In the darkness of a Saturday evening in Venice, King Philippe of Belgium was seen in a vaporetto crossing a canal. On board the water taxi were also two of his four children, Prince Emmanuel and Princess Éléonore. Another princess shared the same boat and stood in the back, Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands. The heiress to the Dutch throne spent the evening with the Belgian royal family to admire the dresses of Giorgio Armani.
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A discreet getaway to the Arsenal of Venice for the heiress to the throne of the Netherlands and King Philip
On September 2, 2023, Giorgio Armani organized one of his One Night Only parties in Venice. “On the occasion of the Venice Film Festival, I will celebrate a great moment, at the crossroads of fashion and cinema. These two worlds have always been the true passions of my creative life”, the Italian designer told Fashion Network last May. The designer kept his promise and his parade was organized this Saturday in the city of the Doges, on the sidelines of the 80th edition of the Venice International Film Festival.
Many personalities, including Sophia Loren, Jessica Chastain and Benicio Del Toro, attended Armani’s exceptional fashion show at the Arsenal on September 2. The world of cinema was gathered in Venice to attend the Mostra, enough to offer Armani a beautiful showcase in the middle of the festival, by organizing a parade that seduces actors and actresses. A few minutes from the launch of the show, apart from the red carpet and the photocall, a water taxi arrived more discreetly, with on board the King of the Belgians, his children and the heiress to the throne of the Netherlands.
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In the only photo taken by a paparazzi, we see King Philippe, 63, and Prince Emmanuel, 17, who wear a tuxedo and observe Venice plunged into the night, as they approach the Arsenal by vaporetto. At the back of the boat, Princess Éléonore, 15, stands next to the Princess of Orange, 19. Éléonore and Amalia are both wearing a carmine-colored dress.
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The King of the Belgians takes his children and Amalia to Giorgio Armani’s One Night Only fashion show
On the catwalk, King Philippe, his children and Princess Amalia were able to see 65 models parade who wore revisited pieces from the Armani Privé spring-summer 2023 collection. Queen Mathilde frequently wears Armani dresses but it is above all the princess Elisabeth who seems to have chosen this couturier to dress her for special occasions. When the Duchess of Brabant met Charles III in Buckingham the day before his coronation, she wore a sober midnight blue outfit from Giorgio Armani. When Elisabeth made her first official engagement in Egypt last March, she wore a fuchsia pink ensemble from Emporio Armani. And when she caused a sensation at the wedding of Crown Prince Hussein of Jordan in a semi-transparent blue dress with her majestic tiara, the outfit was then signed Armani Privé.
Queen Mathilde did not accompany King Philip to Venice. The Queen of the Belgians was present, at the same time, at the wedding of the Duchess Marie-Amélie of Württemberg in Altshausen, Germany. This nocturnal escapade was placed just before the resumption of the official engagements of the Belgian royal couple. On Sunday, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde made their return to school by attending the installation of the new archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels, which prevented the king from extending his stay in Venice.
Princess Elisabeth and Prince Gabriel, the elders of King Philippe, were not seen in Venice. Prince Gabriel has already returned to his second year at the Royal Military School a few days ago. As for the heir to the throne, she hasn’t yet made her return to Lincoln College, Oxford, but she’s certainly enjoying her last days of vacation with friends. Princess Amalia was photographed by paparazzi earlier in the day with friends, as she ate ice cream on the terrace of Café Florian in all discretion, a cap screwed on her head.
The One Night Only concept was launched in 2006 in London by Giorgio Armani. This is an exceptional show, organized on a catwalk, during which the couturier organizes a fashion show. At previous shows, big stars have also performed, including Beyoncé and 50 Cent. Armani is one of the major sponsors of the Mostra.
