As in previous years, on December 14, 2025, the Belgian Royal Family shared its 2025 Christmas card featuring a new family photograph ahead of Christmas, captioned “The Christmas cards have been sent! What do you think of this year’s photo?” (De kerstkaarten zijn verstuurd! Wat vinden jullie van de foto van dit jaar?) The photograph, featuring King Philippe and Queen Mathilde together with their children—Crown Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, and Princess Eleonore—was taken at the Royal Palace of Laeken.
Natan Geisha Printed taffeta dress
Temptation Positano White Short Sleeve Eyelet Midi Dress
Très jolie carte sur un fond verdoyant ; ravissante Eleonore dans cette robe qui me plaît beaucoup !
ReplyDeletePhotoshop and a summer photo.
ReplyDeleteKünstlicher als künstlich, keine Kunst keine weihnachtliche Stimmung. Absolut nichts natürliches, nichts festliches, nun ja wenn sie meinen. So ein Foto kann man für jeden gewöhnlichen Tag verwenden, kann sich jeder selbst seine Gedanken dazu machen. - Dorothe -
DeleteAnd?
DeleteI am also slightly irritated by summer photos included in Christmas greetings. And this one looks indeed as if the whole family was photoshopped into the garden backdrop.
DeleteEsatto, non si commenta.
Delete@ Vanessa
DeleteYou are completely wrong.
Yes...that line in the grass running across the photo from left to right near their feet is a bit of a giveaway. Like 2 photos sewn together.
Delete- Anon 9:13
That line is always there and is also seen on other pictures taken in the parc and garden and if you know a bit about gardening you should know that
Deletea) it is broader in reality than you can see it on this picture,
b) there is no grass growing on the line for the simple reason it will absorb the rain and humidity better into the ground, otherwise all the humidity stays on top of the grass and cannot penetrate into the soil. It is not a flat garden/parc either the walking paths are going up and down.
The picture you see here is made smaller by the person responsable for the layout. I've seen the original picture on other websites which shows a larger image of the parc and the green plants and trees.
It’s wise to get a photo when the kids are all home at the same time. I have 4 busy kids about the same ages as QMathilde’s kids and I also took a family photo this summer for our Christmas card. It was the only time I was sure they would all be home from study a round, work, & university!! My kids were happy with the photo too because they looked good with a healthy summer tan!
Delete@Anon 20:18 If I was the Royal family having our photo taken for worldwide distribution, I'd have fired the photographer for taking a photo with that drain near our feet (if that's what you're telling me it is). It ruins the photo. Don't tell me there wasn't any other place in the garden that the photographer could have used without a drain. And since you asked, I know plenty about gardening, thank you. I have huge gardens on our property. Our drains are hidden.
Delete- Anon 9:13
Hello, @Vanessa.
DeleteI don't think any Royal House means to irritate the public with their summer pics.
Summer is the time of the year when a family is most likely reunited and can strike poses all together and in a relaxed mood.
I for one am dead busy now (as always!) and if I were a member of a Royal Family, I doubt they could see much of me except for the summer holidays!
I agree with @ Shinystuffbuff.
La ligne visible dans l'herbe derrière eux doit sûrement correspondre à une allée du parc car elle est très rectiligne, mais comme ils sont sur un talus en pente, la pelouse cache le sable de l'allée et on ne voit donc que la bordure. Cela semble une hypothèse probable.
DeleteL'endroit n'est pas très bien choisi. Devant un parterre de fleurs l'effet aurait été plus joli sans doute. Paloma.
Yes, the photo has been taken, like in many other royal families,
ReplyDeleteduring the summer holidays when the children are at home. I see they are more or less dressed in clothes they wore on National day July 21st.
On the picture one can see the garden of Laeken on the backside of the castle. One can also see one of the big green houses.
Merry Christmas and a happy new year to our beloved king and queen and their children. Let's hope peace will return soon all over the world.
Sarò all'antica, ma un biglietto d'auguri natalizio deve avere i colori e l'atmosfera del Natale...l'albero, il caminetto acceso, le luci.
ReplyDeleteEven King Charles and Queen Camilla took a beautiful picture which was made in the garden or parc where they live. They can take pictures inside near a Christmas tree and at a fire place, because they do not have to wait their young children coming home for the holidays.
ReplyDeleteNo, è stata scattata a Roma.
DeleteThx Rossella I didn't know that. In any case it was in a beautiful garden when the weather was fine.
DeleteBeautiful family and I love both the green and white dresses on the princesses. Personally, looking at the sunny weather makes me feel warmer, so I’m all for the summer photos 😎
ReplyDeleteI love that they took an outdoor photo, but don't love the background bit behind their heads; it's too busy and interferes/competes with their faces. A plain background would have been better. Otherwise, it is a lovely photo of the family. The photo is nicely composed, they are well spaced out between each other and well spaced within the frame of the photo, unlike the Spanish royal family's photo where everyone is tightly bunched up in the centre with loads of room of nothing all around them.
ReplyDelete- Anon 9:13
@ Anon 9:132
DeleteYou should explain how to make an outdoor photo with a plain background ? Before a wall ? Or maybe before a line of trees ? The photo is made by a professional photographer Vlad Vanderkelen. I suppose he knows better than you how to take a beautiful outdoor picture in a beautiful garden/parc with interesting views in the background.
@Anon 20:32 Just because he is a professional photographer doesn't mean that he is always right or takes the best photos. Shame on you for not knowing this. Sounds like you'd probably accept bad photos of yourself with a smile from a photographer just because he or she was someone famous.
