I translated priest Guy Gilbert's impression of the wedding, that I found on his website:
For seven years now I've had a long and discreet friendship with Laurent of Belgium, the son of Paola and Albert, queen and king of Belgium.
It was something new for me to marry a royal prince. I couldn't imagine that one day I would be standing next to a cardinal to be the witness of the love between two royal highnesses.
In the cathedral of Brussels, where 1500 guests were present, I had to give the final meditation, after the exchange of the rings.
The night before I left for this wedding, a 'troublemaker' , Abdel, bursted into my place in Paris. He had come out of prison, where I had guided him, step by step, during a year. I stayed with him untill 3 AM. Strangely enough, it was him who gave me enough inspiration to talk about love to an audiance of kings and queens, princes and nobles from all the European courts, a few hours later. I had no fear, or stress, before those crowned heads.
What a joy to cheer love, the most beautiful human adventure, for the most noble and the most modest, thanks to the television, that broadcasted the princely wedding in the entire kingdom!
During the two meals that followed the official ceremony, there were beautiful and intense meetings. Certain dispairs I heard about missed love, the wounds of split up couples, immense fortunes or distroyed sumptuous palaces made a big impression on me.
I went from table to table, as I had been asked to do. I saw how protocol dissapears for the great of the earth, when they abandon their titles and show themselves naked.
It are persons that are strangely alike to some of mine (the 'loubards'). With the difference that the latter have no official function whatsoever, to hide themselves behind a brilliant appearence that allows you to pretend to exist.
Exciting moments. The discovery of exceptional persons between the personnalities of the royal gotha. Especially, a future queen of a wonderful authenticity. She was for me a breath of joy and peace in that mass of people, with whom the first meeting learned me a lot.
When I showed, in each palace, the pass with royal arms, I had to think of Abdel who came out of prison. He arrived at midnight, without a pass. Without an appointment. He had come as a poor man, simply knocking at my door.
Certain of the prestigious guests at this wedding, who had gotten hold of the royal invitation who allowed them the so desired 'way in' were also poor people.
I loved being next to this beings of light, so eager for a listening ear and mercy.