Cut-price celebrations for King’s Porcelain Jubilee
TheBulletin.be reports that the celebrations to mark the 20th anniversary of King Albert II’s accession to the throne are unlikely to cost more than between 500,000 euros and 600,000 euros.
This is less than half the cost of the 10th anniversary celebrations says TheBulletin.be. In 2003, events were held for two days in a dozen venues across Brussels, for a total cost of 1.3 million euros.
The Francophone daily Le Soir reported that this year’s celebrations on August 9 should cost “little more than a normal July 21”. July 21 is Belgium's National Holiday.
The Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo (Francophone socialist) is discussing details of the festivities with the Interior and Defence ministries, and Le Soir believes they will be downsized through budgetary concerns, but also “in light of current events” - referring to recent controversies surrounding the allowances paid to Belgium’s royals.