welcomed by the king and queen
2.Sweet gesture of Philippe
3.The couple dancing.
4.Mathilde reading the menu
5.(BTW all the food was Belgian)

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Photos from Corbis:

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

From Corbis:

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

1.the couple talking to Khadja Nin
2.greeting guests
3.prince Laurent with Mathilde's sister Elisabeth

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

1.Philippe and Mathilde during dinner

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

...

 

[Hannelore]

More pics from their engagement:

1.the couple with their parents
2.with Mathilde's father and Filip's mother

 

[Hannelore]

1.With amedeo, Luisa Maria and Maria Laura
2.With the king and queen
3.A toast

 

[Hannelore]

Fotomarktplatz
http://meta2.fotomarktplatz.de/image/layout/04/10/FMP-10-04-1339.jpg

 

[Hannelore]

Filip and Mathilde walking amid the press in the park of the castle of Laeken, which is their home now.

http://meta2.fotomarktplatz.de/image/layout/04/10/FMP-10-04-1343.jpg

 

[Hannelore]

1.Prince Lorenz having a beer
2.The couple and their families

 

[Hannelore]

Paola and Albert dancing

http://meta2.fotomarktplatz.de/image/layout/04/11/FMP-11-04-1539.jpg

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

At the engagement party:

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

More from the engagement party.

the arrival of king Albert & queen Paola

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

king Albert greeting Mathilde's youngest sister, countess Hélène d'Udekem d'Acoz

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

the king & queen greeting Mathilde's sisters Elisabeth and Hélène

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

prince Laurent greeting Mathilde's sister, countess Elisabeth d'Udekem d'Acoz

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Mathilde and her mother, countess Anne Komorowska

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Arrival of Philippe & Mathilde

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Philippe & Mathilde talking to queen Paola

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Queen Paola dancing with Mathilde's father, count Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz and king Albert dancing with Mathilde's mother, countess Anne Komorowska.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

king Albert applauding the orchestra.

 

[Hannelore]

Dancing at the party

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

queen Paola at the buffet

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

the duke of Brabant with Mathilde's mother, countess Anne Komorowska.

 

[Hannelore]

Princess Astrid arriving, with her daughter Laura and husband Lorenz (the other children were there as well of course)