When not attending to royal duties, where do Belgian monarchs go to cool off?
The Royal Palace in Brussels is King Philippe's place of work while he, Queen Mathilde and their children Elisabeth, Gabriel, Emmanuel and Eléonore call the Castle of Laeken home. But sometimes royals need a break too. Notable family members have several go-to destinations when some downtime is needed.
The Palace and the Castle are owned by the Belgian State – donated by King Leopold in 1900 because he lacked a male heir and wanted to ensure that royal property would remain in Belgian hands. Leopold made sure to include a clause that kept the properties at royal disposal. In 1930 he established the Royal Trust, an independent organisation, to oversee the remaining residencies.
L'Ile d'Yeu
L'Ile d'Yeu, an island off the French coast, is the Royal Family's "ultra private" summer getaway, according to Pierre Devuyst, a journalist at Le Soir Mag. "They go there alone with very little staff," he told The Brussels Times. "They live like a normal family would. They love to do watersports together, such as windsurfing and kitesurfing. King Philippe used to holiday there with his father when he was a child."
The royal family on l'Ile d'Yeu in 2013. Credit: Belga / Chancellery of the Prime Minister / Yves Herman
The family typically goes on holiday after National Day (21 July) and resumes royal business as late as mid-September. But with Princess Elisabeth's graduation from Oxford University and the Olympic Games taking place this year, the royal island vacation may be shorter than usual. King Philippe is also due to meet government formator Bart De Wever (N-VA) on 19 August.
Ciergnon Castle
Tradition dictates that the Head of State spends long weekends at Ciergnon Castle in Namur. Leopold I purchased the site, which has hundreds of hectares of land, and Leopold II transformed it into the beautiful setting it is today. It features forests, hunting grounds and a river.
Royal hunts used to take place here, says Devuyst. "King Philippe was a great hunter when he was younger. We don't know if he still hunts or not."
All four of the King's children were baptised in the chapel in Ciergnon.
The Royal Castle in Ciergnon. Credit: Belga / Eric Lalmand
'Le Romarin'
Former King and Queen Albert and Paola purchased 'Le Romarin' in the 1980s, a luxurious villa in the south of France. Located in Châteauneuf-Grâce near Cannes, the property has expanded over the years and now comprises three buildings, farmland and a swimming pool. Locals have described the property as a "small village".
"The children can all be there at the same time," says Devuyst. "There are enough bedrooms to welcome everyone."
Albert and Paola have spent several of their wedding anniversaries here, most recently marking 75 years of marriage in July. Using all the space available to them, they hosted the entire family for a celebratory weekend.
The Royal Family in 2019. Credit: X
'Le Romarin' is not the only foreign residence the Royal Family frequents. Paola, who is Italian, inherited property in Rome. "[She and Albert] sometimes go to Rome in January, when it is a bit cold here," says Devuyst.
Philippe's sister Astrid reportedly makes use of a ski chalet, although there is secrecy surrounding its exact location. Their brother Laurent is fond of the Italian island Stromboli.
No place like home
It's not all jet-setting though. Most of the royals reside in Laeken year-round. As per tradition, the King inhabits the main building.
This was not the case for King Philippe's father Albert, who succeeded the throne under unexpected circumstances when his brother Baudouin died of a heart attack in 1993. He decided to remain in his original home, Belvedere Castle, where he and Paola still live today.
The only royal not to live in Laeken is Prince Laurent, who resides in Tervuren. There are rumours that this is due to a complex relationship with the late Baudouin, though this is just speculation.
The Royal Castle of Laeken. Credit: Belga
