On the occasion of his 10th anniversary as King, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium invited 600 Belgians from all over the country to a Garden Party in the Royal Domain of Laeken. The party involved a walk along various artistic stops that passed through the Royal Park and the Royal greenhouses.
There was also five performances from classical music and acrobatics to dance and choir. During the walk, the guests met the King and Queen. A festive reception was held at the end of the walk. Prince Gabriel, Princess Eleonore, Prince Emmanuel, Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz attended the garden party too.
Maje satiny dress
Lately there's so many garden party.
ReplyDeleteGarden Parties in Belgium are far away from the traditional ones in UK. This one is just an occasional one celebrating 10 years of reign for King Philippe. Here only ordinary citizens invited; they were selected by local authorities to represent a mix of ages, regions etc..
DeleteMaybe because it' spring? Maybe because it makes more sense to have a garden party in May than in December? Just a thought.
DeleteDear MaryT
DeleteA British garden party, for example at Buck Palace, one finds many “ordinary” people who attend. They are usually invited as a recognition for their community and other works.
It is a mish-mash of social classes.
The aristocrats rub shoulders with the common people.
It's for the 10 anniversary of King's Philippe. It's not a tradition in Belgium. "Ordinary people". I'm thing it must be a big selection...
DeleteThe official beginning of the Philippe's reign is the 21th July. The day of the Fête Nationale.
DeleteI do understand what MaryT meant with 'ordinary' citizen/people. But this garden party are totally different from the ones held at the Buckingham Palace. The King and Queen of the Belgians wished to celebrate their enthronement anniversary with their people coming from all provinces; that are not necessarily need to have any recognitions or awards in order to be invited. I prefer this kind of approach, rather than the Brits. Extra bonus with the vast location that the Royal Palace of Laeken managed to set few attractions/activities for the guests to enjoy, which in my opinion, the Buckingham Palace couldn’t afford that. They don't have huge ground and just mingling among themselves.
DeleteBuckingham Palace has extensive land so they could set up activities if they do wished. However, it's not that kind of event.
DeleteOh, I love the Queens dress, very pretty and feminine. The patterning is not too overwhelming. Love the color of her shoes, nice!
ReplyDeleteI agree completely. Do we know who the Queen's dress is by? It's lovely. Also, always nice to see Astrid and Claire.
DeleteThis dress suits Mathilde, good style and beautiful color and design of fabric .
ReplyDeleteAva
Queen Mathilde's dress is beautiful. This is the style of dress that suits her the best. To walk in the park she is wearing her lower heels. Princess Eleonore looks very lovely in her orange dress. She has the same dress in dark blue. The princes and the king are looking handsome. It was a warm spring day yesterday in Brussels (I live not far from Laeken) that is why I do not understand the need of a jacket for Princess Astrid. From what I can see she is wearing a lovely summer skirt. CP Elisabeth is probably very busy with her studies in Oxford.
ReplyDeleteMathilde's green dress is perfect for a garden party. It looks fresh. But Eleanor is the winner. Love the orange. It is vibrant and perfect for a young lady. And she is really becoming a beautiful young girl.
ReplyDeleteYes. Q. Mathilde's dress and that of her daughter are very nice. Eleonore has become a pretty young lady.
DeletePauline
Garden party?
ReplyDeleteNo hats ? No brollies?
Have all the millinery shops in Belgium closed down.
Have all the hatters gone broke? 😥
It's Belgium, not the UK - different beast.
DeleteThey look lovely.
It is not a garden party like in the U.K. Besides it is not held every year, just now because King Phillippe is reigning 10 years this year. It is also a cultural happening in the park and the green houses of Laeken with dancers, choreography, classic music, animation, etc... Afterwards there is a reception for the invitees with more than just a cup of tea I presume.
DeleteThe Brits don’t have a copyright on garden parties. In fact they were first held in the Imperial Rome. Broiled and hats are only “applicable” in the UK. Yet there’s a world outside those small islands.
DeleteQuite a lot of Brit bashing going on in recent comments. Nobody said garden parties were invented by the British. Or that there wasn't a world beyond the not so small islands. Didn't realise people weren't allowed to wear hats outside the British Isles at garden parties - you learn something new everyday. And it isn't mandatory to take a "broiled" along.
DeleteL'imprimé sur vert tendre de la robe de Mathilde convient bien pour cette garden-party ; quant à Eleonore, elle embellit à vue d'oeil ; ravissante dans cette couleur orange. Dommage de voir la princesse Astrid assise ; j'aurais pu mieux admirer sa jupe aux motifs très estivaux !
ReplyDeleteNon sono in Inghilterra 😊
ReplyDeleteRossella
I know right? The British garden party has hats & the Japanese version has kimonos. Looking at this one... it has nothing
ReplyDeleteIt has much more than the pictures tell you. On other sites you can see the invitees are free to walk in the park and the green houses. There are cultural activities. Concerts, choreography, animation, ballet, etc... Afterwards the invitees are received at the chateau for a reception. So, I think it has a lot. Our idea of a garden party is very different than the U.K. style. We do not need hats and we know how to party and to eat and drink well.
DeleteWe also don't "need" hats and are also capable of partying and eating and drinking well.
DeleteO.K. Stop then giving negative comments to other royals from other countries who are doing things differently. How can you be so narrow minded.
DeleteOK. Stop then being the thought police on what other people can say. Narrow-minded people are the ones who think they are the only ones who can "eat, drink, party etc well". 😒
DeleteNice dress from both royal ladies and great they bring their children.
ReplyDeleteOf course, totally different style from the famous British gardenparties, why compare them?
Mabel
King Philippe shouldn't wear black socks with a light colour suit, imo.
ReplyDeleteMJT
A beautiful family; the boys are tall and handsome
ReplyDeleteNice look on everyone. Sadly the Dss of Brabant was missing. css
ReplyDeleteDuchess of Brabant missing???
DeleteTake a look at photos N°1 2 3 5 7 8 9 and 10.
Crown Princess Elisabeth (having also the title of Duchess of Brabant) was indeed missing. She was probably busy with her studies at Oxford.
ReplyDeleteThe only princes who was present was Princess Eléonore and her brothers.
Please stop calling Elisabeth Duchess of Brabant. It is so confusing. In Belgium everybody call her (Crown) Princess Elisabeth.
Thanks for the info.
DeleteLooks like I’ve got my Princesses mixed up.
So it is Princess Eleonore with her parents and not Princess Elisabeth (The Duchess of Brabant).
Sorry @Anon 23:25 My mistake but nobody’s perfect, you know.
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