Queen Mathilde of the Belgians struggled to contain her emotions as she watched her elder son march past in a military parade for the country’s national day.
Queen Mathilde is overcome
The Belgian queen appeared overcome as Prince Gabriel, 21, joined his fellow recruits from the Royal Military Academy to file past as part of the procession.
King Philippe also had to work to keep his emotions in check as Gabriel, second in line to the throne, marched through Brussels.
Gabriel’s older sister, Princess Elisabeth, beamed with pride as the prince followed in her footsteps. Elisabeth, 23, has also taken part in the parade during her own military training.
The future queen wore uniform for the event but joined her royal family on the dais for the military and civilian event which forms the centrepiece of Belgium’s annual national day celebrations.
Princess Delphine makes fashion statement
Also present at the event was King Philippe’s half sister, Princess Delphine, who just last week gave an interview in which she said she didn’t feel that close to her royal family.
Delphine is the illegitimate daughter of Philippe’s father, King Albert II. She was born during his long relationship with a Belgian aristocrat, Sibylle de Selys Longchamps, and didn’t discover who her real father was until she was 17 years old. She took Albert to court to prove their relationship and the former monarch admitted paternity. As a result, Delphine was granted a royal title but isn’t in the line of succession. However, she recently said that her links to her father’s other children, from his marriage to Queen Paola, remain confined to major public events.
The princess certainly caught everyone’s attention at this year’s military parade, wearing a bespoke red dress made of vegan leather and silk and featuring a long skirt with a high split and stud details.
(RTBF still/ fair use)
Queen Mathilde also wore red, choosing a mid length dress with boat collar by her favourite designer, Natan Couture. There was a matching fascinator by Fabienne Delvigne, keeping the spotlight firmly on Belgian fashion on this important day.
The Queen of the Belgians had been in the same outfit for the earlier Te Deum service at the Brussels Cathedral of St. Michael and St. Gudula. Princess Elisabeth chose Natan for the same event, wearing a lime green mid length dress with chiffon cape and a gold headband. Princess Eleonore also went for green, picking an emerald fitted dress by Diane von Furstenburg.
The Belgian royals had been greeted by big crowds for their appearances throughout the day with King Philippe leading several walkabouts.
As well as being the country’s national day, July 21 is an important one for him. He became King of the Belgians on July 21 2013 on the abdication of his father, King Albert.
