The world of haute couture is still reeling from the shock of September 4, 2025. The passing of Giorgio Armani in Milan at the age of 91 left behind an immense creative legacy. His designs were often chosen by royalty for landmark occasions. One only has to recall the pristine white pantsuit worn by the current Queen of Spain, Letizia, at the announcement of her engagement to then-prince Felipe back in 2003. Or the wedding gown of Princess Charlene of Monaco, who entrusted the Italian designer with her look for the ceremony at the Grimaldi Palace in 2011. The memory of the maestro lives on, and now Queen Mathilde of Belgium has demonstrated by example that his name will forever remain a synonym for elegance.
Yesterday, the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, arrived in Belgium on a state visit. Queen Mathilde paid tribute to Italian fashion, appearing throughout the day in iconic Giorgio Armani pieces, complemented by the finest jewels from her collection.
In the evening, the Belgian monarchs hosted a gala dinner in Brussels in honor of the President of Italy and his daughter, Laura Mattarella, who fulfills the duties of First Lady. For this occasion, Mathilde chose one of the most beautiful evening gowns from her wardrobe: Giorgio Armani Privé. She wore again the fuchsia dress with a sheer, stone-encrusted bodice and a long pleated skirt. This dress has already become iconic, as it was in this gown that the Queen posed for her latest official portraits published in 2023. The public first saw it during the state visit to Luxembourg in October 2019.
To add a status-appropriate sparkle to her look, Mathilde wore a historic jewel—the “Brabant Laurel Wreath” tiara. This piece, created by the British jewelry firm Hennel & Sons in 1912, consists of 631 diamonds set in platinum, imitating laurel branches with leaves and berries. The tiara was a wedding gift from a group of Belgian aristocrats in 1999. The Queen completed her ensemble with striking diamond tassel earrings.
But that day, Mathilde did not limit herself to just one Armani outfit. In the morning, during the official ceremony welcoming the Italian delegation, the queen presented a new ensemble from the Giorgio Armani Privé couture line. It featured an Oriental-style coat with floral brocade and a pleated midi dress. The look was completed with a blue satin clutch, also from Armani, which had previously been worn by her daughter, Princess Elisabeth. The heir to the throne first appeared with it on December 20, 2022, and then brought it to the wedding of Jordanian royals Hussein and Rajwa on June 1, 2023.
