State Visit from France to Belgium: 19-20 November

[wyevale]

^ If he was going to 'depart from the script' he might as well have worn a 'Gilet Jaune'...

 

[iceflower]

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The galleries posted on the previous page of this thread have been updated with photos of the state banquet!

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I don't understand the outfit of the President. The other French guests, including officials from the Élysée simply wore a proper evening attire. Maybe it is no jacquet but an avantgardistic twist to a traditional black tails coat?

 

[Tilia C.]

It's lovely to see Astrid, Laurent and their spouses again at a State Banquet. It's been ages since Laurent and Claire attended, so I really enjoy seeing Claire with her tiara again.

 

[wyevale]

If it was an attempt to re-write Gentleman's formal wear [after 150+ years] it is an error to use a Morning coat to do it..it merely looks like a mistake by those responsible for dressing him !
Also the jacket doesn't fit..the shoulders just fall off him. He looks like a boy trying on his Dad's Morning Coat !

 

[An Ard Ri]

I expected to see Princess -Archduchess Astrid and Prince-Archduke Lorenz as they have attended some State banquet Galas but was a nice rare surprise to see Princess Claire

 

[Mbruno]

I can spot tails on his jacket...

You can..
He is [mistakenly] wearing a Black 'Morning Coat', which has 'Tails', but no 'cut-away' front, unlike the correct jacket for 'White-Tie' evening dress...

One can clearly see the cut-away front on Prince Laurent’s tailcoat, but it is not so clear on Prince Lorenz’s jacket.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

I must say it does not really disturb me. The short fronts on the traditional black tails coat are not always that flattering. This (intended?) fault actually does not look too bad. See https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsY5uTaWkAEVL5f?format=jpg

I think it is intended because a jacquet comes with a grey pantalon, a normal shirt with tie, a gilet in a colour. The President wore a black pantalon matching the coat, he wore the traditional shirt for wearing with a white tie and he wore a white gilet. I can not imagine, in a city like Paris, that gentlemen do not know what to wear. This must be an intended choice and is no mistake, to my idea.

 

[wartenberg7]

I must say it does not really disturb me. The short fronts on the traditional black tails coat are not always that flattering. This (intended?) fault actually does not look too bad. See https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsY5uTaWkAEVL5f?format=jpg

I think it is intended because a jacquet comes with a grey pantalon, a normal shirt with tie, a gilet in a colour. The President wore a black pantalon matching the coat, he wore the traditional shirt for wearing with a white tie and he wore a white gilet. I can not imagine, in a city like Paris, that gentlemen do not know what to wear. This must be an intended choice and is no mistake, to my idea.

Well, this is not about if something looks flattering or not (though I do think a black tail coat looks extremely dapper on men, even if they were not the greatest Beaus!), but about what to wear and when on an official basis. And a morning coat for an evening event, is something that looks pretty ridiculous to me.
Paris might be the city of fashion, but obviously not of proper protocol....

 

[eya]

The second day visit Molenbeek, at "LaVallée", a coworking space dedicated to artistic creation

https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsbqNDUXgAAPIcC.jpg
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsbrTMZW0AAZoYq.jpg
https://www.instagram.com/p/BqZTWJ-hlmE/

A painting of Princess Elisabeth from her father!!

"[Wim Dehandschutter]‏ @WDehandschutter

Belgian King Philippe has shown French president @EmmanuelMacron a painting he had made of his daughter Elisabeth (17). That happened yesterday at a private lunch at the Castle of Laeken. Apart from Queen Mathilde and Brigitte Macron, no one else was invited."


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsdiOk5X4AE2XMG.jpg

 

[iceflower]

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Here are some more photos of the beginning of day 2:


** Pic 1 ** Pic 2 ** Pic 3 ** Pic 4 ** fb gallery **


And galleries of the whole second day - to be updated during the day:



** belga gallery - day 2 ** gettyimages gallery - day 2 ** rex gallery - day 2 **


** dailymail: A kiss for the Queen! French president Emmanuel Macron turns on the Gallic charm as he greets Belgium’s Mathilde..**

 

[Mbruno]

I expected to see Princess -Archduchess Astrid and Prince-Archduke Lorenz as they have attended some State banquet Galas but was a nice rare surprise to see Princess Claire

It is a pity that we didn’t get a better look of Princess Claire and her tiara in the pictures that were released. All Royal Houses should have limited video coverage of state banquets as the Danes, the Brits and even the Spaniards do now.

I didn’t remember seeing Princess Claire with a tiara since CP Victoria’s wedding , but she may have been to same other state dinner which I missed in the meantime.

