The Belgian King and Queen attended a state dinner in Pretoria

Queen Mathilde wore an embroidered tulle dress by Natan. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Lindiwe Zulu

On the evening of March 23, South Africa's President Cyril Ramaphosa and South African Minister of Social Development Lindiwe Zulu hosted a state dinner at the Sefako Makgatho Presidential Guesthouse in Pretoria in honor of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. From 22 to 27 March 2023, the King and Queen are making a state visit to South Africa.

Queen Mathilde wore an embroidered tulle dress by Natan. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Lindiwe Zulu

Queen Mathilde wore an embroidered tulle dress by Natan. President Cyril Ramaphosa and Minister Lindiwe Zulu

Queen Mathilde of Belgium wore Natan Dress
Natan Dress

40 Comments

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  1. canadian fan23/3/23 22:47

    I love everything about this look. Queen Mathilde looks stunning!

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    1. Anonymous23/3/23 23:22

      She certainly does! MR

      Delete
  2. Anonymous23/3/23 23:02

    Beautiful!!! Mathilde looks gorgeous here. I also like the shorter version of her gown and think it would also look marvelous on her.

    Janet

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    1. The shorter version would have been more appropriate since the dress code was obviously business suits for the gentlemen and cocktail dress for the ladies.
      Romy B.

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  3. It's undoubtedly a beautiful dress, and I agree with Janet that the shorter version would also look great for Queen Mathilde but it's too insipid. The Queen looks so good in strong vibrant colours and this is so pale. I also don't think the waistline is flattering, certainly in these photos.

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    1. Anonymous24/3/23 11:18

      Exactly my thoughts

      Delete
    2. Anonymous24/3/23 16:42

      Agree with you, Annie

      Delete
  4. Anonymous24/3/23 02:16

    To each their own, i don't like this look, imo the color washes her, the style make her shape makes her bigger than she is.
    However I do love the hat of the Minister Lindiwe Zulu, doesn't Maxima has a dress like hers, with the feathers? Not my taste either
    Luna

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  5. Anonymous24/3/23 02:24

    Mathilde appears extremely lovely. The King is handsome as ever. The gown is lovely blend of colors. I am not a fan of Natan, but this gown goes against the grain, it's terrific. ! Annie

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  6. Anonymous24/3/23 07:14

    This is a beautiful evening dress. I only saw Queen Mathilde once with this dress, it was on a state visit to the GD of Luxemburg in 2019. I always wondered why she didn't wore this dress anymore. I'm glad she did now. She is also wearing her beautiful diamond earrings and a diamond bracelet.

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  7. Anonymous24/3/23 08:02

    It looks beautiful but my question is the is no kings and queens in south africa to join them or is because of they don't have money

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    1. Anonymous24/3/23 12:04

      Please, are you serious?

      Delete
    2. South Africa is a Republic. There are some countries around (Eswatini, Lesotho, I think) that are considered monarchies, but this is a state visit of the King and Queen of the Belgians to South Africa and not to some other country in that part of the world. Therefore, no other monarchs involved.

      Delete
  8. Quel progrès chez Natan en nous montrant cette robe magnifique mais dont les couleurs sont un peu fades ; en effet, des couleurs plus soutenues auraient rehaussé le teint de Mathilde !

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    1. Anonymous24/3/23 17:39

      C'est une robe de 2019. Le progrès chez Natan avait déja commencé.

      Delete
  9. Anonymous24/3/23 09:49

    It would have been better if the SA's first Lady was next to the president, My sincere apologies if RSA do not have a first Lady.. 🙄

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    1. Anonymous24/3/23 12:08

      He has 5 wives...

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    2. Royalty fan24/3/23 14:12

      Yes anon 09:49, indeed we have a first Lady, his wife. Dr Tshepo Motsepe, a physician and businesswoman. I don't know why she doesn't accompany him!

      Delete
    3. Royalty fan24/3/23 14:19

      I absolutely love the photo where queen Mathilde had this dress on the first time. She was a vision, that hair up do, oh my goodness! Breathtaking! Jaw dropping!

      Delete
    4. Anonymous25/3/23 17:00

      Anon 12:08, it was our previous president who had many wives. Our current president only has one wife, the lady mentioned by Royalty fan.

