Belgian Royals Mark National Day

July 21st was a big day for Belgium and its royal family, as they celebrated in National Day, marking the day when King Leopold I swore an oath, and Belgium won its independence from the Netherlands.

Festivities began the previous evening, when the royal family went to the “Preludium to the National Day” concert at the Palace of Fine Arts. The royals listened to music by the Belgian National Orchestra and opera sung by Helene Guilmette.

Tuesday saw the actual Nationa Day celebrations. The day began with the Belgian royals attending Te Deum mass all over the country. King Albert II, Queen Paola, Queen Fabiola, Crown Prince Philippe and Crown Princess Mathilde went to mass at St. Michael and St. Gudule Cathedral in Brussels. The other two children of the King – Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent – and their spouses went to services at Antwerp and Mons.

After the mass, the royals in Brussels went up to the crowds outside of the cathedral, and chatted and posed for pictures with their subjects.

Later came the military defile. King Albert II inspected the troops before joining his family in the stands for the parade. The royal women had changed their attire for this event. Crown Princess Mathilde, for example, switched from a black fascinator and a white dress she wore to for Te Deum, to a brilliant pink outfit with a matching fascinator.

Philippe and Mathilde chatted with Queen Fabiola right before the parade. The dowager Queen was in a bright mood, despite her previous illness this year, plus the death threats that warned that she would be killed during the defile. But nothing happened. Queen Fabiola held a green apple during the event, perhaps to show she would not back down from anything.

Also at the defile were the children of Princess Astrid and Prince Laurent. None of the Crown Princely couple’s children were present, for reasons unknown.

After the military parade, the royals visited various locations in Brussels that were also marking National Day. Philippe and Mathilde visited a UNICEF stand in the royal park, while Princess Astrid and her husband, Prince Lorenz stopped by to chat with the Brussels police.

By nightfall, the royal family of Belgium enjoyed a magnificent fireworks display.