Royal News and Views

Royal News and Views
[ Royal News and Views ]

National Day in Belgium

Posted by Hollie24 on July 21, 2026, 6:36 pm

Mathilde, Elisabeth, and Eleanore look absolutely beautiful. Claire looks lovely too, and Astrid is all business in her uniform. And then there is Delphine. Words fail me.

https://royalwatcherblog.com/2026/07/21/belgian-national-day-26/#google_vignette

The horror Delphine unleashed

Posted by Hollie24 on July 21, 2026, 6:39 pm, in reply to "National Day in Belgium"

Brittney thinks she's acting out. I think she's lost her marbles. Fair warning, her getup is painful to see.

Re: National Day in Belgium

Posted by Martha on July 21, 2026, 11:13 pm, in reply to "National Day in Belgium"

The royal family looks fabulous, but I don't know why Elizabeth went sleeveless. Not a big deal, but even a short sleeve would have been dressier. But it wasn't pink wings, so there's that.

I think that Delphine is not well. She lobbied long and hard to be recognized as the king's daughter, and now that she's got her wish she continues to undermine herself. Why doesn't she follow Mathilde's lead and dress like she belongs up there with the family?

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Mpre Photos

Posted by karenl on July 22, 2026, 2:28 am, in reply to "Re: National Day in Belgium"

I don't have a problem with Elizabeth's sleeveless dress, it's respectful. Delphine dresses to be the center of attention or so she thinks....like Meghan's outfits when she was at Royal events, she would make sure to have her outfits contradictory to the other Royal women.
Delphine loves the attention, you can tell and boy, she's taken advantage of her position, lots of facial surgery...I almost didn't recognize her. Oh, and of course, the new blonde hair.

https://www.gettyimages.com/editorial-images/news/event/belgiums-national-day-2026/776533166?editorialproducts=all

The Prelude Concert Held On July 20th

Posted by karenl on July 22, 2026, 2:32 am, in reply to "Mpre Photos"

https://www.gettyimages.com/editorial-images/news/event/belgian-royals-attend-the-prelude-concert-for-national-day/776533162?editorialproducts=all

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Martha on July 22, 2026, 8:27 am, in reply to "Mpre Photos"

Elizabeth's dress is respectful and appropriate, I agree. But she was the only royal lady who was sleeveless. I just stood out to me.

Delphine proves over and over again that she was not, and never will be, ready for prime time. I don't know what her finances are, but it seems like the Belgians got their own version of Fergie. In interviews she's the victim, she cannot show up to an event and look the part and she fiddles instead of sitting still.

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Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Cynthia on July 22, 2026, 12:55 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

It's times like this, when I see Delphine preening on the royal dais, with her "new" siblings and relatives around her, gracious and welcoming, that I think about how so many people say "Oh, they're so relaxed, lookit." I say to myself, "No, they're very good actors."

Whenever I see the word "relaxed" in reference to a royal out on an official engagement, frankly, I substitute the word with "good acting."

Wasn't it queen Mary's mother who said something like "We ALWAYS love to visit hospitals and kiss babies!"

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Hollie24 on July 23, 2026, 5:21 am, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

Mary Adelaide is one of my favorite Royals.

I think Delphine was hoping for more than just two appearances a year with her half siblings. I think she was hoping for the Bank of Albert and Phillipe to give her money or a residence or something. I also think she wants to be seen as being equal to her half siblings and be treated as an equal by them. She seems to have forgotten the real pain she caused Paola and how that hurt filtered through to the rest of the family. They don't talk to her in public, except for Claire, who seems to be the family's "difficult person" handler (maybe because she's married to the other headache-causer).

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Martha on July 23, 2026, 9:49 am, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

Delphine and Prince Headache have been seen chatting amiably on the dais on more than one occasion. Claire must have the patience of a saint. Can you imagine having to deal with those two? In front of witnesses?

I agree with you that Delphine wanted more than what she got, but she did get what she asked for. When she sued the (then) king, she said that all she wanted was to be recognized as his daughter and to be treated as his child. Well, she got the title and she's invited to the public events. I don't know if she also received a financial settlement.

But here's the kicker: while we look at her and shake our heads, the Belgium people apparently like her!

Her long struggle to be legally recognized resonated deeply with many Belgians, who largely felt that the former King and the royal palace treated her unfairly. When she finally won her title and was embraced by her half-brother, the reigning King Philippe, it was viewed as a triumph for justice.

