19-05-2025
Future Queen Of Belgium — Princess Elisabeth — Is Now A Student At Harvard
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Princess Elisabeth of Belgium began her master's programme in Public Policy at Harvard last year.
Harvard University is one of the most prestigious institutions in the world. From Barack Obama and Bill Gates to Natalie Portman and Mark Zuckerberg, many well-known names have walked its historic halls. Now, another important name has joined the list – Princess Elisabeth of Belgium.
The 23-year-old royal began her master's programme in Public Policy at Harvard in September 2024. To mark this new chapter, the Belgian Royal Palace had shared a few photos of her on social media. In the images, she was dressed casually in jeans and a sleeveless top. The look was very different from the formal clothes usually seen on members of the royal family. The photos showed her embracing student life in a simple way.
This two-year course in Public Policy adds to her already impressive academic journey. Between 2021 and 2024, Princess Elisabeth studied History and Politics at Lincoln College, part of the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom. Before that, she earned her International Baccalaureate in 2020 from UWC Atlantic College in Wales. In 2021, she completed a one-year course in Social and Military Sciences at the Royal Military Academy in Belgium.
She was accepted into Harvard after passing the required entrance exams. She was also selected for an Honorary Award by the Fulbright Program, an international education exchange initiative supported by the US Department of State.
Born on October 25, 2001, in Anderlecht, Elisabeth is the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. She has held the title of Duchess of Brabant since July 2013. As the first-born child, she is first in line to the Belgian throne. When the time comes, she will become Belgium's first Queen regnant.
Elisabeth began taking on royal duties at a young age. In 2011, at just 9 years old, she carried out her first official activity by inaugurating the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital in Ghent. She also gave her name to the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Research Station and is the patron of the naval patrol ship P902 Pollux.
According to the Belgian royal family's website, Princess Elisabeth is fluent in Dutch, French, German and English. She enjoys outdoor activities like skiing, rowing, sailing and long walks. She has taken piano lessons and likes to read in her spare time.
The princess is also known for her involvement in social work. She has volunteered with organisations that help the elderly, the homeless, school dropouts, and people with disabilities. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she made regular calls to elderly people in care homes to encourage and support them.
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