 

[Stefan]

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I didn’t remember seeing Princess Claire with a tiara since CP Victoria’s wedding , but she may have been to same other state dinner which I missed in the meantime.

She also attended the Wedding Ball in Monaco in 2011 and i think this was the last time she was sported with a tiara.

 

[iceflower]

It is a pity that we didn’t get a better look of Princess Claire and her tiara in the pictures that were released.

Here you are: Claire, Claire & Astrid - not perfect, but at least some better views on the tiara

 

[Moonmaiden23]

What a gorgeous painting of Lisa by her father...King Philippe is quite talented.

 

[Mbruno]

A painting of Princess Elisabeth from her father!!

"[Wim Dehandschutter]‏ @WDehandschutter

Belgian King Philippe has shown French president @EmmanuelMacron a painting he had made of his daughter Elisabeth (17). That happened yesterday at a private lunch at the Castle of Laeken. Apart from Queen Mathilde and Brigitte Macron, no one else was invited."


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsdiOk5X4AE2XMG.jpg

The dress code for Belgian state dinners continues to be chaotic. As one can see from the clips/pictures above on Wim Dehandschutter's site, there are guests wearing black tie and even business suits in addition to guests wearing the recommended white-tie attire. President Macron's morning suit may be forgiven then !



I am not sure if the fault lies with the guests, who ignore proper dress code, or with the Palace, which is not strict enough about it. What could they do anyway ? Bar a government member or a prominent political or business leader from getting in because he is not properly dressed ? Of course not.

 

[maria-olivia]

Day II Queen Mathilde is overdressed.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

The dress code for Belgian state dinners continues to be chaotic. As one can see from the clips above on Wim Dehandschutter's site, there are guests wearing even business suits in addition to guests wearing the recommended white-tie attire. President Macron's morning suit may be forgiven then !



I am not sure if the fault lies with the guests, who ignore proper dress code, or with the Palace, which is not strict enough about it. What could they do anyway ? Bar a government member or a prominent political or business leader from getting in because he is not properly dressed ? Of course not.

Recently we had some witness reports from Dutch citizens, like businessmen, journalists, sporters, scientists, whom were invited at Buckingham Palace for the state banquet in honour of King Willem-Alexander. All of them told they hired proper attire as none of them had white tie in the closet.

I think there is no dresscode in Belgium. Maybe the Court does not like to impose anything. Probably only a "recommendation". Remember that even at the Investiture of King Philippe, there was no dresscode...

Belgium: https://fr.metrotime.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/belgaimage-142126766-full.jpg

Netherlands: https://static0.persgroep.net/paroo...XSmxNRFl0WVdRd09UTmpORGcwWWpjNUx6azVPWGc1T1Rr

 

[Tilia C.]

She also attended the Wedding Ball in Monaco in 2011 and i think this was the last time she was sported with a tiara.

There also was the pre-wedding of Guillaume and Stéphanie in 2012, that's the last tiara event I have recorded for Claire. But her last State Visit must have been the visit from Hungary in 2008, when she mysteriously did not wear a tiara. So, seeing Laurent and Claire at a State Banquet after 10 years of absence is quite something, imo. I hope they will continue to attend.

 

[maria-olivia]

Yes, I agree.
Princess Astrid has now the Aoste tiara, Princess Claire her second small tiara.

 

[Marchesina]

Day II Queen Mathilde is overdressed.

I don't think so. She is dressed as she did in any other State Visit she did since she became a Queen. It's M.me Macron who is "underdressed" a business suit is not what we are used to when it comes to State Visits.

 

[Marchesina]

Recently we had some witness reports from Dutch citizens, like businessmen, journalists, sporters, scientists, whom were invited at Buckingham Palace for the state banquet in honour of King Willem-Alexander. All of them told they hired proper attire as none of them had white tie in the closet.

I think there is no dresscode in Belgium. Maybe the Court does not like to impose anything. Probably only a "recommendation". Remember that even at the Investiture of King Philippe, there was no dresscode...

Belgium: https://fr.metrotime.be/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/belgaimage-142126766-full.jpg

Netherlands: https://static0.persgroep.net/paroo...XSmxNRFl0WVdRd09UTmpORGcwWWpjNUx6azVPWGc1T1Rr

Yes, I think that's the key. The court imo only suggests to wear white tie, but certainly leave to people the freedom to wear whatever they feel comfortable with (and possibly can afford).
It would be better if they were more strict, at least members of the government and other authorities whom are most likely to be photographed.

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

Yes, I think that's the key. The court imo only suggests to wear white tie, but certainly leave to people the freedom to wear whatever they feel comfortable with (and possibly can afford).
It would be better if they were more strict, at least members of the government and other authorities whom are most likely to be photographed.

