Prince Gabriel to Train as Paracommando After KMS Graduation
Prince Gabriel of Belgium will receive his master’s degree in Social and Military Sciences from the Royal Military Academy (KMS) in Brussels on Thursday, marking the completion of a four-year program that makes him the first Belgian prince to finish the full course. The 23-year-old eldest son of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will then continue his military career, first training as a platoon commander at the Infantry School in Arlon before pursuing the demanding paracommando program at the Commando Training Center in Marche-les-Dames and Schaffen, according to VRT NWS.
A Historic First for the Belgian Monarchy
Gabriel’s decision to pursue a full professional military career marks a historic departure from royal precedent. Until recently, Belgian law did not permit members of the royal family to hold salaried positions within the armed forces. That changed in May 2026, when the Council of Ministers approved a draft law proposed by Defense Minister Theo Francken (N-VA) amending the military’s statutory framework, as The Brussels Times reported.
The amendment allows royal family members who do not receive state allowances—known as dotaties—to pursue professional careers in the military. Only the king, queen, and heir to the throne receive such allowances. Crown Princess Elisabeth receives one; Prince Gabriel does not.
“He will receive a net salary of 2,118 euros,” HLN royalty expert Wim Dehandschutter told HLN. “Importantly, Gabriel does not receive a state allowance. Only Elisabeth receives that. He must therefore build his own career.”
A Rigorous Path Ahead
The Royal Palace confirmed to VRT NWS that Gabriel will continue his trajectory at the Infantry School in Arlon, where he will be trained as a platoon commander in the infantry. This training is expected to run until March 2027, after which he will begin the paracommando candidate training at the Commando Training Center in Marche-les-Dames and Schaffen.
The Commando Training Center, established in 1947 and modeled on the British commando camp at Achnacarry, is known for its extreme physical and mental demands. Candidates undergo training in climbing, rappelling, obstacle courses, and survival techniques. The Defense Ministry noted that the training at Arlon is necessary to be “perfectly prepared for a first post in an operational unit of Defense,” which can lead to leading a team, going on exercise, or being deployed abroad, according to Histoires Royales.
Following in His Father’s Footsteps
Gabriel’s choice echoes his father’s own military background. King Philippe trained as a fighter pilot and earned both the parachutist and commando brevets during his service.
“In a sense, he follows in the footsteps of his father, King Filip,” Dehandschutter said. “He also earned his brevet as a fighter pilot, parachutist, and commando.”
However, the difference is significant. “What is different is that Gabriel, unlike his father and his predecessors within the royal family, chooses a long-term and full-fledged career at Defense,” Dehandschutter added. “And specifically with the paracommandos, a unit deployable for rapid interventions and evacuations of compatriots in conflict zones.”
During his KMS studies, Gabriel gained substantial international experience. He spent six months at the prestigious French military academy Saint-Cyr Coëtquidan, where he earned his parachutist’s brevet. He also participated in a military camp in Morocco and completed an internship at the Equatorial Forest Training Center in French Guiana.
Deployment Questions Loom
As second in line to the Belgian throne, Gabriel’s potential deployment to conflict zones raises significant security and constitutional questions. Dehandschutter noted that while it remains unclear whether the prince will be sent to war zones, it is “certainly possible.”
“That is a tense moment for all parents, so it will also be so for King Filip and Queen Mathilde,” he said.
The comparison to Prince Harry of the United Kingdom, who served two deployments in Afghanistan as a reserve heir, has been noted by royal observers.
A Modern Monarchy
The law change enabling Gabriel’s military career reflects a broader modernization of the Belgian monarchy’s relationship with the state. It allows non-heir royals to lead more independent professional lives and sets a precedent for other royal family members, including Prince Emmanuel and Princess Eleonore, to pursue professional careers.
King Philippe, Queen Mathilde, and Crown Princess Elisabeth will attend Thursday’s graduation ceremony at the KMS. For Gabriel, the ceremony marks both the culmination of four years of rigorous study and the beginning of an unprecedented professional journey—one that will test the limits of his physical and mental endurance in one of Europe’s most demanding special forces training programs.
As the prince transitions from the academy to the front lines of military service, his choice signals a genuine commitment to serve his country in uniform, not merely as a ceremonial figurehead but as a fully operational officer ready to answer the call of duty.