On May 27, 2025, Queen Mathilde and Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium attended the second evening of the finals of the 21st Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition, held at the Brussels Centre for Fine Arts (Bozar). Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth were joined by Hélène d'Udekem d'Acoz and Cordélia Janssen. Hélène is one of Queen Mathilde’s three sisters and also serves as Princess Elisabeth’s godmother.
During the second evening of the finals, two finalists—Rachel Breen and Valère Burnon—performed the compulsory piano concerto by Kris Defoort and a concerto of their own choice. The final round continues through May 31 at Bozar. For the occasion, Queen Mathilde wore a floral-embellished jumpsuit by Elie Saab, while Crown Princess Elisabeth opted for a black embellished midi dress by Rebecca Vallance.
Woowww, Queen Mathilde looks majestic and supremely elegant!!
ReplyDeleteMagnificent in this Elie Saab ensemble.
The colours looks like medium blush or medium dusty pink on my screen.
Now, I'm looking forward to reading comments on the flaired bottom of her trousers and long cape dragging the dust on floor, being hard to wash, implying using polluting detergents and other funny "desperate housewives" remarks lol!
Please, no ageist comments, they are such a nuisance.
Anyway, let's get the show started!
Just go on disqualifying comments you don't like, an excellent example of how to ruin what could be a peaceful and tolerant conversation.
DeleteExcellent jumpsuit, minus the cape and minus the floor sweeping that does not add any remarkable quality to the outfit. Elisabeth's dress is pretty, minus the distorted sleeves.
DeleteLove your comment,
DeleteAva
12:04
DeleteWhy on earth should I be disqualifying/ ruin anything?
There are already so many masters in this subject.on this blog!
I can't and don't want to compete with such expertise.
Ok, to tell the truth, when I wrote my previous comments I was grinning like the Cheshire cat!
Come on, my comments were clearly enough meant to be jokes.
No harm meant.
Ironically though, ' peaceful and tolerant' come from the opposite side of the conversation but it doesn't surprise me anymore.
P. the original Your comment is very accurate and I love it. Fashion is not always "practical". It can be a feast for the eyes, and there are times it should be. When current fashion trends are worn age appropriately, it is something to enjoy. There is nothing too exciting about seeing a woman wearing the same thing day in and day out, never adapting to current styles. The purpose of a fashion blog is to see what is being worn. Even if we can't or don't feel comfortable wearing these clothes ourselves, we can delight in someone else wearing them.
DeleteP the original Lol! Love it, smiling right now! And thank you!
DeleteAw...thank you so much @ Anonymous 14:36 and @ Ava 20:15.
DeleteYou know, I love making jokes and laughing!
I, the self- appointed Cheshire cat of the blog, actually bought a tremendous short evening dress with a pretty long side train.
I thought that It was my best purchase ever and was so thrilled about the whole situation but when I wore it to a party, I realized how It was everything but practical .
Well, to make a long story short, I seemed to be a human vacuum cleaner, with my train dragging everything on the floor.
So, I spent most of the night holding the train like a bride lest my wonderful purchase became a dirty rag, lol!
Now, Mathilde's outfit is a dream but wonder how she managed to move around...
The pics are stunning though I wish I could have a talk with Mathilde about its practicality!
@ Ava P.
DeletePlease, could you check the post re: Princess Charlene attending the Grand Prix gala post (the Viking goddess!).
There's something for you...
Thank you.
Oh, dear, have mercy on me...
ReplyDeleteI forgot to "scrutinize" Princess Elisabeth and the other gorgeous lady in the burgundy ensemble.
They both look lovely.
Sorry for being too politically correct lol!
Long time no see Elisabeth, she looks beautiful. Lovely to see Queen in Elie Saab, that designer knows how to dress women elegantly, better than Natan- who is a constantin her wadrope
ReplyDeleteI think Queen Mathilde is wearing Elie Saab for the first time. She looks very beautiful in this new outfit. Princess Elisabeth back home from the States is looking lovely in her black dress embellished with silver stars. She is wearing earrings belonging to her mother and designed by Percossi Papi. Queen Mathilde is accompanied by her sister Countess Hélène d'Udekem d'Acoz and her daughter Baroness Cordélia Janssens. Hélène is married to Baron Nicolas Janssens. I can't wait this evening to see what Queen Mathilde will be wearing and who eventually will be in her company. Tomorrow the queen will have a day to rest because Hemelvaart is a national holiday in Belgium.
ReplyDeleteHelene is not baroness because her husband, Nicolas Janssen, is the son of baron Daniel Janssen. Cordelia will not be a baroness because titles are transmissible from male to male by order of primogeniture and she has a younger brother Alistair.
DeleteBut the Concours goes on….
Delete@ Anon. 15:38
DeleteI read the description of their titles on another blog about queen Mathilde. I didn't say Hélène was baroness because she was described being Countess, the same title Queen Mathilde had before she got married and became princess. Hélène's daughter Cordélia however, was described as being baroness. Maybe that information is not correct. I'll look it up by consulting other sources.
Hélène holds the title of Countess, which she bears by birth as a member of the d'Udekem d'Acoz family, just as Queen Mathilde did before her marriage. This is a hereditary noble title, and it's rightly retained regardless of marriage unless changed by a higher-ranking title, as in Mathilde's case when she became Princess, and then Queen.
