Family Holidays on the Compostela Trail

16 April 2025

Ever since 2017, in the week before Easter, Philippe & Mathilde have been walking part of the world famous camino de Santiago de Compostela in Spain. This year they started in Sarria and walked the final part that led them to Compostela. 

As you can see, the couple is joined by Princess Eléonore who turns 17 today, Prince Gabriel (21) and Prince Emmanuel (19) who sprained his ankle. Elisabeth is still in the USA.  

Emmanuel decided to skip the walk at some point, and to run instead which is when he hurt his foot.

For the first time Court shared images of this private holiday ritual. Other years we'd also see pictures, but they were taken by the public or by paparazzi. A very nice gesture, that fits right in with the positive communication strategy the Royal Family has been adhering to for years.

In Compostela, the family was staying at the parador "Hostal de los Reyes Católicos". They were accompanied by a larger group of friends and of course their bodyguards. 

Previously the family also spent four days at el Pazo de Brandeso, where Philippe's 65th birthday & Eléonore's 17th were celebrated with a Sacher cake. They had breakfast at 8:00 and walked from 9:00 to 17:00. At 19:00 they attended mass on site, at the la Capilla de la Inmaculadathat dates back to 1548. After dinner they closed the day with select company around the chimney fire while Philippe played the piano, or in a more secluded room.

17 April 2025

The family goes to Maundy Thursday service at the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela.

Apart from crutches Emmanuel was also using a wheelchair this time.

Eléonore running from the rain with her friends,
the blond girl is Princess Marie Blanche de Merode.

18 April 2025

In the morning the Royal Family flew back to Melsbroek. They will undoubtedly have spent the Easter weekend elsewhere than at Laeken, since the very crowded visits to the Royal Greenhouses started on Saturday 19 April 2025.