On December 18, 2024, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde hosted the annual Christmas concert at the Royal Palace in Brussels. The King and Queen welcomed those who contributed to the smooth organization of their activities in 2023 and 2024 to the traditional event.
Crown Princess Elisabeth and Princess Eléonore were also present at the concert. The Christmas concert will be broadcast on December 25 on various Belgian television channels.
Lauren Ralph Lauren Metallic Boat Neckline Sleeveless Gown
I like the Queen's dress but I think it would be better if it was longer and with a more defined waste. It looks a bit like a tent.
ReplyDeleteQueen Mathilde’s dress instantly gave me thoughts of a longer version of Vivian Westwood’s “mini-crini” which was an adaptation of the crinoline skirt in the 1980’s.
Deletehttps://fashionunited.nz/news/fashion/tracing-a-trend-crinolines-and-mini-crinis/2023011325300
While the relaxed fit might not be to everyone's taste, I think the intention behind the design could have been to emphasize comfort and elegance rather than a structured silhouette.
DeleteI agree with anon 21:25. It would look better longer and with other folds than this, maybe lower on the waist. Otherwise she looks great: the top part fits perfectly and the colour suits her. The princesses look fantastic and everyone is wearing beautiful jewelry. Very festive for Christmas!
DeleteDamsel Dragonfly
The velvet dress is a 10/10. Absolutely stunningly gorgeous.
ReplyDeleteThe silvery number is 5/10 for me. It has a flattering silhouette but the colour is all wrong on Eleonore, as is the style. She is so young and sweet with those curls, it´s just not the right dress for her. I think the dress with its dramatic silver shine and high slit called for a more glamourous styling (lose updo, red lips, strappy sandals and a statement bracelet).
Mathilde´s dress is 1/10. I think it looks ridiculous.
I agree with you on every point, Vanessa Princess Elisabeth's dress is gorgeous, Princess Eleonore's dress is too pale and insipid for her and the Queen's dress reminds me of the illustrations in Alice in Wonderland. I like the colour but the skirt is, as you say, just ridiculous
DeleteAgree!
DeleteI can see that we have different takes on these looks! I personally think Eleonore’s silver dress works well with her features, even if the styling might have been different from what you'd expect. The color might not be a perfect match for everyone, but I feel like the sleek design and slit bring out a modern, elegant vibe. As for Mathilde’s dress, I think its relaxed fit is a deliberate choice to go for a more contemporary, effortless look, even if it’s not everyone’s style. Fashion is all about expressing individuality, after all!
DeleteLove the red of Mathilda’s dress but not its construction or shape. It looks stiff and uncomfortable although Mathilde, as always, is lovely. Elisabeth looks gorgeous in her burgundy, velvet gown…it suits her figure. Just perfect. Eleanore also looks gorgeous…she has grown into a beauty.
ReplyDeleteNo to the skirt shape of Qn Mathilde's dress, but I like very much the top, the hairstyling, the smile ... Yes to the dress of the Prses, with a preference to Elisabeth's dress. The beige color is too pale for Eleonore .
DeleteI see where you're coming from, but I actually think Mathilde's dress has a lot of elegance, even if the shape is more structured. It might come off as stiff, but I feel it gives her a more refined, regal look. As for Elisabeth's velvet gown, while it’s undeniably beautiful, I think Mathilde’s dress has a certain sophisticated appeal that stands out in its own way. Eleanore also looks lovely, but I think she’s still finding her style, and this particular dress adds a bold, mature touch to her look. It’s all about different styles that suit different personalities!
DeleteSuperbes toutes les trois, chacune dans son propre style !
ReplyDeleteOh my word, what a festive bunch they are. But Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, clearly stands out for me. Wow.
ReplyDeleteWow! The Belgians know how to dress for a christmas concert! Perfect, elegant, festive
ReplyDeleteYes, don’t they all look splendid! Q. Mathilde’s dress is a real statement piece, beautifully accessorized and perfectly “over the top” for the occasion. Her daughters are stunning too and will continue to grow into their styles as time goes on. (V.M.)
