Belgium’s future queen is off to Oxford! Princess Elisabeth, 19, will study history and politics at the University’s Lincoln College after a stint at Hippie Hogwarts in Wales
- Eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde is heir to Belgian throne
- Princess Elisabeth, 19, will commence three-year course in Oxford in October
- The Belgian royals announced the news in a statement on its Instagram page
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will take up a place at Oxford University to study history and politics, it was revealed today.
The eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who is heir to the Belgian throne, will commence the three-year course in October at the prestigious university’s Lincoln College.
The Belgian royals announced the news in a statement on its Instagram page, adding that the princess will ‘regularly return to Belgium and remain involved in Belgian public life’ while she studies in the UK.
The post was accompanied by a photo of Elisabeth, dressed casually in jeans, a white shirt and a fawn jacket, smiling with her eyes looking away from the camera.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will take up a place at Oxford University to study history and politics, it was revealed today
According to Belgian newspaper Le Soir, the princess completed a written entrance exam in history ‘anonymously’ so that her social status would not affect her marks.
Elisabeth is believed to have chosen the course herself, in agreement with her parents, and reportedly consulted with alumni from various universities and made her decision based on what would be most useful to her in her role as queen later in life.
The princess completed her secondary education at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales – based at a 12th-century castle and dubbed the ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ – where she boarded for 18 months.
She then headed home to Brussels in March ahead of the government lockdown, which she spent with her parents and siblings Prince Gabriel, 17, Prince Emmanuel, 15, and Princess Eléonore, 13.
The princess, who received her International Baccalaureate Diploma last summer, completed a one-year course in social and military sciences at the Royal Military Academy
She then enrolled at the Royal Military Academy – where her father studied for three years as a teenager – in September.
The princess, who received her International Baccalaureate Diploma last summer, completed a one-year course in social and military sciences.
The course is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.
King Philippe, 60, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981.
In July Princess Elisabeth was photographed at the Lagland camp in Arlon, where she marched in uniform in formation with her fellow cadets.
The Belgian royal family, from left, Princess Elisabeth, Prince Gabriel, King Philippe, Princess Eleonore, Queen Mathilde and Prince Emmanuel during a royal visit to the Bokrijk park and open-air museum in Genk, Belgium in June last year
For the officer cadets of the Royal Military Academy (RMA), the camp is part of the last training phase for first year students, and constitutes part of the Initial Military Phase.
Officially known as Princess Elisabeth, the Duchess of Brabant, she became heir apparent after her grandfather Albert II abdicated in 2013.
A change in the law a decade ago made it possible for the eldest child, male or female, to ascend the throne in Belgium. She will become the country’s first Queen Regent if she takes up the role.
In July this year, she took part along with her fellow Royal Military Academy Belgium students in the National Day parade.
National Day marks the anniversary of the investiture of King Leopold I, the country’s first monarch, in 1831.
King Philippe and Queen Mathilde were joined by their children Princess Elisabeth, 19, Prince Gabriel, 17, Prince Emmanuel, 15, and Princess Eléonore, 13, for the Te Deum at the Sainte-Gudule Cathedral in Brussels in July for the National Day parade
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