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BABY CELEBRATIONS FOR LEADING ROYALS AND SOCIETY FIGURES

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10 OCTOBER 2006

Belgium's little Prince Emmanuel was centre of everyone's attention when he celebrated his first birthday at home in Laeken last week. The smiling youngster was showered with affection by his parents, Crown Prince Philippe and his wife Mathilde, as well as siblings Gabriel and Elisabeth who helped their younger brother mark his big day.

It's hard to believe that a year has already passed since the wide-eyed infant made his big debut at Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, but it was plain to see the youngster had been growing fast as he and his loved-ones took a stroll through the grounds of the Royal Palace on Wednesday.

And the Belgian royals weren't the only VIPs enjoying a family celebration this week. Across the border in Germany, society couple Carl-Eduard von Bismark and his wife Nathalie were joined by Elizabeth Hurley and her little boy Damian as they hosted a christening bash for their son, Count Alexei Bismark-Schoenhausen.

While the Estee Lauder model was looking characteristically stylish in a cropped cream jacket and matching skirt, her fiancé Arun Nayar, who held Damian in his arms for much of the ceremony, made a dashing impression in a dark blue morning suit.

Little Alexei, who is the great great great grandson of legendary political leader Otto Von Bismark, seemed fascinated by all the attention, gazing curiously at the high-profile guests who had come to see him as the ceremony got underway.

Also celebrating a baptism were Prince Constantijn and his wife Princess Laurentien of the Netherlands. The royal couple hosted a select group of family and friends at the christening of their youngest child Princess Leonore. Their other children, Claus and Eloise, also participated in the celebrations, along with doting grandmother Queen Beatrix.