DeleteJolies robes pour Elisabeth et Eléonore. J'aime le velours.
ReplyDeleteLa robe de la reine me fait penser à un abat-jour, il manque juste un collier-pendentif avec une ampoule qui clignote :-D
Cette robe est un ratage total, à mon avis.
Peut-être que d'autres vont la trouver jolie.
Paloma.
Oh! How beautiful the Queen and Princesses look. Stunning apparel on an already beautiful family.
ReplyDeleteMathilde's dress is ridiculous. The only nice thing about it is the color, which should keep some people on here out of severe depression. One of her worst looks in memory. On the other hand, the daughters look lovely. ~~Ruthie
ReplyDeleteRidiculous is a pretty harsh assessment! She’s glowing and the colour is sensational. The material is gorgeous and Royal and festive. The waist, while it probably would look better cinched in tighter has a beautiful crossover that could match her so well. The bodice and sleeves and length suit her beautifully.
DeleteI actually think Mathilde's dress has a unique charm. The color is stunning and the design might be a bit unconventional, but I appreciate the boldness and how it complements her overall look. Not every outfit needs to be traditional to be beautiful. As for her daughters, while they do look lovely, I think Mathilde’s choice adds a certain sophistication and individuality that’s worth appreciating!
DeleteI do not like the shape of Mathilde’s dress at all; it looks very stiff and is swamping her. The princesses look lovely.
ReplyDelete-Royal Watcher
The royal ladies look glamorous and elegant. I love each and every one of the gowns. The Queen's hair looks particularly lovely, soft and natural.
ReplyDeleteAlle drei königlichen Damen sehen hübsch aus, aber die Wahl der feinen Roben hätte typengerechter, besser sein können. Dazu der König, der Anzug sitzt nicht sehr gut. Ein Zweireiher gefällt mir an Männern mit Figur wie Prinz Joachim Dänemark, zumindest hätte man hier für den König den oberen Knopf einen Zentimeter versetzen sollen, auch die Krawatte könnte besser harmonieren. Eine Königin in rot, eine rote Krawatte hätte sich viel romantischer an seine drei Damen angeschmiegt. -Dorothe-
ReplyDeleteKing Felipe's tie does not match Queen Letizia's dress or one of his daughters either on their Christmas card.
DeleteTwo of the photos (4, 5) look photoshopped, as if the family was dropped into the room with the Christmas trees. Look at the large chandelier, it's way too low over the family.
ReplyDeleteWhy would royals need to photoshop themselves into a room that they own that they were in for a public event?!
DeleteI don’t think the photos look photoshopped. The chandelier might seem a bit low, but that could just be a perspective issue or how the room was staged for the shot. Lighting and angles can sometimes create that illusion, but I feel the overall vibe of the photo looks natural and authentic. It’s easy to get caught up in the details, but I think the family and the setting come across quite well!
Delete@ Anonymous 05:31 & 10:31
Delete1. The royal family does not own the Royal Palace in Brussels. It is property of the Belgian state. They just can use it.
2. The Royal Palace has high ceilings. The chandeliers are not hanging at the same height in the different rooms. The electricians who are responsable for the lightening of the palace can use the mechanism that make it possible to let down a chandelier for i.e. change the lamps or do the cleaning or whatever.
3. The chandelier is not hanging over the royal family but over the Christmas stable with the statues of Jesus and his parents. The photographer who made the picture was sitting on the floor and took a picture upwards. Other pictures in this photo series are made in the same way. The chandelier was not large but small compared to the other ones.
P Eleonore is fantastic in her dress, nice hair and make-up! P E and Q M also, but the shape is to big for M!
ReplyDeleteCP Elisabeth and Princess Eléonore are wearing beautiful dresses.
ReplyDeleteOn another site I saw the open back of Elisabeth's dress. She is also wearing the rubis and diamond bracelet of Queen Fabiola for the first time. The clutch is by Armani and belongs to Queen Mathilde.
