Twice a Queen
From the desk of Paul Belien on Wed, 2006-04-12 13:23
The Belgian royal family is not very popular in Flanders, the Dutch-speaking northern half of the country, where a growing part of the population favours independence. So, what do you do when King Albert and Queen Paola visit town and hardly anyone turns up? You fix the pictures.
This photo showing the crowds during the royal couple's recent visit to the town of Brakel, as published in the local weekly De Beiaard, has Queen Paola twice on the same picture. The caption says: "Royal couple gets warm welcome in Brakel."
Zattevrienden.be had deze
Submitted by Brigands on Wed, 2006-04-12 14:27.
Zattevrienden.be had deze story al op 10 April, staat ook op min blog.
Volgens Herman Boel zou Paola er driemaal op staan...
Another element which should be noted:
Look at the crowd. On the right: the 'elderly'. On the left the commandeered children of the local school. See those belgian flags on a little wooden stick, standard element. Same flags are handed out by officials during the national day (21 July).
A nice close-up picture to make it look more crowded already, required additional faking.
If I'm not mistaken this picture was taken before the royal family went to the endline of a cycling race (Tour of Flanders?), they were greated with Flemish lion flags. Further for the reception they had to bring in a load of elderly to fill up the reception room.