How Belgium's future queen escaped Trump's Harvard ban: What the legal battle means for international students
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, the 23-year-old heir to the Belgian throne, will continue her studies at Harvard University despite a recent policy move by US President Donald Trump aimed at restricting foreign students' entry.
Her eligibility to return to the United States comes after a federal court blocked the implementation of the new presidential proclamation.
As confirmed by the Belgian Royal Palace, all conditions have been met for the princess to resume her academic programme. Xavier Baert, communications director of the Royal Palace, told Reuters, 'I can confirm that, for now, all the conditions seem to be in place for the princess to continue her studies at Harvard.'
Court ruling halts US ban on foreign students
In May, the Trump administration announced a policy that sought to ban foreign nationals from entering the US to attend academic institutions, including Harvard University. This raised concerns about the academic future of thousands of international students, including Princess Elisabeth, who is a Belgian national.
In response, the Royal Palace publicly expressed concern over her ability to continue her education.
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However, a federal judge blocked the enforcement of the proclamation in June, allowing international students to remain or return to the US for their studies. As reported by Reuters, the Trump administration has since appealed the ruling, but the injunction remains active.
Princess Elisabeth to begin second year of Harvard programme
Princess Elisabeth is set to begin the second year of her two-year master's degree in Public Policy at Harvard.
The course is structured to enhance students' global perspectives and develop skills for future careers in public service, according to Harvard's official description.
Harvard University, founded 388 years ago, had approximately 6,800 international students enrolled in its most recent academic year. These students make up around 27% of the university's total student population.
Policy driven by claims against top US universities
According to Reuters, the Trump administration has justified the proclamation by claiming it aims to initiate reforms at leading academic institutions.
The administration has accused universities like Harvard of fostering left-leaning ideologies and antisemitism—allegations that the institutions firmly deny.
With the new academic year scheduled to begin on September 2, the federal court's decision to block the enforcement of the student entry ban allows Princess Elisabeth and other international students to continue their programmes without disruption.
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