From October 23 to 27, 2023, Princess Astrid of Belgium, representing the King, is leading a business delegation that is visiting the Commonwealth of Australia. On the third day of her visit, Princess Astrid visited the victims of World War I at the Anzac Memorial in Sydney, a monument that commemorates the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC).
The delegation then traveled to Melbourne – Australia's largest city after Sydney – for a working visit as the second part of the Belgian Economic Mission. Princess Astrid was welcomed by the Governor of Victoria State, Margaret Gardner.
On the second day of her visit to Australia, Princess Astrid visited the headquarters of Flying Bark Productions. The company is Australia's largest producer of animated films for children. Because Sydney Opera House is celebrating its 50th anniversary this week, the Princess visited the opera house which is Australia’s most recognisable and iconic building.
On the second day of her visit to Australia, the Princess and the Belgian delegation were welcomed by Margaret Beazley, Governor of New South Wales, at the Governor’s House.
I ask myself, could it be that the royal ladies are wearing these things on their shoulders to camouflage electronic security material.
ReplyDeleteGrand Duchess Maria Teresa wore a big lump of something on her shoulder for her daughter’s wedding.
Maxima had something disguised as, what one blogger called, a sleeping bag on her shoulder and Princess Astrid wore a black camouflage of something on her left shoulder (first day official reception).
And again, today, during her visit to Sydney, Princess Astrid has got something adorning her left shoulder.
High technology security may be moving into royal circles.
Interesting question !
DeleteDear@ Deadeggs, I think you are right.
DeleteThis is a way security devices are used !
If you look at how bodyguards themselves speak to one another sometimes ,you' ll see how it works.
That's why I wasn't in the least amazed at Maxima's 'sleeping bag ' on her shoulder on her recent tour.
I figured out its function though it is not a good looking detail fashion- wise.
Wow! she pulled out all of the stops. sophistication at its finest. She exude luxury and class! Most of her wardrobe choices look like a society lady at the top of her game!
ReplyDeleteAgree! And I like it.
DeleteAlso agree!!! Ac
DeleteNot too thrilled about any of the outfits of which I like the coat in the first picture best. Personally, I always find it very ugly to see when part of a skirt or dress sticks out from under a coat as shown in the photos 3 and 4; especially if you take into account that the princess has several cloaks, one of which will probably be longer than the dress worn here.
ReplyDeleteI also notice that PA is becoming more and more like her mother, Queen Paola
Beautiful blue shirt dress and I like the statement belt. The green shirt dress would have been equally beautiful but the flounces downgrade to passable.
ReplyDeleteWell put!
ReplyDeleteI couldn't have said it better
ReplyDeleteOh là Mon Dieu les tenues d'Astrid toutes plus vieillottes les unes que les autres surtout les manteaux ouh là !
ReplyDeleteShe looks so much like her mother, especially in the first set of photos.
ReplyDeleteT
I think the most obvious thing missing from Princess Astrid’s visit to Australia is a stylist and makeup artist.
ReplyDeleteThe effort has been made, the money has been spent but nothing seems to be right.
A shame as Princess Astrid is an attractive, well liked, well respected, hard working, young woman of 61 years.
She is the mother of 5 children and is fifth in line to the Belgian throne (King Philippe’s younger sister).
There is an excellent article in TATLER (June 2022) with lots of photos showing her best style moments since her marriage (1984) including her wedding dress.
No evidence of her being a customer at chez Natan.
Please, please try to find the time to have a look at Princess Astrid’s fashion history via ……
https://www.tatler.com/gallery/princess-astrid-of-belgium-best-style-moments
@ Deadeggs
DeleteEntirely agreed.
I get the impression that Pss Astrid didn't put much effort in her total look and sartorial choices.
If I didn' t know she is 61 , I would think she Is much older.
I'm not used to making such starements but in the present case I really do not see why she does nothing to enhance her look.
As I have already said,
she chose first rate brands but the results are not encouraging - fashion wise-.
There seems to be no skin care, no make- up artists and no fashion stylists in the surroundings.
The coat and the purple dress are the only two pieces worth mentioning in this fashion array imo.
Pity, she is an attractive lady but no look consultants seem to have given her good bits of advice.