I think there is also an element of "unruliness" with some politicians. Not all politicians like the ones from NVA (separatists) or SP/PS (socialists) want to be seen as "bourgeois" or obeying "orders" from a royal court.

That is a pity because ceremonial and decorum certainly have a function. It is remarkable because one would expect Belgium having more eye for it than the "calvinistic" monarchies.

 

[leidi]

A painting of Princess Elisabeth from her father!!

"[Wim Dehandschutter]‏ @WDehandschutter

Belgian King Philippe has shown French president @EmmanuelMacron a painting he had made of his daughter Elisabeth (17). That happened yesterday at a private lunch at the Castle of Laeken. Apart from Queen Mathilde and Brigitte Macron, no one else was invited."


https://pbs.twimg.com/media/DsdiOk5X4AE2XMG.jpg

This is absolutely lovely, a "natural" painting of his daughter, not in an "official" setting or anything, just on the palace one day or in a holiday, he decided to paint her and did it pretty well, I think he's quite talented tbh and it's something that shows a lot of his personality, he's usually reserved but probably can express himself quite well through painting.

It is said that he's painted Mathilde a few times, she's probably his biggest muse

 

[maria-olivia]

Now that the State Visit is over, .
No word on this forum about his Visit to our french University at Louvain-la Neuve. 130 policemen were there and it was the event he surely appreciated , he had his "bain de foule" he likes so much. Then he spoke to the Students , a few were against him . He said "he was very happy , la jeunesse promet".

The State Dinner after Denmark with Tiaras , Sashes seems completely new for President and Madame Macron . I don't know if they will have State Dinners in France with white tie , uniforms tiara and sashes etc.

 

[Nico]

The State Dinner after Denmark with Tiaras , Sashes seems completely new for President and Madame Macron . I don't know if they will have State Dinners in France with white tie , uniforms tiara and sashes etc.

Not.a.single.chance .....

 

[Duc_et_Pair]

[.....]


The State Dinner after Denmark with Tiaras , Sashes seems completely new for President and Madame Macron . I don't know if they will have State Dinners in France with white tie , uniforms tiara and sashes etc.

Under President Chirac the dresscode was black tie.
See picture (State Visit from Portugal)

Under President Sarkozy black tie was maintained.
See picture (State Visit from Libanon)

Under President Hollande ("monsieur Normal") even black tie was scrapped for normal suit-and-tie and ladies in short:
See picture (State Visit from Spain)
See picture (State Visit from the Netherlands)
(This resulted in the guests' return event being more formal than the main event... see picture)

Under President Macron for so far suit-and-tie remained but the long dresses have come back:
See picture (State Visit from Luxembourg)

 

[Nico]

Under President Chirac the dresscode was black tie.
See picture (State Visit from Portugal)

Under President Sarkozy black tie was maintained.
See picture (State Visit from Libanon)

Under President Hollande ("monsieur Normal") even black tie was scrapped for normal suit-and-tie and ladies in short:
See picture (State Visit from Spain)
See picture (State Visit from the Netherlands)
(This resulted in the guests' return event being more formal than the main event... see picture)

Under President Macron for so far suit-and-tie remained but the long dresses have come back:
See picture (State Visit from Luxembourg)

We can ad that Pesident Macron reintroduced some "usages" like formal presentations before the State dinner, using extensively Versailles etc... The further he can go for sure (and not without criticisms).

 

[Mbruno]

Now that the State Visit is over, .
No word on this forum about his Visit to our french University at Louvain-la Neuve. 130 policemen were there and it was the event he surely appreciated , he had his "bain de foule" he likes so much. Then he spoke to the Students , a few were against him . He said "he was very happy , la jeunesse promet".

The State Dinner after Denmark with Tiaras , Sashes seems completely new for President and Madame Macron . I don't know if they will have State Dinners in France with white tie , uniforms tiara and sashes etc.

Did Madame Macron attend the State Dinner in Denmark ? She looked more uncomfortable than the President and somewhat tense in the group picture. Maybe those kinds of formal events are “ newer” to her than to her husband.

Fortunately, the Belgian court is relatively relaxed/ informal, so they can get a little bit of practice before having to face the big guns like a State Dinner in the UK for example.

 

[Nico]

Did Madame Macron attend the State Dinner in Denmark ? She looked more uncomfortable than the President and somewhat tense in the group picture. Maybe those kinds of formal events are “ newer” to her than to her husband.

Fortunately, the Belgian court is relatively relaxed/ informal, so they can get a little bit of practice before having to face the big guns like a State Dinner in the UK for example.

Madame Macron is mourning the death of her brother ...