Queen Mathilde of Belgium, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and King Philippe at Laeken Castle on October 17.Photo:BENOIT DOPPAGNE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
BENOIT DOPPAGNE/BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images
Queen Mathilde of Belgiumwent without a tiara at her latest state banquet following the deadly attack in Brussels.
The Queen of Belgium, 50, skipped the royal accessory during the diplomatic dinner honoring President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa of Portugal at Laeken Castle on Tuesday night. While tiaras are traditionally worn for white-tie affairs, Mathilde made a more demure style statement in the wake of the tragedy.
Journalist Wim Dehandschutter got in touch with the Belgian royal palace regarding the lack of tiara wear,reporting on X(formerly Twitter), “Mathilde preferred serenity after Monday’s terrorist attack in Brussels in which 2 Swedes were killed.”
Queen Mathilde of Belgium, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and King Philippe at Laeken Castle on October 17.BENOIT DOPPAGNE/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
BENOIT DOPPAGNE/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
The attack happened on what was originally intended to be the first day of Rebelo de Sousa’s three-day state visit to Belgium, according to the royal family’swebsite, and the agenda was adjusted due to the tragic events. Outdoor events were canceled, and the King and Queen quietly invited the Portuguese president to the Royal Palace for a welcoming ceremony during the day on Tuesday.
That evening, a moment of silence was held in memory of the victims as the banquet began, and King Philippe, 63, touched on the news in a brief speech.
“Mr. President, a new terrorist attack hit our capital yesterday, the same day of your arrival. Our thoughts are with the families of the victims who were cowardly targeted as they peacefully went to a sporting event between two friendly countries,” he began.
Queen Mathilde of Belgium, President of Portugal Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa and King Philippe at the Royal Palace on October 17.BENOIT DOPPAGNE/Belga/AFP via Getty Images
“We are gathered this evening in the desire to show ourselves united around our democratic values which we will continue to defend. Our two nations, which have sealed their destiny within the European Union, each know, through their history, the meaning of the word ‘democracy,’ ” he continued. “Your state visit marks our desire to strengthen ties around our faith in the future. It is in this state of mind that the Queen and I welcome your presence among us.”
The following day, courtiers revealed that King Philippe connected with King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden.
The week began on a brighter note for the Belgian royals, asKing PhilippeandQueen Mathilde’s eldest daughter Princess Elisabeth represented the family atPrince Christianof Denmark’s18th birthday bashin Copenhagen.
Princess Elisabeth, 21, sparkled in the Wolfers Tiara for the party at Christiansborg Palace and entered with Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, afellow future queen.
Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands and Princess Elisabeth of Belgium enter Prince Christian of Denmark’s 18th birthday bash on October 15.MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
MADS CLAUS RASMUSSEN/Ritzau Scanpix/AFP via Getty Images
Europe’s royal families are close in both their duties and their personal connections, and the Belgian and Dutch royals share an especially tight bond. Queen Mathilde and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands share afun friendship, and Mathilde is even godmother to Princess Catharina-Amalia’s younger sister, Princess Alexia!
The special occasion of Prince Christian’s 18th birthday called for aformal portraitof the next generation of European monarchs in attendance. Prince Christian was all smiles beside Princess Estelle of Sweden, 11, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 19, Princess Catharina-Amalia, 19, and Princess Elisabeth in the snap that the Danish Royal House shared onInstagram. Like Prince Christian, the princesses all follow their parents — Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden, Crown Prince Haakon of Norway, King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and King Philippe — in the line of succession as their first-born children.
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As she prepares for the destiny ahead, Princess Elisabeth iscurrently enrolledat Oxford University in England, completing a three-year course in history and politics at Lincoln College. The future queen previously earned her International Baccalaureate from the United World College of the Atlantic in Wales in 2020 and spent a year at theRoyal Military Academyin Brussels.
source: people.com
