New Years drink for Diplomatic Heads in the Royal Palace - Belgium

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Princess Mathilde (left),greets Michelle Loewinger, wife of the ambassador of the USA in Brussels, Belgium, Howard William Goodman.(right).

02/24

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Queen Paola King Albert and family entering the Royal Palace in Brussels.

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Prince Philippe smiling at Princess Mathilde (right) at the Royal Palace in Brussels.

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Princess Matahilde wears red for the New Years reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels.

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Princess Matahilde wears red for the New Years reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels.

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Queen Paola at the New Years reception at the Royal Palace in Brussels.

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Prince Filip greets Sandra Fuentes-Berain of Mexico during the New Year reception for the Diplomatic Heads of Mission at the Royal Palace.

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Prince Philippe (left), and Queen Paola with the ambassador of the USA, Howard William Goodman and his wife Michelle Loewinger.

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Princess Mathilde of Belgium shakes hands with French Ambassador Michele Boccoz during the New Year reception for the Diplomatic Heads of Mission at the Royal Palace.

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Prince Philippe of Belgium shakes hands with British Ambassador Jonathan Andrew Brenton at the New Year reception for Diplomatic Heads of Mission at Royal Palace.

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Princess Mathilde of Belgium shakes hands with Dutch Ambassador Hendik Jan Jurriaan Schuwer at the New Year reception for Diplomatic Heads of Mission at Royal Palace.

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Belgian's Princess Mathilde (left) greets Saudi Ambassador to Belgium Faisal Bin Hassan bin Ahmed Trad (right) and his wife (2nd from right).

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Suleiman Hamed Salem Al Mazroui (2nd R), UAE ambassador to Belgium, and his wife Alia (R) are welcomed by Belgium's Crown Princess Mathilde (L), Crown Prince Philippe (2nd L), Queen Paola and King Albert of Belgium (3rd R).

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Suleiman Hamed Salem Al Mazroui ( R), UAE ambassador to Belgium welcomed by Belgium's Crown Princess Mathilde (L), Crown Prince Philippe (2nd L), Queen Paola and King Albert of Belgium (not in picture) at the New Year reception.

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Suleiman Hamed Salem Al Mazroui (not in pic), UAE ambassador to Belgium, and his wife Alia (R) are welcomed by Belgium's Crown Princess Mathilde (L), Crown Prince Philippe (2nd L), Queen Paola and King Albert of Belgium (3rd R).

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After the handshakes. The royal family from the back with King Albert blowing his nose. (King Albert recently had a nose operation).

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Queen Paola choosing a drink.

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Queen Paola drinks a glass of champagne.

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King Albert sits down with S.E. Revernd Mgr. Giacinto Berloco.

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Queen Paola (3nd l) of Belgium talks to Sandra Fuentes-Berain (l) while King Albert (2nd r) sits down with S.E. Reverend Mgr. Giacinto Berloco during the New Year reception for the Diplomatic Heads of Mission.

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King Albert itches his nose sitting down with S.E. Reverend Mgr. Giacinto Berloco. He had a nose operation.

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Queen Paola (r) of Belgium talks to Michelle Loewinger during the New Year reception for the Diplomatic Heads of Mission at the Royal Palace.

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King Albert sits down with S.E. Reverend Mgr. Giacinto Berloco and toasts.

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Princess Mathilde with Paul Magnette, a socialist PS French-speaking politician.

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Queen Paola, King Albert, Prince Philippe and Princess Mathilde organised a New Year reception for the Diplomatic Heads of Mission at the Royal Palace in Brussels, Belgium on January 11th 2012

The diplomats all came by car, through a tunnel under the palace. They had to gather around a number, to organise these hundreds of guests.
During one hour the royal family was placed in front of four chairs, and they shook hands of all guests. After this official part, they left into the mirror-room. The ceiling is covered with millions of green insect-birds (A work of art called Heaven of Delight by Jan Fabre, 2002) The special guest Mgr Giacinto Berloco talked in private with King Albert, while the rest of the royals mingled between their guests.