Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde Current Events: Mar 2005-May 2005

[Emily]

Oh how gracious Mathilde always appears! Thank you Hannelore.

 

[Danielle]

Thank you for the photos Hannelore. Emily, I agree. Mathilde always looks gracious and takes a genuine interest in every event she participates in. The world needs more people like her.

 

[Hannelore]

May 12th, 2005

princess Mathilde hands out the anual Interbrew Baillet Latour medical prize to Désiré COLLEN and Peter CARMELIET, this year's theme is "genetics and cardiovascular diseases".

 

[Hannelore]

gettyimages.com
belga.be

 

[Snoepy]

nice pictures dont like her clothers

 

[marezdote]

Thanks for the pics this week! I really like the pink on her but am not a fan of the grey outfit.

 

[Alexandria]

I think the grey outfit is too busy. I think the jacket should've been just the stripes or just the band with the floral print. But the part where the stripes meet the floral print makes me a bit dizzy.

The skirt is wonderful -- the shape is the skirt shape of the season. Nice to see Mathilde still staying with the trends even though she's some months along!

 

[Danielle]

I think the grey outfit is too busy. I think the jacket should've been just the stripes or just the band with the floral print. But the part where the stripes meet the floral print makes me a bit dizzy.

The skirt is wonderful -- the shape is the skirt shape of the season. Nice to see Mathilde still staying with the trends even though she's some months along!

I agree Alexandria. I love the skirt. Very stylish, but I'm not so sure about the jacket. It doesn't matter what Mathilde wears; she always looks lovely.

 

[Ennyllorac]

I agree with Alexandra. I think I would do away with the stripes.

 

[agisele]

agreed. I'm not too sure if i'm absolutely in love with Mathilde's grey suit. I thought that the combination of both the floral patterns as well as the stripes made the overall piece a bit too crowded. I would have either gone for either the stripes detailing or the floral one, individually, but definately not together.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Filip en Mathilde luisteren naar grootste verlies

KORBEEK-LO/ WERCHTER - Prinses Mathilde stak Bernadette Lox een hart onder de riem tijdens de tiende verjaardag van de vereniging Ouders van Verongelukte Kinderen (OVK) in Korbeek-Lo. Het gezin verloor twee kinderen in het verkeer.



Marcel en Bernadette Vandenbergh-Lox uit Werchter verloren twee zonen in het verkeer. Toon (18) kwam ten val met zijn motor. Broer Roel (22) kon het verlies niet aan en ontnam zichzelf het leven.

Tweehonderd ouders en familieleden van verongelukte kinderen waren zaterdag te gast op de verjaardag van de vereniging OVK. Vlaams minister-president Yves Leterme (CD&V), Vlaams minister van Mobiliteit Kathleen Van Brempt (SP.A) en haar federale collega Renaat Landuyt (SP.A) en andere beleidsmakers luisterden naar de verhalen van enkele ouders. Prins Filip en prinses Mathilde waren te gast.

450 namen

Tijdens een indrukwekkend herdenkingsmoment werden alle 450 namen van verongelukte kinderen van ouders die lid zijn van de vereniging voorgelezen, gegroepeerd per maand dat ze stierven. Na elke maand werd er een fakkel aangestoken. Prins Filip stak de eerste aan, prinses Mathilde de laatste.

Het prinsenpaar wisselde na het officiële gedeelte enkele woorden met de ouders. Ook met Bernadette Lox uit Werchter. ,,Ik ben tevreden met deze dag'', vertelt ze. ,,Je ziet bekende gezichten terug, mensen die hetzelfde verlies hebben meegemaakt en met wie je kan praten. Thuis proberen we er niet te veel over te praten. We willen ons de pijn besparen.''

Toon kwam op 27 maart 2002 op achttienjarige leeftijd ten val met zijn motor in Aarschot. ,,Hij was uitgeweken voor een auto en ongelukkig terechtgekomen'', vertelt moeder Bernadette. ,,Hij was heel ondernemend. Hij nam allerlei werkjes aan en heel Werchter kende hem. Toon hield ons gezin samen. Roel kon dat verlies niet aan. Hij kon het allemaal niet verwerken en ontnam zichzelf het leven op 10 september vorig jaar.''