DeleteAs for Cordélia being described as a Baroness, that’s a bit trickier. If her father, Nicolas Janssen, has not officially inherited or been granted the title of Baron (despite being the son of one), and if Belgian noble titles continue to follow traditional male-line inheritance (which they generally do), then Cordélia wouldn't typically be styled as Baroness.
I can't see any more cape dresses, even of it suits her.
ReplyDeleteAgree !!
DeleteAgree! C
DeleteAgree! What are they all about?
DeleteTo Anonymous 29/05/2025 06:51 Only Mathilde's father held the courtesy title of baron (not being the eldest of his siblings) before his daughter's marriage. King Albert II bestowed the titles of count and countess on all of her siblings, as well as her father. Nicolas Janssen would hold the title of baron upon his father's death, and later Cordelia's brother, Alistair Janssen. Patrick d'Udekem d'Acoz held the title of squire at the time of Mathilde's marriage (mentioned in the official marriage certificate)
DeleteNormally, "hereditary noble title" from male to male by order of primogeniture. It's different.
DeleteYes yes to Qn Mathilde, the ensemble is perfect. Turning towards Prss Elisabeth, I am a bit disappointed, probably mainly by the black color for this occasion. I remain also on the fence about the sleeves.
ReplyDeleteThe color is the main reason you don't like Elisabeth's dress? Obviously I don't know your age, but the idea that black is only for mourning is very, very old fashioned. I think she looks lovely, and she wearing this midi dress at the right length.
Deletead14:41 My comment about black was not based on any association with mourning, but I don't like it, just a question of taste.
DeleteSimply irresistible. Well done to mother and daughter
ReplyDeleteRight you are.
DeleteLo scrivo con dispiacere, ma gli outfit scelti da Matilde e da Elisabetta non donano a nessuna delle due.
ReplyDeleteLe maniche gonfie sembrano ingoiare il collo di Elisabetta e la tuta di Matilde le stringe troppo il punto vita e passo il mantello che qui non era necessario.
I agree with you. Helena
DeleteLa reine et sa fille sont splendides.
ReplyDeleteJe trouve que la reine est plus belle avec les cheveux ainsi coiffés.
Attendrie de voir cette complicité entre une maman et sa fille.
-Astrid.
Superbe robe dont les ornements ressemblent beaucoup aux boucles d'oreilles dElisabeth !
ReplyDeleteI really like the color of Mathilde’s outfit and the large flower detail. In some of these pictures, though, she looks like she’s having an undergarment issue. Elisabeth is lovely; I would like her dress more if the shoulders of it weren’t so very large.
ReplyDelete-Royal Watcher
Mathilde was made to wear outfits like this. Absolute perfection, and she wears it like a boss. Elisabeth's dress is an interesting piece but her open hair is at cross-purposes with the unusual sleeves.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
So stylish and elegant, both mother and daughter!!
ReplyDeleteQ. Mathilde: modern and beautifull; Elisabeth really youthful with the short sleeves. The embroidery on her tiny waist is so cleverly and beautifully done.
Love them!
Pr. Elisabeth looks lovely in a stylish gown. Queen’s hairstyle and make up is stunning. Love this designer’s jumpsuit. But it is too tight and I see headlights! That distracts and takes away from the elegance
ReplyDeleteMathilde looks fantastic - but I’m afraid for me, it’s despite the outfit. The colour is reminding me of underwear and I so wish it were in cream or ice blue. The frippery cape trend is bewildering me: can anyone explain the purpose of this current trend of capes not for warmth but for … um… what? The cape could be beautiful on a beautiful dress but I think it clashes with the simple stretch fabric trousers and top. Anyone else?. All that said, Mathilde looks radiant. Ps P the original thanks for the Cheshire Cat comments, loving the joke (that wasn’t understood by all but that’s ok, and expected when we cannot see each other’s faces as we read).
ReplyDelete@ Anonymous 18:01
DeleteYou write....."this current trend of capes". Capes are worn by Queens and Princesses since at least 6 - 7 years if not longer. I would not wear it myself because I find it not easy or comfortable. I do not need such an outfit because I am not supposed to go on state visits, coronations, weddings of princesses, etc...royal ladies do. So if they like it. It is good for the fabric makers, the more fabric they sell, the more money they make. It als means work for the people who are working in the factories where these fabrics are made.
Interesting comments! Love Princess Elisabeth’s dress but agree with Anon 9 13 that it would look better if her hair was back from her face. I like the style of Queen Mathilde’s outfit, even the cape but agree with Anon 18 01 that the colour is not the best. In the photos where she is not holding the bouquet, the jumpsuit is very unflattering round the middle
ReplyDeleteI like the color of the Queens jumpsuit but the fit isn't good and I think the cape would look better if it was shorter, or just gone altogether.
ReplyDeleteThe Princess looks lovely. The dress is very flattering on her.
Cinci
@ AnnieM
ReplyDeleteI only saw CP Elisabeth twice with an updo
a) at the 18th birthday gala of Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
b) at the marriage of Prince Hussein of Jordan.
I like her better with her hair loose. She also had her hair sometimes with a side part when she was about 18 years old. That was my preferred hairstyle for her.
This time one cannot put the blame on Natan. Some of the commenters here will always find something to criticise a lady (royal or not) who is not super thin. As long as Queen Mathilde or any other lady is healthy that is the most important thing.
ReplyDeletePost a Comment