Princess Elisabeth of Belgium graduates from Harvard as proud royal parents look on

Only a few hours remain before Princess Elisabeth of Belgium officially bids farewell to student life at Harvard University. Graduation celebrations are already underway, and the first images have emerged of the Princess alongside her classmates after completing her Master’s in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School, part of the renowned American university.

Elisabeth began the program in 2025, following her graduation in July 2024 from Lincoln College at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where she earned a degree in History and Politics.

Graduation celebrations are already underway, and the first images have emerged of the Princess alongside her classmates after completing her Master’s in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School

Wearing a fresh spring-inspired red-and-white printed sleeveless dress, Princess Elisabeth was seen chatting with fellow graduates and posing cheerfully for photographs with classmates she has likely grown close to over the past two years.

Accompanying her were her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, who have already been spotted alongside their daughter ahead of the much-anticipated ceremony.

Princess Elisabeth is preparing to close her Harvard chapter before embarking on a new adventure during her gap year.

According to the Belgian newspaper Nieuwsblad, the royal family arrived on Tuesday. Together with Jeremy M. Weinstein, Dean of Harvard Kennedy School, they toured the university town.

King Philippe traded formal shoes for comfortable sneakers as he explored Cambridge with his wife and daughter. Despite being accompanied by eight security officers, the King, Queen, and Duchess of Brabant reportedly moved through the city almost unnoticed, spending several hours visiting the places that have shaped Elisabeth’s life during her studies.

Life as a future queen at Harvard:

Ahead of this milestone, the Belgian Royal Household released new photographs offering a glimpse into the Duchess of Brabant’s everyday life as a Harvard student.

Dressed in a white midi skirt, sleeveless top, burgundy shoulder bag, and sunglasses, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde was all smiles at Harvard University

Dressed in a white midi skirt, sleeveless top, burgundy shoulder bag, and sunglasses, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde is shown embracing student life in Cambridge, Massachusetts.

The images capture her entering Harvard Kennedy School, walking through the streets of Cambridge, enjoying classic American coffee and campus cafés, studying with books and a laptop in the library, and strolling around the university grounds.

The Belgian heir to the throne looked elegant in a red-and-white printed dress during Harvard graduation festivities.

A degree shadowed by controversy:

The Princess’s master’s program was not without uncertainty. Last spring, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security announced that Harvard University would no longer be permitted to admit foreign students, following a decision by President Donald Trump.

According to the official statement, Harvard can no longer enroll foreign students, and current international students must transfer or lose their legal status.

Ahead of this milestone, the Belgian Royal Household released new photographs offering a glimpse into the Duchess of Brabant’s everyday life as a Harvard student. — Elisabeth began the program in 2025, following her graduation in July 2024 from Lincoln College at the University of Oxford in the United Kingdom, where she earned a degree in History and Politics.

The announcement sparked concern that Princess Elisabeth might have been forced to transfer institutions in order to remain legally in the United States.

A renewed visa:

Fortunately for the future Belgian queen, diplomatic intervention ultimately proved unnecessary. Her student visa was renewed, along with those of other Belgian students, allowing her to continue her studies uninterrupted at Harvard.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde proudly accompany Princess Elisabeth ahead of her graduation ceremony at Harvard University.

Had that not happened, she would have faced a last-minute decision: either transfer to another American university or abandon her studies in the United States altogether.

Following in Princess Leonor’s footsteps:

According to the same Belgian newspaper, Elisabeth’s plans after graduation include a major personal challenge at sea. Echoing Princess Leonor’s voyage aboard the training ship Elcano, which took the Spanish heir across the Atlantic to the Americas, Elisabeth is reportedly preparing for her own transatlantic crossing during a planned gap year.

Crown Princess Leonor of Spain visits Palacio Real de Olite on September 27, 2025 in Navarra, Spain — Crown Princess Leonor of Spain visits Palacio Real de Olite

The future queen is expected to sail approximately 3,000 nautical miles from the Canary Islands to the Caribbean in an adventure lasting just under a month. For security reasons, she will reportedly be accompanied by a professional captain and a team of protection officers throughout the journey.

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