Dutch State Visit to Belgium: June 20-22, 2006

[Kelly]

I must say that Mathilde does look nice. I like the curly hair. Maxima looks lovely too, except I wish she would try different hair styles now and then.

 

[johann]

Well, Mathilde looks different - but very nice. And she seems to wear new earrings. Maxima reminds me a bit of a robot, her facial expression is really funny, maybe the material of the gown is too stiff? And Astrid looks extraordinary too (anp, getty)

 

[Katie]

Maxima wears pure Jacqueline-Kennedy-style - the cut of the dress, the gloves: very Jackie-esque! Jackie once wore a very similar dress, unfortunately I cannot find a pic at the moment. It suits Maxima!

 

[blyton]

Katie---- I was just thinking the same,that Maxima's dress tonight reminded me of one that Jackie Kennedy wore!!

 

[Marengo]

Nice pictures everybody!

Beatrix must be ill, she is using the sapphire 'whopper' tiara again, and a gorgeous diamond riviere. Maxima is wearing the diamond bandeau.

I am very pleased to see all of them together & getting along so well. They really seem to enjoy each others company. I love the picture on the airport where the king is kissing Queen Beatrix hand.

 

[Maxie]

Beatrix must be ill, she is using the sapphire 'whopper' tiara again, and a gorgeous diamond riviere. Maxima is wearing the diamond bandeau.

Yes, there must be something in the Dutch water. (Though I'm not starting to wear big tiara's all of a sudden... maybe it only applies to royals? ) I think everybody looked lovely. Nice dresses and wonderful jewels. It's great to see Maxima wearing the diamond bandeau tiara two times in a row in such a short period of time. (Maybe she didn't get time to unpack while travelling from one country to another? )
I must say that I really love Mathilde's curls. It's great she's trying something different. Curls can change one's appearance drastically and that's what I love about them! Good to see Claire too. It's been a while and I must say: she looks good and so does Astrid, what an impressive hairdo!

 

[mandyy]

From Reuters

 

[Squidgy]

It is so nice to see Beatrix & Maxima wear tiaras that are not hidden by their hair. I take it that "sapphire whopper tiara" is not the official name for the Queen's tiara? (It's an appropriate nickname though).

 

[linda85]

Does anyone know what orders M and WA are wearing. I know that they are Belgian but what are they?
Any help is appreciated/
Linda 85

 

[mybags]

Queen Paola is wearing her beautiful tiara as well. If I'm not mistaken she hasn't worn that since the Norwegian State Visit in 2003.

 

[mybags]

Princess Astrid from getty

 

[Maxie]

It is so nice to see Beatrix & Maxima wear tiaras that are not hidden by their hair. I take it that "sapphire whopper tiara" is not the official name for the Queen's tiara? (It's an appropriate nickname though).

No, officially it's called the tiara of the sapphire parure. The parure consists of a whole set of sapphire jewels. I don't think the queen is wearing all of them, though. (She isn't that ill, as Marengo would call it )

Thanks for the great close ups of the ladies, mandyy!

 

[Marengo]

It is so nice to see Beatrix & Maxima wear tiaras that are not hidden by their hair. I take it that "sapphire whopper tiara" is not the official name for the Queen's tiara? (It's an appropriate nickname though).

I don t think the tiaras have official names actually, but on the internet they call it Queen Emma's sapphire tiara. I prefer 'Whopper' though

----

Note that Paola is wearing......Orange!

 

[Maxie]

Note that Paola is wearing......Orange!

Caught by the orange-fever, Marengo?
You're probably right about the names, btw. I think we should write to the RVD about calling this tiara the 'Whopper'! It's just as simple as that and easy to remember for the Dutch people...

 

[johann]

Prince Constantijn was there too. (getty)
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[Sophus]

Princess Astrid is often forgotten in this forum which is too bad as I think she is very beautifull and elegant. It's always Mary, Letitia, Maxima and Mette-Marrit people writes about... She is not modern and chic like them but she is certainly a real princess and grand lady...

 

[mybags]

Princess Maxima looks absolutely beautiful.

 

[GömdNatt]

Does anyone know what orders M and WA are wearing. I know that they are Belgian but what are they?
Any help is appreciated/
Linda 85

Maxima and Willem are wearing The Order of Leopold, it is a Belgian order. the highest belgian order, in fact.

 

[johann]

It seems that Laurent´s motorbike crash was after all a little painful, otherwise he wouldn’t need a crutch. The accident happened on Saturday and in the press release the court mentioned that he wasn´t injured.
Maybe King Albert should lock up all the motorbikes in the garage for a while . (getty)

 

[mandyy]

getty images

 

[Squidgy]

No, officially it's called the tiara of the sapphire parure. The parure consists of a whole set of sapphire jewels. I don't think the queen is wearing all of them, though. (She isn't that ill, as Marengo would call it )

I don t think the tiaras have official names actually, but on the internet they call it Queen Emma's sapphire tiara. I prefer 'Whopper' though

Thanks Maxie & Marengo! I guess it's been a long time since Beatrix wore the complete sapphire set? We would probably faint in shock if she were to wear it nowadays.

Actually I kind of like the "mix & match" look on Beatrix!

 

[DameBlanche]

I don't think that Mathilde looks like herself tonight with her long curly hair, thick foundation and black mascara...

Yes, Mathilde doesn't look like herself, she looks like Sissi in the Romy Schneider movies.

And prince Laurent doesn't seem very happy; maybe he still has pain caused by his motor accident last week.

But I'm happy princess Claire came out again, it's the first time we see a picture of her since january. And she looks ravissant.

 

[johann]

And some more from ppe

 

[Emily]

I love the middle picture in the above post -- it looks as though Queen Fabiola is greatly enjoying watching the "young people" develop friendships that will hopefully carry them into the future! Does anyone know who the man is next to Mathilde in the third photo? Is it Constantijn?

 

[mandyy]

Also from PPE

 

[mandyy]

Also from PPE

 

[johann]

First of all this looks like a very nice family affair. It is really charming .

 

[kwanfan]

I adore Claire's dress! Mathilde's curls are certainly a different look for her. This is really a nice state visit because we see so many younger royals. We see Willem-Alexander and Maxima, Phillipe and Mathilde, Astrid and Lorenz, Laurent and Claire, and Constantijn. It would have been nice to see Laurentien, but she certainly has more important things to take care of!

 

[sara1981]

I adore Claire's dress! Mathilde's curls are certainly a different look for her. This is really a nice state visit because we see so many younger royals. We see Willem-Alexander and Maxima, Phillipe and Mathilde, Astrid and Lorenz, Laurent and Claire, and Constantijn. It would have been nice to see to, but she certainly has more important things to take care of!

Laurentien cant come for banquet because she staying home with kids

 

[mandyy]

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