Flashback: Birth of Emmanuel

 Tuesday 4 October 2005

Princess Mathilde entered the Erasme Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels around 8:15 in the morning.
At 13:06 she gave birth to her third child, a son named Emmanuel Leopold Guillaume François Marie.

The baby weighed 3,900 kg and measured 50 cm. The day he was born was exactly 175 years after Belgium's independance!

Court announced the news, adding that Emmanuel's godfather would be Hereditary Grand Duke Guillaume of Luxembourg and Mathilde's sister, Countess Elisabeth d'Udekem would become his godmother.

Princess Elisabeth & Prince Gabriel came to the hospital to meet their new brother.

The four grandparents also dropped by.

When meeting the press, Crown Prince Philippe told them that this time around they hadn't wanted to know the sex of the baby beforehand. He added that the birth had been a natural one and,"It was a difficult birth, but my wife is fantastic".

Wednesday 5 October 2005

Queen Fabiola came to visit. 

As did Elisabeth d'Udekem ...

... and Princess Astrid, Prince Lorenz and their youngest, Princess Laetitia.

Edouard Vermeulen was also spotted.

Of course Prince Philippe was present as well.

Thursday 6 October 2005

A photoshoot took place at the hospital so Belgium could discover its new little prince.

Friday 7 October 2005

Philippe and his two eldest children are spotted outside the hospital, doing a round in the park.

Leaving, accompanied by Mathilde's gynaecologist, Doctor Geneviève Naomé.

Monday 10 October 2005

Leaving hospital and meeting the press.

Mathilde arrived with the baby to talk to the press. Philippe said his wife should also say something because after all she did all the work, and deserved to be the focal point of attention, to which Mathilde replied that wasn't completely true, "Emmanuel is the real star".

Mathilde: "I'm delighted to present Emmanuel to the Belgian population. He's an easy baby. He eats well and has slept until 5 a.m.! We hope he'll continue like this. My pregnancy went very well. I carried out my official duties untill the very last moment."

Why did you decide to give birth in a completely natural way?

Mathilde: "That's a choice that belongs to my private life. All mothers know what it's like. Giving birth is each time an incredibly important moment you want to live to the fullest. Each birth is different. I was very happy my husband was present."

She said Elisabeth and Gabriel were both overjoyed with the new brother. Gabriel was very generous, and wanted to share all his toys with Emmanuel, but Mathilde got a little frightened when he started to hover his toy tractor over his little brother's head. Philippe added that Elisabeth acts very responsably towards Emmanuel: "She already feels she's the big sister."

When Mathilde was in hospital Philippe also visited some of the other patients. "A lot of people don't have an OK time, and we noticed that our happiness can sometimes bring some joy to other people, which warms our heart".

Who did the couple think Emmanuel takes after? Mathilde: "You can judge for yourselves! He has Elisabeth's eyes. So I think he looks like you, she says while turning to her husband. Because Elisabeth looks a lot like you."

Why the name Emmanuel ?

Philippe: "It's in the first place the choice of our heart. We think this name suits him." When asked about the religious significance of the name - Emmanuel is Hebrew for God is amongst us - Prince Philippe added : That's a way of looking at it, but it was in the first place the choice of our heart." At any rate Emmanuel doesn't refer to a friend our acquaintance of the couple. And if it had been a girl, would she have been called Emmanuelle? "No, we would have chosen another name. I think of Emmanuel as more of a boy's name."

You're a big family now, are you thinking of having more children ?

Philippe: "We'll need a little time! One thing at a time. We're very happy with our 3 children. We're going to enjoy the children now and take the time to be with Emmanuel and to find our new place in the family. It's true, we're a large family now ... As I noticed when I went to pick up Elisabeth from school and Gabriel from the nanny, before driving to hospital to meet their little brother".