donderdag 31 augustus 2023

Family: A Wedding is Announced

Two weeks ago the Carnet Mondain announced the engagement of Evrard de Lhoneux and Pauline Dagneau de Richecour. 


Evrard (°1996) is the son of Mathilde's first cousin, Diane d'Udekem d'Acoz. Diane's father, Raoul d'Udekem and Mathilde's father, Patrick d'Udekem were brothers. 

Evrard has five siblings: Arnaud, Blandine (married to Wauthier du Bus de Marnaffe), Juliette, Marie Cécile and Ferdinand. He's the second of the bunch to get married. 

Evrard studied law at the University of Namur and the Université Catholique de Louvain. Nowadays he works at law firm Altius in Brussels where he specializes in corporate affairs.


Pauline de Richecour is the daughter of Domique Dagneau de Richecour & Béatrice de la Barre de Nanteuil. Pauline has 4 older siblings: Eléonore, Thomas, Mayeul and Astrid.

Pauline's mother is a first cousin of Marie-Adélaïde de la Barre de Nanteuil, whose son, Maximilien d'Andigné is married to Duchess Sophie von Württemberg.


Pauline studied Business Administration at Ichec Brussels. She also obtained a Master's degree in International Management and Marketing from the same school. She now works as a Digital Media & Performance Manager for internet provider VOO in Brussels. 


woensdag 30 augustus 2023

Flashback: 200 Years The Netherlands

30 August 2014

King Willem-Alexander & Queen Maxima celebrated the bicentenary of the Kingdom of the Netherlands in Maastricht.

Also invited were King Philippe & Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, Grand Duke Henri & Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and the German President Joachim Gauck & his partner, Daniela Schadt.














dinsdag 29 augustus 2023

Flashback: Family Photo

This family photo was taken in 2004 when Philippe & Mathilde had 2 children: toddler Elisabeth and baby Gabriel.

maandag 28 augustus 2023

Back to the Military Academy for Gabriel

28 August 2023

Today Prince Gabriel (20) starts college again!

Gabriel is part of the 162nd Promotion at the Royal Military Academy. He starts the second year of his Bachelor in Social and Military Sciences today.

zondag 27 augustus 2023

maandag 21 augustus 2023

Flashback: Birth of Gabriel

Monday 19 August 2003

In the early evening, Princess Mathilde arrived at the Erasme Hospital in Brussels to give birth to her second child.

Tuesday 20 August 2003

At 1:15 in the morning, a Prince is born. 

The news is announced in the morning. The press has been given the name of the Prince: Gabriel Baudouin Charles Marie. He weighs 4 kilos and measures 52 cm. He has blond hair and blue eyes. 

Prince Philippe talks to the press:

"My wife and I are feeling very tired. Of course there's the actual birth, but also all the feelings involved in this happy event. Because Gabriel is our second child, we knew more or less how things would evolve, but our emotions are still completely overwhelming."


While Elisabeth was born by cesarean, Gabriel's birth was natural. 
Philippe:"I was present throughout and tried to support my wife where I could. I can assure you that I respect my wife even more after this unforgettable night. 

Did the Princess have an epidural, the press wanted to know.
Philippe: "The technical details belong to our private life". He assured that apart from the fatigue, Mathilde was doing well.

The couple had known beforehand they were having a boy this time but kept it a secret: "A typical secret between a couple. We like that sort of thing".

About the name, Gabriel, a new one in the family line: "We both love the name Gabriel. It's firm and strong. And it's a name that's shared by christianity, judaism and islam. A name that unites. We love uniting symbols. The second name, Baudouin, is in honour of my uncle Baudouin."

Finally Prince Philippe also described his new child: "He looks a lot like his sister. And he has very big hands and feet. You can tell he will grow up to be very big and strong."


Later in the day Philippe went to fetch Elisabeth (1,5) who met her baby brother for the first time.






The grandparents also came to visit.



Wednesday 21 August 2003

Elisabeth visiting her baby brother and mama again. It was grandma Anne who brought her to hospital.




Mathilde's sister, Countess Hélène d'Udekem, also came to visit.


Thursday 22 August 2003

Photo shoot at the hospital.




 



Saturday 24 August 2003

Leaving hospital. 





Arriving at home, Laeken, where little Elisabeth & her nanny were waiting.



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