Bernadette ontmoette prinses Mathilde al eerder, tijdens een wandeling in Oud-Heverlee van de vereniging Ouders van Verongelukte Kinderen. ,,Toen was Roel er nog bij. Hij is toen nog gaan lopen omdat hij het niet aankon. De prinses herkende me nog. Het doet deugd dat ze zich hiervoor inzet.''

Francis Herbert, secretaris-generaal van het OVK, pleitte bij de ministers voor meer aandacht voor de familieleden van verongelukte kinderen. Volgens een studie van de K.U.Leuven bij veertig families van het OVK blijkt dat familieleden tijdens contacten met instellingen en diensten voor de tweede keer in een slachtofferrol terechtkomen. Het verlies wordt te vaak gebanaliseerd en er is een gebrek aan empathie.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

translation

PHILIPPE AND MATHILDE LISTEN TO GREASTEST LOSS

Korbeek Lo / Werchter - Princess Mathilde brought a bit of support to Bernadette Lox, at the 10th anniversary of the Association of Parents who lost a child in traffic (OVK) in Korbeek-Lo (Flanders). The family lost two children because of a traffic accident.

Marcel and Bernadette Vandenbergh-Lox from Werchter lost two sons because of a traffic accident. Toon (18) fell with his motor bike and died. His brother Roel (22) coudn't cope with the loss and took his own life.

Two hundred parents and family members of deceased children were present at the anniversary of the association OVK last Saturday. Flemish minister-president Yves Leterme, Flemish minister of traffic Kathleen Van Den Brempt and her federal colleague Renaat Landuyt and other politicians listened to the stories of the parents. Prince Philippe and princess Mathilde were invited and came to the meeting.

450 names

During an impressive moment of commemoration all 450 names of the children were read aloud, in groups of the month in which they died. After each month a candle was lit. Prince Philippe lit the first, princess Mathilde the last.

After this official part, the princely couple talked to the parents. Also to Bernadette Lox. "I'm satisfied about this day" she told us. "You get to see familiar faces again, people who have to cope with the same loss and with whom you can really talk about it. At home we try not to discuss it too much. We want to spare ourselves the pain."

Toon died on 27 March 2002, aged 18, from the consecuences of a fall from his motorbike in Aarschot. "He had to pull away from a car and fell in a fatal way" his mother says. "He was a very active boy. He took part in all kinds of activities and the whole village knew him. Toon kept our family together. The loss was too much for Roel. He coudn't cope with it anymore and killed himself last year, on the 10th of September."

Bernadette Had already met princess Mathilde before, during a walk through Oud-Heverlee this same association organized before. "Roel was there as well. He ran away because it was too confronting for him. The princess recognized me, she remembered who I was. It warms my heart she makes effort for this cause."

Francis Herbert, secretary-general of the OVK asked the ministers to give more attention to the parents of children who die in a traffic accident. According to a study of the Catholic University of Leuven, conducted with 40 families of the OVK, these families are vitimized a second time when they have to deal with official institutions and services. The loss is often underrated and there's a lack of empathy.

 

[Hannelore]

Am I the only one who likes the grey outfit she wore at the IBL prize? OK, I can live with that

I think that without the floral print, it would have been a bit too boring. Looks like something from the new Natan collection to me.

Her bump is already very visible! She should be about 4-5 months pregnant now.

 

[Hannelore]

PHILIPPE AND MATHILDE LISTEN TO GREASTEST LOSS

Korbeek Lo / Werchter - Princess Mathilde brought a bit of support to Bernadette Lox, at the 10th anniversary of the Association of Parents who lost a child in traffic (OVK) in Korbeek-Lo (Flanders). The family lost two children because of a traffic accident.

Marcel and Bernadette Vandenbergh-Lox from Werchter lost two sons because of a traffic accident. Toon (18) fell with his motor bike and died. His brother Roel (22) coudn't cope with the loss and took his own life.

