When Mathilde d'Udekem d'Acoz married Philippe of Belgium on December 4th 1999, she didn't just bag herself a king in waiting, she also set a new world record for biggest ever bridal bouquet. It still stands. This isn't a posy, it's a forest and the poor woman must have had biceps to die for after spending a day lugging that thing about.
It was made by the royal gardeners who presumably hadn't been to many weddings before as the bouquet is said to have weighed 3.5 kilos - basically, the size of a newborn baby. Brides have enough to worry about on their big day without having to juggle the equivalent of a brand new human being while they walk down the aisle. In front of Europe's royal houses. And with millions watching on TV. Fair play to Mathilde, she kept her cool even if she did look like she might lose her balance from time to time.
As well as being monstrously large and almost the same size as the floral arrangements in the Cathedral of St Michael and St Gudule where Mathilde became a royal bride, this bouquet is also very, very green. Amidst all the leaves are white roses, lilies and some amaryllis but green dominates. There might have been a good reason, too. It was later revealed that the bride had her heart set on red flowers for her wedding - check out those bridesmaids - but her mother in law to be, Queen Paola, wanted white. The bouquet does have the air of compromise about it and, looking on the bright side, the green brings together the two colours rather well.
Putting aside the size of the bouquet, it does have a festive feel which was perfect for this (almost) Christmas royal bride. And given that her dress, tiara and general loveliess were much admired on the wedding day itself, the flowers can be forgiven. Besides, Mathilde knows that no one is ever going to beat this in the size stakes when it comes to a royal wedding bouquet. I
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