Queen Mathilde's daughter Princess Eleonore, 18, to leave family palace in major life change

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium are preparing for a big change at their home, the Palace of Laeken, as their daughter Princess Eleonore is set to move out.

The 18-year-old is the youngest of the royals' four children to fly the nest, following in her siblings Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel's footsteps and travelling to pursue higher education.

While her eldest two siblings jetted abroad to the UK, USA and France, Eleonore chose the Netherlands' University College Utrecht, where she plans to study Liberal Arts and Sciences. Most students live on campus, but the Royal Palace has yet to announce Eleonore's living arrangements. 

Located 170 kilometres from Philippe and Mathilde's royal residence, the university allows Eleonore to travel home for breaks or big family events in around two hours.

Inside the Castle of Laeken

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Built in 1782, the Castle of Laeken has been used as a royal residence since Leopold I's accession to the throne in 1831. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde have lived there since they married in 1999. 

It is known today for the Royal Greenhouses of Laeken, the Chinese pavilion and the Japanese tower. While the interiors are off-limits to the public, fans got a glimpse inside when Queen Mathilde and King Philippe isolated during the lockdowns in 2020. 

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The makeshift office featured high ceilings, cream walls and white wooden shutters, with two pillars holding antique gold candelabras adding a sense of grandeur to the interiors. 

A large table had been topped with a classic white tablecloth where the pair set up their laptops for their video calls, which were shown on a flat-screen television. 

Eleonore's studies

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Announcing the news earlier this month, the Royal Palace said Princess Eleonore will be able to design her own curriculum as part of the flexible programme. 

She will study the three-year course in English, as well as optional studies in the humanities, social sciences, and experimental sciences. These range from history to psychology, biology and mathematics.

Depending on her choices, the royal could end up with either a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or a Bachelor of Arts (BA).