Their Majesties King Philippe of the Belgians, 65, Queen Mathilde, 52, and three of their four children: Prince Gabriel, 21, Prince Emmanuel, 18, and Princess Eleonore, 17, completed their pilgrimage at Camino de Santiago on April 16, 2025. This has been the Lent tradition of the Belgian royal family since 2017.
There are several starting points of the Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage and the Belgian Royal Family chose the Camino Frances or the French Way because it is closer to Belgium. They concluded their pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.Â
Prince Emmanuel sprained his ankle during the long walk but still managed to complete the route on crutches. The King and Queen's eldest child, Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant, 23, didn't take part for this year's family pilgrimage. She's currently studying a Master in Public Policy degree at Harvard University in Massachusetts, USA.
Camino de Santiago PilgrimageÂ
Camino de Santiago is a popular pilgrimage among Roman Catholics especially during Lent season. It is the longest pilgrimage route in the world encompassing three European countries: France, Portugal, and Spain. Many pilgrims testified the extraordinary journey experience as it will test your endurance, physical and mental strength and toughness and of course faith and dedication.
This legendary pilgrimage, rich in medieval allure, attracts individuals from diverse backgrounds to the magnificent Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in the beautiful Galicia region in northwest Spain.Â
The captivating tale behind this pilgrimage lies in the belief that the remains of the Apostle St. James the Great are believed to rest within the majestic Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.Â
This extraordinarily discovery dates back to a shepherd in the 9th century. Even more fascinating is the city’s name, Santiago de Compostela, which is a homage to St. James, translating to ‘St. James of the Field of Stars.’Â
There are many starting points of Camino de Santiago Pilgrimage, depends on one's preferences and interests and what you want to get out of the experience. But the most popular routes are Camino Frances or the French Way and Camino Portugues or the Portuguese Way.
The Camino Frances, also known as the French Way, is the most famous and popular of the Camino routes. The French Way traditionally starts in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port in France, before traversing the Pyrenees and continuing through the La Rioja wine region and along the rolling hills of northern Spain, before finishing in Santiago de Compostela, the burial place of St. James.
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The Camino Portugues Coastal is the second most popular route, especially the last 100km starting in Vigo. Traditionally starting in the city of Lisbon, the Camino Portuguese Central Route heads north following the Atlantic coast of Portugal before heading inland into Spain.
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| From left: Prince Emmanuel, King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, Princess Eleonore, and Prince Gabriel |
The Camino del Norte route, also known as the Northern Way, is the most popular starting point in Spain. The Camino del Norte route unfolds out across some of the most spectacular scenery on Spain’s northern coast.Â
It passes through superb cities, from Bilbao to San Sebastian and Santander to Oviedo. Ultimately, this Camino joins the Camino Primitivo route in Oviedo, which continues on to the city of Santiago.
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| Prince Emmanuel, Prince Gabriel, Princess Eleonore |
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| Prince Gabriel, Princess Eleonore,King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, and Prince Emmanuel |
Since 2013, the Camino has attracted more than 200,000 pilgrims each year, with an annual growth rate of more than 10 percent. Pilgrims come mainly on foot and often from nearby cities, requiring several days of walking to reach Santiago de Compostela in Galicia, Spain.
The French Way gathers two-thirds of the walkers, but other minor routes are experiencing a growth in popularity. The French Way and the Northern routes in Spain were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List, followed by the routes in France in 1998, because of their historical significance for Christianity as a major pilgrimage route and their testimony to the exchange of ideas and cultures across the routes.[2][3]
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