King Philippe & Queen Mathilde

[Miss Waynfleet]

Philippe started the overdue reorganisation of the court and appointed new advisors yesterday.
The new chief of cabinet is an absolute heavyweight and served European President Van Rompuy as chief of cabinet until last year. General consensus is that Philippe couldn't have found a better person for this job. The press department will be larger and more professional than it was under Albert. Albert's spokesman is dismissed; makes many journalists happy cause he really wasn't up to the job. Hope they start their work immediately, the courts homepage is one big mess and needs an complete overhaul. There was also criticism that no persons of immigrant origin were employed. This is a thing of the past now as Philippe asked a young woman with Turkish roots to serve at the PR department.
Philippe's old department, the House of the Duke and Duchess of Brabant ceased to exist and will be re-activated when Elisabeth joins the royal business. There's a new House of King Albert. He keeps one of his trusted former staff members and Paola keeps her lady-in-waiting. Paola and Fabiola both have ladies-in-waiting. There's no information so far if Mathilde continues this tradition, I wouldn't be surprised if she doesn't cause she has been more on the no-nonsense side so far.

Cool 

[Countess of Cows]

LOVEly! just lovely.  this couple is my favorite too

  thanks so much for the photos

[lynda]

New official portraits. I only like the first portrait of Mathilde, for the rest they took the stiff upperlip, poker face thing too extreme.   But the nine provinces tiara suits Mathilde marvellously,   I'm actually shocked to see her in a new tiara after 13 years.  






http://tinypic.com/r/30tm0lw/5

The pictures are composed by the renown Belgian artist Marie-Jo Lafontaine



Look at the pin.........................just beautiful
http://www.marie-jo-lafontaine.com/index.php?cat=4
 in cooperation with the photographer Marina Cox.

[rsfc149]

I like her hair and I'm so glad she finally has a new tiara to wear.

[ladytimka007]

Nice photo. Just right for a queen.

[Suzerain]

I'm looking forward to seeing how their reign succeeds. It seems already Philippe has done some good changes, so I'm positive about this.

Someone said Mathilde looks Polish. I don't know if the writer meant ethnicity but if that's the case I can tell you what a woman looking Polish means (at least as far as I have come to know it). It is a compliment. It is a widely known fact that Polish women are beautiful with high cheekbones and slightly almond-shaped eyes (regardless of what colour their hair and eyes are). They are great beauties. So I have been told by men in several different countries. And I am very proud to say I am partly Polish and have been complemented like this as well. So if it is true, I am happy to look Polish. 

[fogdancer]

Nice photo. Just right for a queen.

I noticed a new bling a blue stone on her her...

anyways just saw this info on the site, where I use to go for jewelry.... interesting to find such info there...

"Princess Astrid, who is Philippe's sister, will take on some of the duties previously conducted by the prince and his wife, Princess Mathilde. International trips to Angola, South Africa, India and Russie promoting Belgian trade will now be Astrid's responsibility and she will receive a salary of €320,000.

Prince Laurent of Belguim, Astrid and Philippe's brother, will be paid €307,000 and will similarly undertake engagements on behalf of the Belgian royal family.

The salary changes will be put into place when Philippe's investiture on Sunday, which is the country's national day."

[Rita]

Wow just divine

[Kiki LaShrewd]

This might be enough to turn my hiatus into an exile..... For some odd reason after looking at the pictures released when he was younger and seeing these shots Phillipe has  somehow become attractive to me. No I didn't accidentally mistake this thread for the Spanish thread and mean to comment on Felipe. And no I don't speak some mysterious language where Phillipe translates  into Haakon or Harry. Autocorrect isn't screwing with me either. My name is Kiki LaShrewd and I think Phillipe is looking good  I'd direct a DAFUQ to myself but I can't bring myself to swear in front of Mathilde's classy self.

[Little_star]

This might be enough to turn my hiatus into an exile..... For some odd reason after looking at the pictures released when he was younger and seeing these shots Phillipe has  somehow become attractive to me. No I didn't accidentally mistake this thread for the Spanish thread and mean to comment on Felipe. And no I don't speak some mysterious language where Phillipe translates  into Haakon or Harry. Autocorrect isn't screwing with me either. My name is Kiki LaShrewd and I think Phillipe is looking good  I'd direct a DAFUQ to myself but I can't bring myself to swear in front of Mathilde's classy self.

Welcome back! 

The official photos are a little too stiff for my liking but overall I do like them. The only thing I'm not keen on is the brooch on Mathilde's shoulder. Is it a special piece?

[Kiki LaShrewd]

Thanks LS! Gotta get warmed up for Graasten.

I think that brooch is Fabiola's "waterfall" brooch that Mathilde started wearing in 2011.

[Galuh]

Personally, I wish Mathilde to wear a full version of the nine provinces tiara for this official portrait but I think wearing it in simple version (as she did) is the best choice regarding the country's not so good situation in political matter. Making public appearance with too much glamour or ostentatiousness, very likely, would only gives disadvantage to the royals already face an (quite strong) anti monarchy movement.

[Maria]

This might be enough to turn my hiatus into an exile..... For some odd reason after looking at the pictures released when he was younger and seeing these shots Phillipe has  somehow become attractive to me. No I didn't accidentally mistake this thread for the Spanish thread and mean to comment on Felipe. And no I don't speak some mysterious language where Phillipe translates  into Haakon or Harry. Autocorrect isn't screwing with me either. My name is Kiki LaShrewd and I think Phillipe is looking good  I'd direct a DAFUQ to myself but I can't bring myself to swear in front of Mathilde's classy self.

Let's make a club. He does look rather dishy to me too

I think it's smart putting some responsibilty on Laurent's shoulders. Well, smart and smart - at least the man can't complain about being sidelined.

[Harley]

Somehow Phillipe has become goodlooking, yes.  It must be great to become better looking with age, the opposite can't be as nice. Good for him!  

[hanzo1]

I'm not a fan of the Lennon glasses