The King of the Belgians is back on the school run. King Philippe accompanied his youngest child, Princess Eleonore, as she made her way to classes on Friday as Belgium’s educational establishments began a partial reopening following months of closures caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Philippe was driven with 12 year old Eleonore to her school in Brussels on Friday morning and the two made the short walk to the college entrance with photographers capturing the moment at a correct social distance. The king was wearing a face mask as were the school staff waiting to welcome pupils back. Eleonore, however, wasn’t.
The king then watched his youngest child walk into school before offering his thanks, from a distance, to those looking after her and all her fellow students returning to their classrooms for the first time in two months.
In a short message accompanying images of the school return, the Belgian Royal Palace said ”thank you to school administrators, teachers and educators for the preparations and adaptations aimed at allowing a partial and gradual return of students.”
Eleonore has been staying with her family at their home at Laeken since the coronavirus pandemic restrictions came in across Belgium. She has accompanied her parents on several visits during that time and on Thursday she spent time with Queen Mathilde helpingn to hand out food to homeless and vulernable people.
Belgium’s politicians gave the go ahead to a gradual reopening of schools in the country earlier this week as part of a new strategy aimed at easing lockdown. All educational establishments can reopen their doors from this coming Monday although class sizes must be smaller and social distancing measures will be put in place at all times.