Princess Eléonore's silver dress is from the collection Lauren by Ralph Lauren. She is wearing her mothers diamond earrings and another clutch belonging to Queen Mathilde.
I would have liked Queen Mathilde's dress better with a long column skirt, but she is looking lovely and her longer hair and diamond earrings are beautiful. She is also wearing a little minaudière instead of a clutch.
There is also a beautiful picture on another site of the king, queen and the princesses taken with the complete childeren's choir.
The Christmas concert took place again at the Royal Palace in Brussels where the renovations are finished. Now with the Christmas tree and lights in the garden of the Palace, the view from the Palace square is showing us a white fresh renovated building.
It sounds like a wonderful event! Princess Elisabeth looks stunning with Queen Fabiola's bracelet, and Princess Eléonore’s silver Ralph Lauren dress is gorgeous, especially paired with her mother’s earrings. Queen Mathilde’s look is lovely too, though I agree a column skirt might have been a nice touch. The Royal Palace looks beautiful with the Christmas tree and lights, especially after its renovations!
DeleteNow that more photos have been added to this post and I have seen the open back of Elisabeth´s dress, I must say that I like her dress less. It´s still a great look from the front, but I like neither the profile nor the back. One problem is posture (for both girls actually), and another problem is that these dresses are simply difficult to wear and need some charisma and presence that these young girls simply cannot bring yet. Or, in other words, I think the dresses are too sexy for them, especially with that innocent styling and demeanor.
Delete@ Vanessa
DeleteCP Elisabeth is 23 years old, why should she not have a dress with an open back. Does she has to wait until she is sixty ? Princess Eléonore is 16 years old. She likes dresses in this kind of fabric, she has other similar dresses. She is young and her dress is styled according her age. She is the tallest of the 2 sisters, she cannot wear dresses for children any more.
Compared to CP Amalia of the Netherlands (who is 21 and whose gala dresses are very sexy and more for a woman who is much older), Elisabeth and Eléonore are dressed according their age.
@ Anonymous 07:51:
DeleteYou misunderstood me. I´m not discussing at what age a sexy dress becomes appropriate. I´m discussing the style of dress for the particular wearer. I think these dresses are more suited for vamp-y or femme fatale kind of stylings, especially the silver one. The model´s take on styling is more in line with what I think this dress is meant to look like, and it´s not a dress I would have chosen for a 16yo. Having said that, I still think that it´s a nice dress, and I think that Eleonore looks lovely, however, I don´t think that her styling does justice to the type of dress. That´s all.
Regarding Elisabeth´s velvet dress: As I said, I really like it, but the profile and back view were a lot less attractive to my eye than the front view which I still think is spectacular. A low back is not a problem for a 23yo, but this one plunges rather low and was surprising to me. Velvet is also an unusual fabric to cut this way. It´s a wintery, thicker fabric, and the burgundy colour is dark, so the bare pale skin in the back ends up looking naked rather than interesting.
And lastly, about posture: I think that both dresses need a very confident, charismatic wearer. Someone who can "own" that look, and I feel that the two girls aren´t quite there yet. They look like girls, and there´s nothing wrong with that, it´s just that I feel a disconnect between the glamour and drama of the dresses and the cuteness of the girls.
This isn´t about age, or only indirectly. It´s about confidence (which increases with age usually), it´s about posture (which can be good or bad at any age but is of course connected to confidence), and it is also very much about styling.
Vanessa, It seems we have different views on how these dresses should be worn. While I understand your point about the style of the dress and how it might better suit a more confident or dramatic aesthetic, I think there’s room for different interpretations of how a look can be pulled off. Confidence is certainly key, but I don’t think it’s always about age or being a particular “type” of wearer. Someone can bring a fresh or unexpected energy to a dress, even if it doesn’t fit the more traditional styling you mentioned.
