The live coverage of the arriving guests starts in five minutes:
https://www.dr.dk/tv/live/dr1
I will from time to time add a comment to this post based on what is shown in the link.
There will be a second coverage later.
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The comments consistently mention the positive influence of Queen Mathilde on her husband and also King Phillipe's growing popularity in Belgium.
The former Master of Ceremonies, Christian Eugen Olsen, says to PH's absence that Prince Henrik has retired and opted for a trip abroad.
The royals will start to arrive around 19.40.
The Belgian RC will be the last to arrive - so that QMII can officially welcome them.
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A number of the guests are people who either have some affiliation to Belgium, like footballers, or is well-known in Belgium, like actors from the political Tv-series Borgen, which is apparently very popular in Belgium.
It's a common international that the host-nation house and feed and pay the bill for some fifteen members of the visiting dignitaries. No matter what country it is.
Of course a number of countries have a larger official delegation, but then they have to pay for the surplus, so to speak, themselves.
The point is of course not to annoy (and ruin) the host country by having a retinue of several thousand.
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If you wonder why Joachim kept his headgear on, it's because even though you are required to remove your headgear when going inside (there are some exceptions though) there is an honor guard present, and you are supposed to wear your headgear when walking past the honor guard, also inside. Once past the honor guard you remove your headgear.
You can also remove your headgear when going inside, putting it back on when passing the honor guard and then remove it again.
- But you know, the navy... They are basically uncouth oarsmen.
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As the guests of honor the Belgian RC are the last to arrive, but when the dinner is over, they will be the first to leave.