According to public discussions and media coverage, while some critics think her artistic and vocal personality clashes with the stoic dignity of the royal house, the prevailing view is that she adds a grounded, down-to-earth presence to the family.

And an article from Supine Monthly:

https://people.com/princess-delphine-belgium-responds-outfit-criticism-national-day-12024454

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Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Hollie24 on July 23, 2026, 7:10 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

This is People magazine. I can't take the article seriously.

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Martha on July 23, 2026, 10:20 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

I used AI to scan through Belgian media and give me an idea of what the Belgians thought of Delphine. They don't mind her as most think that she was treated unfairly and shouldn't have had to fight for recognition of paternity. I find her appalling, but the Belgians have a point.

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Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by karenl on July 23, 2026, 10:49 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

Delphine certainly had the right to pursue her paternity cause, but it was how she went about it. She portrayed herself growing up as practically penniless, living in a shed, so to speak. She missed out on being a Royal. In reality, her legal father Jacques Boel loved her and she had a privileged life as he was one of the wealthiest men in Belgium and possibly Europe. Delphine lacked for nothing, he legal father was far wealthier than the Belgian Royal Family.
Delphine's parents divorced and it's believed that her mother Jacqueline started pushing Delphine towards the paternity issue and continued throughout. Delphine herself didn't need a whole lot of pushing especially when her legal father disowned her and cut her out of his will. The public ate up her story and sympathized with Delphine.
Her treatment of Albert and Paola through the entire process was deplorable. Paola wasn't a party in the situation and didn't deserve the slurs and horrible things Delphine put out. She put on a real con job with the public in regards to her life without "her father, the King."
Laurent was her big supporter and that didn't help matters at all, either.

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Martha on July 24, 2026, 9:52 am, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

I agree with everything you wrote, but it needs to be added that Delphine had a relationship with Albert until he became king, then he cut stopped all contact. So she lost two fathers, both alive but neither wanted to have anything to do with her. Why they both decided that Delphine had to be out of their lives is the unanswered question.

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Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by karenl on July 24, 2026, 2:00 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

I have make correction. Delphine's mother's name is Sybelle. Where I got Jacqueline, only the heavens know.

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by karenl on July 24, 2026, 7:59 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

"Despite the rumours, Boël acknowledged Delphine as his offspring when she was born in 1968. The link lasted until 1999, when journalist Mario Danneels revealed the royal adultery, perhaps the biggest scandal to have faced the Belgian monarchy.

To add insult to injury, Delphine sought official recognition as a princess of Belgium, and ultimately won, with the expected effect on the man who had helped bring her up as a child to believe he was her father.

In December last year, the last of several DNA tests finally showed that Delphine and Boël were not parent and child, although the situation had been clear for longer. Delphine was forced to renounce any claim to the Boël estate, which at the time stood at an estimated €1.7 billion.

DNA testing has shown, however, that Delphine is not the daughter of Jacques, and therefore has no claim on the Boël fortune.

I found this article early this afternoon and now it explains why Delphine didn't inherit anything from her father, in terms of money. I think it was right before the article came out or shortly after that Delphine became quite angry with Jacques because he "had too many rules", they had had a rocky relationship since her teens. She then wrote to King Albert about him being her father and....asking for money.
Well, she and her mother got what they wanted, but earlier this year Delphine stated she deserved to be on the Royal Civil List because she's a member of the Royal Family and deserves the taxpayer money. No, she doesn't, she doesn't perform any royal engagements or work for the Royal Family.

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https://www.brusselstimes.com/202721/jacques-boel-once-presumed-father-of-princess-delphine-dies-at-92

Re: Mpre Photos

Posted by Hollie24 on July 24, 2026, 8:22 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

Delphine, meet This One and His wife. Y'all seem like y'all have a lot in common.

She's a fool

Posted by Martha on July 24, 2026, 11:51 pm, in reply to "Re: Mpre Photos"

If she thought Jacques had "too many rules" what did she think would happen when she tried to take on the monarchy? This is a classic case of Be Careful What You Wish For. She alienated the father who gave her everything, and now she's out of his will. She is now recognized as a princess, but she has no role and therefore no appanage or royal estate. The people might find her interesting, but once Albert passes away I think Phillipe will have even less to do with her.

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