Princess Eléonore’s Sparkling Tiara, Armani Privé, and More Royal Fashion From the Belgian Royal Banquet
royalsPrincess Eléonore’s Sparkling Tiara, Armani Privé, and More Royal Fashion From the Belgian Royal Banquet
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium hosted a gala dinner for Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako at the Palace of Laeken in Brussels.
By Marta Martínez TatoJune 24, 2026
Belgium State BanquetPhotonews/Getty ImagesAlthough the visit officially began on June 23, Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan landed for the Belgian royal banquet a few days early. The couple spent their weekend at the Royal Castle of Ciergnon, demonstrating the close relationship between the Japanese and Belgian royal families. At the airport, the emperor and empress were greeted by Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth, who was making her debut in this type of institutional duty typical of her future role as queen. Yesterday, following the official welcome at the king’s Palace Square, the visiting Japanese dignitaries visited City Hall and Parliament, ending the day with a traditional state banquet at the Palace of Laeken.
This gala dinner provided several highlights. First and foremost was the debut of Princess Eléonore—having just turned 18, she is the youngest of the Belgian king and queen’s four children to wear a tiara for the first time. Eléonore donned a tiara purchased in 2019 at an auction for 26,000 euros (or roughly $29,000), crafted by the Brussels-based jeweler Coosemans.
Eleonore of Belgium
Photonews/Getty ImagesThe ornate accessory features scrollwork and clover motifs in silver and gold, set with diamonds that can be detached and worn as a brooch. It was an 18th-birthday gift from Eléonore’s parents. The Belgian royal also debuted a dress by Safiyaa, a designer who has become a favorite among the younger generation of royals. The cape-style design is very similar to those we’ve occasionally seen on Princess Amalia of the Netherlands.
It was also the first time in two decades that the Brabant Laurel Wreath Tiara had been lent out. This piece of jewelry, worn by Princess Elisabeth, was a wedding gift from the Belgian nobility to Mathilde on the occasion of her wedding in 1999. It consists of 631 diamonds set in platinum with laurel-leaf motifs. The heir to the throne paired it with a pair of cascading diamond earrings, also lent to her by her mother—jewelry that stood out particularly well thanks to the midnight blue dress she chose.
Elisabeth of BelgiumGeert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty ImagesQueen Mathilde debuted an Armani Privé dress for the Belgium royal banquet—tailored specifically for her—along with a clutch from the Italian brand’s 2026 haute couture collection. The design, featuring three-quarter sleeves and a gradient of pastel shades, is adorned with paillettes and sequined flowers at the top.
Matilde of Belgium and Masako of JapanGeert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty ImagesAs for adornments, the Belgian queen opted for one of the most important pieces in her jewelry box: the Nine Provinces Tiara. A detachable headband with multiple options—it can be transformed into a choker and bracelet, the base can be worn alone, or the arches can attached to a necklace—which was a gift from the Belgian government to Princess Astrid of Sweden on the occasion of her marriage to Crown Prince Leopold of Belgium in 1926. It was the one chosen by Fabiola de Mora y Aragón for her wedding to King Baudouin.
Mathilde of BelgiumBENOIT DOPPAGNE/Getty ImagesFinally, Empress Masako also made history by wearing the Honeysuckle Tiara and the mirror necklace together for the first time since the 1990s. This tiara, featuring diamond honeysuckle motifs, was created by Mikimoto around 1928 for Princess Chichibu on the occasion of her wedding to Prince Yasuhito.
Empress MasakoGeert Vanden Wijngaert/Getty ImagesThe royal foursome’s upcoming itinerary includes a visit to the Citadel of Namur, the University Library of Leuven, the Royal Greenhouses, and the Japanese Tower, among other sites. The trip will conclude on June 25 when, after bidding farewell to the Belgian royal family, Japan’s resident emperor and empress will return to their homeland.
Originally published by Vanity Fair Spain
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Badenoch blasts 'moaning' female Labour MPs over Burnham jobs 'quota'
Kemi Badenoch has told Labour women to earn a job in Andy Burnham's Cabinet instead of demanding they are handed jobs because of their gender.
The Tory leader lashed out today amid reports that female MPs are demanding the de-facto new prime minister introduce a 50:50 gender split 'quota' in his government.
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister also complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts.
But in a scathing article in the Times today Mrs Badenoch told them to 'stop moaning' and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'.
'There are many, many reasons why you shouldn't have any Milibands in the cabinet,' she said.
'But complaining that the boys haven't given them the right jobs or that the boys are taking all the jobs, just shows that Labour's women still don't get it.'
The idea of quotas was also attacked by Baroness Jacqui Smith, Labour's Skills Minister.
Asked by Times Radio if Mr Burnham should reserve jobs for women, she said: 'No, I think what Andy Burnham should be doing is building the very best team around him to change this country.'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs
Amid reports that former foreign secretary David Miliband (above, right, in 2010) is being lined up to return to the role, possibly with his brother Ed as Chancellor, one female minister complained that Burnham could not have 'more Milibands than women' in the top posts
But Mrs Badenoch told them to pipe down and get chosen on merit instead of retreating into 'more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country'
A letter written by the Women's Parliamentary Labour Party and seen by the BBC has called on Mr Burnham to ensure a 50:50 split between men and women in government jobs after he succeeds Sir Keir Starmer.
'We are asking you to demonstrate this change from day one and address the toxicity and misogyny within our own party and government,' it said.
Labour has never had a female leader, while the Conservatives have had three, and Mrs Badenoch urged the government to follow its meritocratic example.
'If you run a meritocracy, then you do not have to worry about jobs for the boys,' she wrote.
'Every woman who is a Conservative MP, every woman who has ever won the leadership, has had to fight to get where she is.
'By contrast, Labour women are demanding guarantees from Burnham. But the truth is he doesn't have to give any guarantees.
'If none of Labour's women are prepared to get their hands dirty and challenge him for the leadership, their demands are toothless.'
'In fact, it's quite revealing that the women's parliamentary Labour Party has written to Burnham asking him to commit himself to at least 50 per cent female ministers.
'This has nothing to do with meritocracy. It is yet more of the failed identity politics that is holding back our country.'