Two hundred parents and family members of deceased children were present at the anniversary of the association OVK last Saturday. Flemish minister-president Yves Leterme, Flemish minister of traffic Kathleen Van Den Brempt and her federal colleague Renaat Landuyt and other politicians listened to the stories of the parents. Prince Philippe and princess Mathilde were invited and came to the meeting.

450 names

During an impressive moment of commemoration all 450 names of the children were read aloud, in groups of the month in which they died. After each month a candle was lit. Prince Philippe lit the first, princess Mathilde the last.

After this official part, the princely couple talked to the parents. Also to Bernadette Lox. "I'm satisfied about this day" she told us. "You get to see familiar faces again, people who have to cope with the same loss and with whom you can really talk about it. At home we try not to discuss it too much. We want to spare ourselves the pain."

Toon died on 27 March 2002, aged 18, from the consecuences of a fall from his motorbike in Aarschot. "He had to pull away from a car and fell in a fatal way" his mother says. "He was a very active boy. He took part in all kinds of activities and the whole village knew him. Toon kept our family together. The loss was too much for Roel. He coudn't cope with it anymore and killed himself last year, on the 10th of September."

Bernadette Had already met princess Mathilde before, during a walk through Oud-Heverlee this same association organized before. "Roel was there as well. He ran away because it was too confronting for him. The princess recognized me, she remembered who I was. It warms my heart she makes effort for this cause."

Francis Herbert, secretary-general of the OVK asked the ministers to give more attention to the parents of children who die in a traffic accident. According to a study of the Catholic University of Leuven, conducted with 40 families of the OVK, these families are vitimized a second time when they have to deal with official institutions and services. The loss is often underrated and there's a lack of empathy.

What a terrible story, it's hard to imagine the pain those people must be going through...

Good to see Filip & Mathilde there. That's where royals should be, close to people who need support. But it must be difficult as well, what can you say to someone who has to deal with such a loss?

 

[Snoepy]

mathilde also lost a sister in a traffic crash.
you can see some pictures we mathilde is trying very hard not to cry

 

[Mette2]

Am I the only one who likes the grey outfit she wore at the IBL prize? OK, I can live with that

I think that without the floral print, it would have been a bit too boring. Looks like something from the new Natan collection to me.

Her bump is already very visible! She should be about 4-5 months pregnant now.

No Hannelore you're not the only one, because I like it too . I also agree that had it only been with the white stripes it would've been too boring. However, I also think that the outfit would still be nice if only the floral print had been on it. Anyway she looks absolutely radiant .

Cathérine thank you for translating . Sad story indeed, but at the same time I think it's really wonderful that Mathilde still remembers the woman - she's truly a dedicated, warm-hearted, and caring person .

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Old photos...

Philippe and Mathilde at a gala dinner on economic mission in Hongkong, 2000.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

National Day, 2000.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Visting the "Abrahm House" in the Bronx, when on economic mission to New York, 2000.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Philippe & Mathilde meet with president Chirac and his wife Bernadette at the Elysée, on an official visit to Paris, 2000.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Holiday in the south of France, 2001. Mathilde was expecting Elisabeth.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Visting a center for young deliquents in Belgium. This is quite a nice story. Mathilde had asked herself to be able to visit the center. The direction and the young people weren't really enthousiastic about it, but didn't dare to refuse. When she came to visit, the young guys gave a whole spectacle (breakdance!), Mathilde thought it was fantastic and went to talk to each of the boys. In the end they all wanted a picture with her and asked her to come again for another visit...

 

[HMQueenElizabethII]

Thanks you so much Catherine.So lovely photos.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

more from this visit, which took place in february 2002.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Economic mission to Chili, 2002.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

More from this mission

 

[Snoepy]

nice pictures,thanx

 

[Amira]

Thanks for the pictures Catherine , never seen them before

 

[Nathalian]

Mathilde is so beautiful in this pics! She has this great sense of style! And handsome Phillippe!!!

 

[Mette2]

From Olycom.

Philippe and Mathilde in Davos at the world economic forum earlier this year.