Belgium's King Philip made 15 trips abroad last year: ten in an official capacity, five private. The total cost of the flights, paid for by Defence (including private flights) was almost €1.5 million – over €200,000 more than the previous year.
When King Philippe goes abroad, he takes an aircraft from the Defence Ministry (or a flight chartered by Defence) for security reasons, paid for by the Belgian Military.
Last year, flights, military personnel, fuel and all other costs totalled €1,457,201 – considerably more than in 2022, when the costs came to €1,225,000, Het Laatste Nieuws reports. The King took 16 trips in 2022, compared to 15 last year.
The fact that the costs were still higher in 2023 was mainly due to two expensive trips: one to French Guiana, where the King attended the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket together with his son Gabriel and State Secretary Thomas Dermine (PS), and the other to South Africa. The costs for these trips were €416,042 and €406,428, respectively.
King Philippe's arrival at Amman International Airport in Jordan on Tuesday 13 June 2023. Credit: Belga / Dirk Waem
Not all trips were this costly, however. The flights to and from Italy (twice) and Spain were noticeably cheaper: both around €19,000. He also went on official trips to Germany (€227,910), Jordan (€99,189), the United Kingdom (€65,270), Egypt (€57,177) and Greece (€32,715) last year.
Of the ten official trips in 2023, the King took a Defence aircraft only four times; for the remaining trips, an aircraft was chartered. Details about the five private trips, which are also paid for with the army's budget, were not disclosed – except for the total cost (€89,334).
Noticeably, the King is taking fewer private trips every year: in 2018 he still made 12 trips outside of his official capacity, in 2019 he made ten, in 2022 eight, and in 2023 five.