Thx deadeggs for the pictures shown on "tatler". In Belgium we saw those pictures in the past, but for the other bloggers it might be the first time they see them. One of her better dresses (ensembles) is the one with the animal print she wore when visiting London and meeting with King Charles. Since she is married, she has also access to very valuable fine jewelry which she wears sometimes on special occasions. The tiara and the emeralds are coming from the family of her husband, Lorenz of Habsburg-Este, Arch Duke of Austria also Prince of Belgium. Although Austria has not an Emperor anymore, Princess Astrid received at her wedding the title of Arch Duchess of Austria, which still means a lot in aristocratic families. Rose
DeleteThanks for the info @Rose.
DeleteInteresting.
Thank you for the link, @Deadeggs.
DeleteI had a look at the pics and Pss Astrid was really a beauty!
Bel imprimé vert mais le volant un peu plus court avantagerait la silhouette d'Astrid ; les boucles d'oreilles sont très bien choisies un peu dans le même style que les motifs de sa robe Je regrette de ne pas la voir aussi bien coiffée que lors du premier jour de sa visite !
ReplyDeletepremier jour de sa visite, elle avait la coiffure de Mme Chirac !!!
DeleteThe only dress I really don't like is the light green one on the last 4 pictures.
ReplyDeleteThe best coat is the 1st one which I think is by Chanel because of the pockets. She also wears a Chanel necklace. The wine red shoes and the Chanel bag bring a bit of color to the outfit (not too much for visiting the Anzac memorial). Well done. I know that some people don't like her outfits. Well she turned 60 years old last year and she never wore very up to date fashion even when she was younger, but rather chose classic clothes and brands. The last years she started to buy now and then something by a new fashionable brand. Sometimes it suits her and sometimes the dresses are not corresponding to her morphology. Rose
Fantastic to have another royal in our country she looks great. Mary
ReplyDeleteOnce every so often she gets it right. On this panel of pics 1-2 are OK. the blue dress is fine, not a fan of the duster on her shoulder and the big belt and buckle. Maybe she only needs a stylist.? css
ReplyDeleteThe coat in the first photos is beautiful.
ReplyDeleteLove the blue dress.
The photo in front of Opera house setting is beautiful, gorgeous part of our harbor.
I agree that both coat and blue dress are lovely. Don’t like the green dress at all, neither style or pattern.
DeleteHowever, I do like to see photos of Princess Astrid at work. The same style of working as other unfussy royals like Princess Benedikte or Princess Anne
AnnieM
So much bad comments I did not expected. In any case she is better dressed than Princess Anne who cannot separate from her old clothes either and her hair is better done too. Someone said her skin is not well looked after. I know she has a very sensitive skin. I remember she said once in an interview that she only used plant based cosmetics. Maybe this has already changed in the meantime. I also think that she has no stylist. She has her own opinion about everything and she does what she thinks is right.
ReplyDeleteRose
Anonymous as Rose 27/10/23 at 11:35
DeleteThe reason why you always make such comparisons between royal ladies is beyond me.
It goes without saying that Pss Anne and Pss Astrid are two completely different ladies as far as their physical aspect and fashion choices are concerned.
Then, I just want to add that any woman can get a very good skin care using the right products for sensitive skin.
There is a very wide range of natural/ botanical cosmetic products to choose from, which can be used for facial massages, for example.
I do not know what Pss Astrid's daily skin care routine must be like but it seems that not many efforts have been done.
There is also someone whose pictures I am looking forward to and that is Belgium's Minister of Foreign Affairs Hadja Lahbib. I like her fashion choice in general, classic but with a modern touch and always styled with a lot of good taste. In these pictures one does not see her very often but she is present when King Phillipe and Queen Mathilde are going on state visit. She is also present when Princess Astrid is going on Economic Mission. She is the little lady with black curly hair, a light blue jacket and a dress in black, white and blue flowers, blue shoes with a little heel (in these pictures). She is not a royal but I thought she is worth to look at since she is always dressed stylish and comfortable, one can see that she is used to go abroad very often. Rose
ReplyDeletePost a Comment
(We will not publish anonymous comments that were posted without stating a name or nickname)