DeleteIn regards to Elisabeth's velvet dress, I get your point about the back view and the contrast with the fabric, but I think the drama of the cut is meant to challenge expectations a bit—perhaps that's what drew her to it. Sometimes an unconventional choice can have its own appeal.
I understand your position and you expressed it really well.
DeleteIt´s always interesting to play with expectations and see what reactions you get. Some people are more open to new interpretations and like experimenting and pushing boundaries, others like what´s true and tested and prefer classy, timeless looks, even though that´s predictable and potentially boring.
L'abito della regina: la parte superiore come il colore andrebbero bene, ma quella gonna e la vita: terribili fanno tanto di abat-jour. L'abito della giovane Eleonor ha un colore che le sbatte, forse doveva usare degli accessori che lo ravivassero,. La Duchessa di brabante fa scacco alla Regina ed a sua sorella minore. Bellissima!
ReplyDeleteMa préférée Eleonor.
ReplyDeleteÉlisabeth classique
Mathilde sa robe un abat jour, jupe trop ample
Froufrou
Even though Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth's outfits are from the same designer Natan, you can tell the difference during the final decision making. Queen Mathilde opted to just accept what the designer picked for her (but not suitable). Whilst Princess Elisabeth had a say on it and modified entirely from the original design. The daughter did better decision than the mother.
ReplyDelete@ Sherry
DeleteAnd you think that Queen Mathilde has nothing to say about the dress she wants to wear ? Even if we like it or not it is she who has the last word. The designer has to make whatever she wants.
@ Anonymous 18:21
DeleteI have to agree with @ Sherry, but I'm blaming the designer as well. I just think that Eduard Vermeulen simply sells expensive dresses. Sometimes it works out well but often it just isn't, and that's a shame for the royals who wear it. A real couturier will also give good advice. I don't know how determined Queen Mathilde is when buying clothes. Our queen is known to make her own plans, so that makes it difficult. But I always have to laugh when it's called Natan Couture. Couture is supposed to be completely designed or adapted to someone's body and that is not the case here.
The princesses have such tiny waists, beautiful!!
ReplyDelete-Anna-
Both P Elenore and P Elizabeth look stylish in their gowns. Q Matilda's dress resembles a Christmas bell, the color is nice though.
ReplyDeleteI love the overall look of the three ladies. Festive and elegant dresses. The dresses of QM and PE are in beautiful hues of red. QM’s dress would probably look better if a bit shorter or floorlength without the hoop ( too much fabric), buth the fabric is great.
ReplyDeleteOh, the picture of the two girls! Lovely!
ReplyDeleteQueen M’s dress is superb till the waist.
She should definitely drop the petticoat, and it old be a 100% beautiful res.
It must be fashion : Queen Mathilde's dress is compared with a lamp shade, a Christmas bell, etc... just like Queen Letizia's pale pink skirt when she was on state visit to Italy.
ReplyDelete@ Vanessa 09:39
ReplyDeleteI am afraid I still do not agree with you. CP Elisabeth is known for her confidence, she was still very young when she gave her first speech, and she replaced her mother and/or father on more than one occasion already. She is intelligent and speaks several languages. She was very confident when she studied at the Royal Military School and did all the excercises the other soldiers did. She proofed that she could lead a team of other soldiers to achieve an intervention ordered by her superior officers. She has a diploma of Oxford university and is studying at Harvard university for the moment. She is not afraid to answer the questions of the journalists. If you have not enough confidence, you cannot do this. There is nothing wrong with her posture.
Her sister Eléonore is only 16 and will probably finish secondary school next year, but she is praised for her beauty and she wore other dresses and jumpsuits in the past that everybody liked. Actually she is studying at the International School of Brussels, where she is together with international students. The majority of the courses are given in English. If you are not confident enough you will never make it in this school.
Nobody talked about their confidence and or posture yet. You did.
Are you analysing every young princess in Europe this way ? There is still a number of young princesses who are not judged this way by you, I think.
Signed anon. 07:51
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