photo & copyright: Netty Leistra
Brussels, 12 April 2003 Rehearsal at the Cathedral, 10 April 2003 While passing the cathedral of Brussels on Thursday evening around 18:00 I just saw King Albert II and Queen Paola of the Belgians entering the cathedral through the side entrance. With the presscard I just had collected that afternoon in the press centre I […]
Photos & copyright: Jelland Sprang On 27 December 2021 the surprise engagement of Princess Maria Laura of Belgium and William Isvy was announced. Laura’s uncle King Philippe of the Belgians on 31 January 2022 gave his permission for the wedding. They managed to keep their wedding date a secret for quite a while. The date […]
On 20 November 2010 Prince Carlos de Bourbon de Parme, Duke of Parma married Annemarie Gualthérie van Weezel religiously at the Abbaye de la Cambre/Abdij Ter Kameren at Brussels, Belgium. The couple had announced their engagement on 7 October 2009, after he had proposed to her during a picnic in the park of Palace Het […]
I can’t believe it is 20 years ago that I travelled all the way to Brussels – about five hours by train – for the wedding of Prince Philippe, the Duke of Brabant, and Mathilde d’Udekem d’Acoz. The engagement surprisingly was announced on 10 September 1999, and was followed by the presentation of the couple […]
So often I had thought when seeing pictures again, I should finally visit the Royal Greenhouses at Laeken Castle, Brussels, Belgium. However for me Brussels is at least a five-hour train ride, so it is not something you’d really like to do in one day. And unfortunately the Greenhouses are only open three weeks a […]
The opening of the exhibition “Ogenblikken met Astrid / Astrid & nous regards croisés” at the Museum of the Dynasty in Brussels on 17 November 2005 attracted quite a lot of royals. The exhibition was organised on the occasion of the 100th birth anniversary of Queen Astrid of the Belgians née Princess of Sweden (1905-1935). […]
Since 21 July 2013 Belgium has a new King. King Albert II abdicated on the Belgian national day in favour of his son King Philippe. King Albert II only announced that he would abdicate on 4 July 2013, so there was little time for extra preparations. But of course the Belgians already were to celebrate […]
photo & copyright: Netty Leistra
Brussels, 4 December 1999 The programme for the wedding day 9.25: Route of the processions: Royal Palace – Paleizenplein – Koningsstraat – Kolonieënstraat – Putterij – Infante Isabellastraat – Agoraplein – Grasmarkt – Heuvelstraat – Grote Markt. Departure of the first procession from the Palace in Brussels (Royal Motorcycle Cavalcade) with Queen Fabiola and Prince […]
photo & copyright: Netty Leistra
Brussels, 19 December 2002 The announcement Belgium was already abuzz with rumours about an engagement of Prince Laurent of Belgium and Claire Coombs since the beginning of 2002. On September 28th 2002 the Belgian tv-channel VTM reported that Laurent would get engaged to Claire in November, but November passed and nothing happened. However the rumours […]
