Traditionally, the King in office does not attend this Te Deum in his honor. The rest of the royal family was present. It was above all the first appearance of Queen Paola since her fall, a little over a month ago.
Each with his cane, they support each other to descend the steps of the cathedral. Queen Paola and King Albert are more united than ever at 85 and 88. They wanted to be present for this very solemn event.
Paola got back into shape after a month of convalescence, she doesn’t hesitate to chat with her admirers. “Me too, I had a little fall, a month or two ago, but it’s ok”entrusts him with an admirer who came to attend the exit of the church. “I had after another fall, the knee and the shoulder”answers Queen Paola.
On the other hand, no walkabout for King Albert, who prefers to wait in the car. “He seems more tired than last year”notes a fan. “Let’s say he is no longer 20, and like all people who are a little older, we are a little less expert”said another. “I found that he was relatively tired at the moment, it’s normal, it’s the passage of age, the change of season too”indicates a third comer to see the Te Deum.
40 minutes earlier the royal family entered the Cathedral of Saints Michael and Gudule. The former sovereigns, but also Princess Astrid and Prince Lorenz, and Princess Claire and Prince Laurent… According to tradition, the king does not take part in this te Deum which puts him in the spotlight.
In the assembly, the members of the government, who were expected by the police demonstrators. The Te deum was followed, as every year, by a civil ceremony at the Palais de la Nation.