Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde: Current Events Part 8

[SarahLindeau]

Thanks, Hannelore.

 

[liv]

For me it almost incredible that they managed to have a relationship outside the limelight but I think it was the best for them to establish a strong relationship and now marriage.

 

[martha-louise]

That's possible in Belgium because we don't have paparazzi. Also from abroad there was no interest in the 'boring' prince of belgium. So nobody was cheasing them. And I think that when they walked out the door, they just didn't pretend they were a couple, so anybody who maybe wanted to spot them, just hadn't the change to make the ultimate picture. I heard that they also had some tricks, like they never left a resaurant together. As there is always a bodyguard for the prince, they used him to fool watching people.

 

[Hannelore]

That's absolutely right, Martha-Louise.

Also Filip and Mathilde hadn't informed anyone about their relationship, only their immediate family knew, but not even their close friends. One of Filip's best friends said at the engagement "Filip really is a guy who likes a surprise. I've known him for 20 years, and you think you know someone -untill he calls to say he's getting married ! I had no idea he was seeing someone." For Mathilde's friends it was also a surprise. The people in the village where Mathilde's parents live knew about it becuse they had seen him at the funeral and later as well, cycling with Mathilde, or walking in the woods with her, but they kept silent. The couple didn't even have to ask...it's a tiny village in the country side, where people still have a "this is our business and no one else's"- mentality.

Actually a few months before the engagement, a Belgian journalist got wind of the name "Mathilde d'Udekem", who had her own speech therapy cabinet in Brussels and was rumoured to be involved with Filip. So he called her at her office to ask her about it, she started laughing and said it was a good joke...so the journalist left it at that.

Not really the paparazzi attitude in Belgium, no

 

[Yolène]

Smart and humorous Mathilde

She's becoming more and more my royal favourite.

 

[Mette2]

From Getty Images and Newscom.

October 12th.

Philippe receives Thai Prime Minister Thaksin Shinawatra at the Royal Palace in Brussels.

 

[lucys]

No papparazzi in Belgium? How civilized!

 

[Josefine]

Has there been a official potriat of mathilde in gala?

 

[Emmily]

That's possible in Belgium because we don't have paparazzi. Also from abroad there was no interest in the 'boring' prince of belgium. So nobody was cheasing them. And I think that when they walked out the door, they just didn't pretend they were a couple, so anybody who maybe wanted to spot them, just hadn't the change to make the ultimate picture. I heard that they also had some tricks, like they never left a resaurant together. As there is always a bodyguard for the prince, they used him to fool watching people.

Was he really known as the "boring" prince? Was he a man about town while a bachelor or really not?

 

[martha-louise]

Until he presented Mathilde in 1999, there were many who didn't really knew the prince. He wasn't presented at extravagant parties etc. He was (is) an introvert person, had not the handsom look like Amedeo or William. At official duties he behaved a bit shy, a bit stiff, a bit clumsy, no big laughs, always very serious. We hardly saw him laughing or smiling. We also din't know anything about his life, he was out of the spotlights while he was studying (till far in the eighties). So that's how he became 'boring' for paparazzi and other press.

 

[amina1]

Did he have girlfriend(s) before P.Mathilde?

 

[Snoepy]

i don't think so, did mathilde have any ??

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

Philippe had girlfriends before Mathilde.

Mathilde had a serious relationship with somebody (a Belgian noble) before she met Philippe.

 

[Snoepy]

i heard filip never have a girl before mathilde? it could be rumors

 

[Hannelore]

It's definitely true. I think Cathérine knows more about this than you do.

 

[Snoepy]

im sure she knows more about it, but its just that some say he did en some say he didn't..

 

[kelly9480]

I seriously doubt Philippe never had a girlfriend until his late 30s, so while he may have kept his private life under wraps, it's incredibly unlikely there were no past loves. Mathilde was photographed with her ex and the photo is online, so we know he existed, but Philippe was in a situation where he had to be more careful.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

I think I know what photo you're refering to (Mathilde wearing the white hat and red dress), but that was not he man she was with, there are no public photos of them together as far as I know.

 

[martha-louise]

On television they showed long time ago a vague picture of Mathildes boyfriend before Philippe. It was a blond aristocrate jongman, but because their character didn't finaly didn't mach, they desided to separate.
That's what I remember of what has been said on television.

 

[martha-louise]

The prince had some relationships, what else would a man have been done over the years from the '80 till he met Mathilde in the '90?
When he went to school in West-Flanders he had a certain Barbara, dochter of a businessman. In the early ninethies there was an aristocrate girl, it's been said that she was the link between Philippe and Mathilde.
Don't forget that it is not only a question of love, the girl has to give up her normal life, a lot of love is needed before someone decides to give up all that.

 

[selminha]

Somebody knows when time goes to be the princess Mathilde without appearing, because of the birth of the son.

 

[Hannelore]

Somebody knows when time goes to be the princess Mathilde without appearing, because of the birth of the son.

at least a month I think.

 

[selminha]

Thank you Hannelore.

 

[mandyy]

Prince Philippe visits Van Hool, manufacturer of natural gas powered buses., in Lier, Belgium,Oct 17, 2005.All photos from Newscom

 

[selminha]

Is there a date for the Christening?

 

[Hannelore]

Is there a date for the Christening?

No not yet, it's anounced about a week beforehand. The baby will be baptized when he's about 2 months (well that's how it was for Elisabeth and Gabriel). The baptism is a private event, but photos and a video will be released.

 

[selminha]

Thank you very much, Hannelore.

 

[Mette2]

I wonder if Philippe and Mathilde will choose to baptize Emmanuel on their own wedding anniversary. He'll be two months old by then. Then all three children will have been baptized on special days within the royal family. Elisabeth was baptized on her cousin Joachim's birthday (December 9th), and Gabriel was baptized on Elisabeth's birthday. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

 

[Mette2]

From Newscom.

October 19th.

Philippe visits Aigremont Margerine-producing factory in Flemalle, Belgium.

 

[Cathérine Bergeyck]

I wonder if Philippe and Mathilde will choose to baptize Emmanuel on their own wedding anniversary. He'll be two months old by then. Then all three children will have been baptized on special days within the royal family. Elisabeth was baptized on her cousin Joachim's birthday (December 9th), and Gabriel was baptized on Elisabeth's birthday. But I guess we'll just have to wait and see.

It also crossed my mind that it could be on the 4th of December, on their 6th wedding anniversary.