Princess Elisabeth of Belgium Graduates from Harvard

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, the 24-year-old heir apparent to the Belgian throne, has graduated from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government with a Master’s degree in Public Policy (MPP), marking the culmination of two years of study at the Ivy League institution. King Philippe and Queen Mathilde travelled to Boston to attend the graduation ceremonies on 27 and 28 May, as reported by La Libre Belgique.

A Royal Milestone

The graduation events spanned two days, beginning with the Class of 2026 Awards Ceremony on Wednesday, 27 May, which featured an address by Zanny Minton Beddoes, Editor-in-Chief of The Economist. The main Commencement and diploma ceremony took place the following day in Harvard Yard, where approximately 9,000 students received their degrees alongside 32,000 family members and guests.

At the diploma ceremony, Elisabeth was called as “Elisabeth de Saxe-Cobourg” — the French family name — rather than using her royal title, a practice consistent with other European royal families who have studied at the university. La Libre Belgique reporter Emmanuelle Jowa, who covered the ceremony on the ground, noted that the princess appeared “very tired, she has been celebrating a lot.”

First Major Interview

Shortly before graduation, Elisabeth gave her first major interview to the written press, speaking to four Belgian newspapers — Le Soir, La Libre Belgique, Het Nieuwsblad, and De Standaard. The interview, carefully managed by the Palace with pre-submitted questions and no audio or video recording permitted, offered rare insight into the future queen’s perspective on her studies and her destiny.

Reflecting on her time at Harvard, Elisabeth told the journalists that she enjoyed “the fact of not always being recognised in the street, of having more spontaneity in my everyday life. It would have been different if I had studied in Belgium.” She added that she had tried to lead “a student life as normal as possible.”

On her royal destiny, she offered a strikingly philosophical perspective: “I’m actually happy knowing what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life. Many people live in uncertainty, not knowing where they are headed. There is a certain beauty in knowing: this is my path, and it leads there.”

A Historic Path

When Elisabeth eventually ascends the throne, she will become Belgium’s first queen regnant. A 1991 amendment to the Belgian constitution introduced absolute primogeniture, meaning the eldest child inherits the throne regardless of gender — a change enacted a decade before her birth. “It is indeed a first, making it historic,” she acknowledged. “It does mean I don’t have an example of a Belgian reigning queen to look up to. A challenge. But my gender isn’t the only thing that defines me.”

Her educational journey has been carefully curated to prepare her for this role. She holds a BA in History and Politics from Lincoln College, Oxford, completed military training at the Royal Military Academy, and earned an International Baccalaureate from UWC Atlantic College in Wales. Her studies at Harvard included an internship at the Bruegel think tank in Brussels.

Post-Graduation Plans

According to reports by Belga News Agency, Elisabeth plans to take a gap year following her graduation, with the centrepiece being a sailing trip across the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean. The crossing, scheduled for late November or December to avoid hurricane season, could take between eleven days and three weeks depending on the vessel. She is expected to be accompanied by security personnel and at least one skipper.

Sailing instructor Piet Smet described the journey as demanding: “It remains an adventure; nature plays with you. It requires character. I tell all my friends’ children: do it, it is a great experience, it commands respect.”

The End of Anonymity

Royal journalist Wim Dehandschutter observed that the graduation marks a turning point: “For Elisabeth, it’s the last phase of her life in which she can still be anonymous. At the end of her studies, she will take up her active role in Belgium and become an active Crown Princess, the real start of her preparations to become queen. Then her anonymous life will be over.”

The story has drawn significant international attention, with coverage from outlets including Vanity Fair, Tatler, People, and HELLO! magazine, reflecting global interest in the next generation of European monarchs — Elisabeth alongside Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, and Princess Leonor of Spain.

What to Watch For

As Elisabeth prepares to transition from student life to full-time royal duties, several questions remain: when she will formally begin her active role, what policy areas she will focus on, and whether King Philippe may eventually abdicate to allow the next generation to ascend. For now, the future queen has earned a moment to celebrate — and, as her mother Queen Mathilde was seen doing at the ceremony, to capture the memories on camera.