Queen Mathilde, King Philippe, and the Belgian royals put on a dazzling display at annual Christmas Concert
- Queen Mathilde and King Philippe were joined by their two daughters
- READ MORE: Princess Elisabeth's all-American birthday! Heir to the Belgian throne celebrates turning 23 with autumnal photoshoot at Harvard
The Belgian royal family put on a glamorous display as they attended an annual Christmas Concert held at the Royal Palace in Brussels this evening.
The orchestra concert took place in a spectacular room featuring huge chandeliers and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree.
Applauded by upstanding guests as they entered, the beaming family-of-four eventually took their seats on the front row.
Queen Mathilde, 51, dazzled in a festive red, duchess satin gown with a high neck and three-quarter length sleeves.
Cinched at the waist, the royal's midi dress featured a voluminous skirt and a subtle criss-cross design.
The mother-of-two completed her ensemble with a pair of pointed toe heels in red suede and a miniature, crystal-encrusted clutch bag.
She added a pair of statement diamond earrings and wore her striking sapphire engagement ring on her left hand.
Mathilde's short, blond hair was styled in a classic blow dry with a side parting.
She kept her make-up simple for the jubilant occasion, brightening her flawless complexion with a slick of pale red lipstick.
The Belgian royal family attended an annual Christmas Concert held at the Royal Palace in Brussels on Wednesday evening. L-r: Princess Eléonore, Queen Mathilde, King Philippe and Crown Princess Elisabeth
The queen's eldest daughter, Crown Princess Elisabeth, 23, followed in her mother's footsteps on Wednesday evening, choosing a complementary crimson gown.
Elisabeth, who is currently working towards her MA in Public Policy at Harvard University, looked typically elegant in her full-length, velvet gown - complete with a slash neckline and three-quarter length sleeves.
The heir to the Belgian throne opted for red accessories, including pointed toe suede heels and a suede clutch bag.
She wore her long, blond hair loose and brushed back behind her ears to reveal a pair of large, dangly red and gold earrings.
Like her mother, Elisabeth kept her make-up simple, wearing little more than a rose tint on her lips and pink blush on her cheeks.
Princess Eléonore, meanwhile, was radiant in a shimmering silver dress with a split on the left side and ruche detailing.
The princess, 16, wore ballet flats on her feet and carried a silver satin clutch bag.
Like her older sister, Eléonore has long, blond hair but she chose to wear it in loose waves rather than brushed back.
Queen Mathilde, 51, and King Philippe, 64, entered the concert with their daughters in tow
The orchestra concert took place in a spectacular hall with huge chandeliers and a beautifully decorated Christmas tree
Crown Princess Elisabeth (right) followed in her mother's footsteps this evening by choosing a complementary crimson gown
She added a pair of dainty earrings and wore a subtle gloss on her lips.
King Philippe, 64, looked smart in a grey suit with a crisp white shirt and a pale blue, patterned tie.
The monarch chose a double-breasted jacket with a white pocket square.
This month marks the 25th wedding anniversary of Philippe and Mathilde, who married in Brussels on December 4, 1999.
It has been a busy week for Queen Mathilde, who attended a ceremony commemorating the Battle of the Bulge on Sunday in Luxembourg.
She joined her husband King Philippe, as well as other prominent figures including Luxembourg's Prime Minister Luc Frieden, for the event at the American Military Cemetery in Hamm.
The royal donned a green and grey ensemble as the couple marked the 80th anniversary of the event, also known as the Ardennes Counteroffensive, in Bastogne, Belgium.
Today's ceremony honoured the memories of US soldiers who were wounded or killed during the battle, which took place from December 16, 1944, to January 25, 1945.
This month marks the 25th wedding anniversary of Philippe and Mathilde, who married in Brussels on December 4, 1999
Dressed in their finery, the Belgian royals took their seats on the front row
The queen looked stylish as she paid her tributes at the event, donning a green dress, with a matching hat and gloves, topped with a grey cape.
Meanwhile, Philippe donned a black suit, featuring a double breasted blazer, and paired with a white shirt, and black tie.
Among the other attendees were Grand Duke Henri, Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg and others.
The US Ambassador to Luxembourg Thomas M. Barrett and Deputy Chief of Mission Michael Konstantino were also present.
The Battle of the Bulge was the last major German offensive campaign on the Western Front during World War II, and is known to be one of WWII's turning points.
It saw 200,000 German troops counter-attack across the front line in Belgium and Luxembourg.
They smashed into battle-weary US soldiers positioned in terrain as foreign to them as it was familiar to the Germans.
Nazi leader Adolf Hitler had hoped the advance would change the course of World War II by forcing US and British troops to sue for peace, thus freeing Germany to focus on the rapidly advancing Soviet armies in the east.
Queen Mathilde and King Philippe, along with their daughters, received applause as they entered the hall
Queen Mathilde wore a stunning duchess satin gown in festive red while King Philippe donned a dark suit with a pale blue tie for the occasion
Lasting for more than a month, the battle saw the Allied Forces achieve the upper hand in the end, and invade Germany.
It left many experienced German units left severely depleted of men and equipment, as survivors retreated to the defences of the Siegfried Line. The war in Europe ended less than five months later.
Germany is now an ally of the United States and its wartime partners, united in the NATO alliance.
The Battle of the Bulge gained fame not so much for the commanders' tactics but for the resilience of small units hampered by poor communications that stood shoulder to shoulder to deny Hitler the quick breakthrough he so desperately needed.
Even though the Americans were often pushed back, they were able to delay the German advance in its crucial initial stages.
The royal couple beamed as they arrived at the Christmas Concert in the Royal Palace in the Belgian capital
When the fortunes of the war turned, it was most visible in the southern Ardennes town of Bastogne, where surrounded US troops were cut off for days with little ammunition or food.
When Brig. Gen. Anthony C. McAuliffe, of the 101st Airborne, received an ultimatum on December 22 to surrender or face total destruction, he offered one of the most famous - and brief - replies in military history.
He simply responded by saying: 'Nuts.'
Four days later, US troops broke the Nazi encirclement.