DeleteAny outdoor photo without the clutter of buildings behind their heads would have been better. Some trees, or plain blue sky...you get the idea?
- Anon 9:13
I find it very stupid of certain commenters that they will not understand that a royal family cannot make a Christmas card like in the old days.
ReplyDelete1. The children are abroad until the last minute
2. The eldest son(s) are in the military until the last minute
3. If you have to wait until everybody is home to make a picture with the Christmas, you will be much too late with sending you Christmas greetings and you will receive comments because you are too late.
4. You cannot expect them to make a fake Christmas card during summer holidays when the children are at home (for a short period) with a fake tree and mobilise your staff to decorate a fake tree and too lite the fire place when it is 30°C outside.
5. You will see the Belgian royal family at the Christmas concert in the Royal palace which will be decorated like every year and the big christmas tree which will be illuminated in front of the palace. Like every year the christmas tree outside is coming from another part of the Ardennes where it is allowed to cut a tree and where the people responsable for the woods will tell you which tree(s) can be cut down this year.
I would disagree with you. I've found that the winter break in Harvard university and in the military academy starts on the 20th December. So there is enough time for the BRF to come together and make a nice photo with Christmas decorations. I don't think it's necessary to release a Christmas card a week or two weeks in advance, as some royals did.
DeleteDumm ist nur, andere Menschen als dumm zu erwähnen ; ) Gesegnete Weihnachten!
Delete@ Anon. 10:20
DeleteI don't know where you live, but first the 20th December is 5 days before Christmas. A lot of people are already in vacation also the photographers and also a part of the staff members who work at the Royal Palace. The Christmas decorations you will see of the Belgian royals are those in the Royal Palace in Brussels during the Christmas concert as always.
Are you so familiar with the Belgian royal family that you know exactly when CP Elisabeth and Prince Gabriël will be home. Give them a break. They have also the right to do it easy when they are on vacation. Besides the exact date when the members of the Royal Family are coming home is not communcated to the public for safety reasons.
Who are you to give lessons to any royal family how they should organize their life. If they want to make a Christmas card like any other civilian is doing today they have the right to do it also.
Your are not showing a tiny, little bit of respect.
I also remarked that almost nobody wished the Belgian royals a happy christmas and best wishes for the new year !
D'accord avec anonyme 10 : 20.
DeleteLes enfants seront là pour les congés de Noël et ils peuvent donc faire une photo devant un sapin ou une cheminée.
Une parution en ligne est instantanée, il n'y a pas de long délai. Et une photo publiée le 22 ou 23 ne serait pas en retard.
J'apprécie que la carte de voeux de Monaco soit chaque année dans le thème, je regrette que ce ne soit pas le cas ailleurs.
La carte de voeux de Charles et Camilla est aussi estivale (cette année et l'année précédente). Pour Catherine et William c'est décevant aussi, ils n'ont jamais proposé de photos dans un décor de Noël et ce sera sûrement la même chose cette année. Paloma.
I looked up again the Christmas card showed by the Spanish royal family. It was also taken in the garden/parc around where they live, probably for the same reason other royal families with grown up children (Infanta Sofia abroad for her studies, CP Leonor still in the air-force, I presume) who have to take the opportunity to make the picture when everybody is home.
ReplyDeleteLa photo de la famille royale espagnole n'a pas été prise dans leur parc mais à Valdesoto, le 25 octobre. Paloma.
DeletePeu importe, mais c'était aussi dans la nature et pas devant un sapin ou une cheminée.
DeleteEt qui sommes nous de décider quand les enfants ainés (adultes) doivent arriver à la maison. Ils ont aussi leur vie maintenant. Laissent ces gens tranquilles. Je commence à comprendre pourquoi certaines membres de familles royales ne veulent plus de titre pour leurs enfants.. Je ne voudrais pas être à leur place.
I agree with the above remarks, these so-called Christmas cards by some royals do not convey the celebration of the birth of Christ, which is a pity. Royals should set a good example and uphold cherished traditions. Here we have summery Belgium, then we had casual Spain, recently Charles and Camilla smiling in the snow, I am now waiting for the next disappointment.
ReplyDelete🌞 Virginia
Sehr ehrliche Meinung ich stimme voll zu. - Dorothe -
DeleteNice family photo, not Christmasy but still the family is together. Everyone dressed nicely, though Elisabeth’s dress is my least favourite, didn’t like it when she first wore it.
ReplyDeleteAny details on the Duchess of Brabant's dress? I quite like it.
ReplyDeleteT
It is the same dress she wore on the National Day July 21st, maybe you could look that up through google !
DeleteIt is also a custom since about 17-18 years now that parents with a new or little baby or toddler are making new pictures of the child and use them to make their Christmas cards. There are so many methods today to make your own lay-outs on your computer and incorporate your favourite photos.
ReplyDeleteLovely family photo, they are a photogenic group. All looking lovely!
ReplyDeleteAnother no Christmas Christmas card + Natan
ReplyDeleteGenau so denke ich auch. - Dorothe -
DeleteAny reason is good to criticize the Belgian royals isn't it ?
DeleteIt is nothing else than jealousy. I am sure there will be more Christmas cards made with photos taken during summer, but it is only the Belgian one which receive the worse comments.
Nice family. Maybe a little more Christmas look would have been nice.
ReplyDeletecss
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