      Delete
  10. Anonymous24/3/23 10:29

    Anche se molte volte lo stile Nathan non giova a Mathilde, dico che stavolta mi piace.
    Dirò invece che la lady in nero dovrebbe cambiare stilista, con tutto rispetto!
    Apprezzo che Mathilde abbia scelto di non indossare tiare.
    Rossella

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    1. Anonymous24/3/23 17:48

      Normally Queen Mathilde does not wear a tiara when she is going to countries where there is no king or queen. She made an exception though when President Macron of France was on state visit in Belgium and also when the German President (I think) was in Belgium. I don't know the reason why.

      Delete
  11. Anonymous24/3/23 10:51

    It is a beautiful dress but I think the Queen needs a bit stronger colours.
    Ladyofthemanor

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  12. Anonymous24/3/23 13:59

    The shorter version would have perked up this elegant dress. Q Mathilde has lovely legs. Mrs C

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  13. Anonymous24/3/23 14:17

    Lovely gown, a typical for Natan in my opinion. The Queen and King look terrific as so the rest of the group. Edwina

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  14. I’ll join the ‘like’ for the shorter version of the frock.
    Don’t understand what is happening with the waistline on the version Queen Mathilde is wearing.
    Whatever, I don’t think it is flattering the Queen.
    At 62 years of age, the King is retaining his good looks.
    It is autumn in South Africa and a good time to visit that part of the world.
    I hope they enjoy their state visit.

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    1. Anonymous24/3/23 19:33

      @ Deadeggs. Now that we don't talk anymore about the hair of Queen Maxima it is the waist of Queen Mathilde. Well her waist isn't perhaps not the same as it was a few years ago, we all get older. Some women like myself cannot keep the waist they had when they were young. You say the king is keeping his good looks, well I never said this but if you look carefully you see the king is having a little belly that he didn't had before. He is a sportive man though. And I think Queen Mathilde lost a bit weight lately. So what is important is that everybody is healthy and happy. They are a lovely couple and very fond of each other and that is what counts.

      Delete
    2. Anonymous24/3/23 20:02

      This was my same thought as well. Due to Mathilde's high waist, this dress isn't flattering on her to me, (and I suspected the same for the arrival black and white dress, except that we could not see it because she wore a white coat over it). This dress also looks a bit tight on her near bust and bodice, but she wears it with grace and elegance and plenty of smiles to focus on.
      I, too, think that a shorter length would have been better. It's a nice dress.

      The SA Minister of Social Development (the lady in the black hat?) also looks very smart.
      - Anon 9:13

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    3. Anonymous25/3/23 02:16

      Deadeggs didn't mention Queen Mathilde's waist but the waistline of the garment she is wearing. There's a difference.

      Delete
    4. @Anon 02:16
      Thanks for underlining the point I made.

      Delete
  15. Normally, I much adore King Philippe. He is a good looking chap (as is Henri, The Grandduke of Luxembourg) in his age group, and dresses well. This time, however, I think his double breasted jacket doesn't do him many favours. Looks a bit off to me, sorry.

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  16. The Queen looks stunning, beautiful gown, but I do prefer the shorter version, this looks absolutely divine.

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  17. Anonymous24/3/23 22:42

    Lovely dress and overall look for the queen. No need for a tiara to remind everyone of the horrible inhumane ways of the imperial domination (even if not Belgian).

    CH

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    1. Anonymous25/3/23 02:17

      Tiaras aren't a symbol of imperial domination.

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    2. Anonymous25/3/23 03:38

      Good point CH.
      - Anon 9:13

      Delete
  18. Have just read on another site where they say that diamonds make up 40% of South Africa's exports towards Belgium.
    Belgium is the third largest importer of diamonds in the world.

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    1. Yes. Diamond trade is a huge business for Belgium, and most of the world's famous diamond cutters/diamantaires are still to be find in Antwerp/Belgium. I have been there a few years ago, very interesting. 80 % of the world's uncut diamonds and about 50 % of the cut/shaped material are being dealt there. So, as South Africa still has big diamond mines, I assume that diamond trade is an important issue between the two countries.

      Delete
    2. Thanks for the additional information @DSC.
      And for me, they will always be a girl's best friend.

      Delete
  19. Royalty fan25/3/23 17:35

    No anon 12:08 [24/03/2023] it is Jacob Zuma, our former president, that has 5 wives

    ReplyDelete
  20. Anonymous25/3/23 19:35

    Lovely gown and super smile. css

    ReplyDelete

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