September marks the start of the school year for many children in Belgium and Prince Emmanuel is no different. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde's younger son was pictured heading back to school on Thursday morning, accompanied by his father.
For the past couple of years Emmanuel has been attending the Eureka school in Kessel-Lo, Leuven – a school that specialises in teaching children with learning disabilities, located just 20 kilometres away from Brussels.
The ten-year-old prince, who reportedly has dyslexia, arrived in good spirits and looked more than ready for his first day.
© Photo: Getty ImagesPrince Emmanuel arrived for his first day of school with his dad King Philippe
Emmanuel was pictured walking up to the school gates hand-in-hand with his dad Philippe, dragging a small suitcase. A few protection officers followed closely behind.
According to the school's website, Eureka Education is "a non-profit organisation with a social purpose" that gives new opportunities to gifted students with learning disabilities. Children are aged between seven and 14 years old.
© Photo: PAThe prince attends the Eureka school for children with learning disabilities
Extra courses are held during the Easter and summer holidays, as well as after-school tutoring.
Children normally stay in the school for one to two years before going back to a mainstream school. Emmanuel used to attend the Sint-Jan Berchmans College in Brussels, the school his three siblings also attend, but in 2012 it was announced that he was moving to the special Eureka school.
The Belgian royals set off for school on Thursday
Emmanuel is the third child of King Philippe, 56, and Queen Mathilde, 43. The prince has two older siblings Princess Elisabeth and Prince Gabriel and a younger sister Princess Eléonore.
The Belgian royal family shared a video online, showing the four children on the steps of the palace, ready to set off for school.
The family-of-six have just spent the summer in Belgium, although the king and queen spent some time in Rio for the Olympics. Their most recent engagement as a family took place in July, when Philippe, Mathilde and their four children watched the military parade in Brussels to celebrate Belgium's national day.
