The summer of 2024 is undoubtedly shaping up to be the summer of royal heirs. While Princess Leonor is enjoying a busy July filled with events, Elisabeth of Belgium is also making headlines. After participating in all the National Day activities, where she made a striking appearance alongside her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her four siblings, the Duchess of Brabant has now taken center stage in the United Kingdom. She is attending her graduation ceremony after graduating from the University of Oxford, where nearly her entire family is by her side.
Around 1 PM, the Belgian Royal Family made their way through the streets of the English city. They were joined by King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, with Mathilde sporting a stunning fuchsia and orange long-sleeved dress, while her younger siblings, Princes Emmanuel and Eleonore, donned green outfits. The only sibling not in attendance was Prince Gabriel. Princess Elisabeth held her mortarboard in hand, wearing a black skirt, tights, high-heeled shoes, and a white shirt complemented by a narrow scarf around her neck—standard attire for all graduates on this special day. Upon arriving at the theater, they were welcomed by academic authorities who chatted briefly with the Royal Family before they entered the auditorium.
The graduation ceremony took place at the Sheldonian Theatre in Oxford, a striking octagonal building with a green-domed roof, known as an iconic site within the university town. For over 200 years, this venue has seen 27 British prime ministers, 50 Nobel laureates, and 120 Olympic medalists who received their degrees here. The graduation ritual is an ancient tradition dating back to the 12th century, maintaining significant aspects of its historical roots, including Latin being used during the ceremony.
Princess Elisabeth has completed her three-year degree in History and Politics at Lincoln College, the same field of study pursued by her father, albeit at Trinity College. According to a spokesperson for the palace, she thoroughly enjoyed her time at this historical university and her experience living abroad during her studies. Lincoln College, founded in 1427 by Bishop Richard Fleming, retains much of its architectural charm from that era. The Belgian heir began her university journey in the autumn of 2021, following her time at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, a school also attended by Princess Leonor and where Infanta SofÃa will continue her international baccalaureate studies after summer break.
Looking ahead, Princess Elisabeth’s next academic adventure will take her across the ocean to the United States. This summer, she will move to Boston, Massachusetts, to pursue a two-year master’s program at Harvard University, the oldest private institution in the U.S. and one of the most influential in the world. She will be enrolled at the Harvard Kennedy School, part of the university’s graduate programs, focusing on public policy after successfully passing the entrance exams. This course aims to shape professionals capable of addressing complex societal issues, covering a wide array of subjects such as economics, ethics, financial management, negotiation, policy design and execution, political analysis, and applied history.
Additionally, Elisabeth has been selected for a Fulbright Scholarship, a prestigious international educational exchange program sponsored by the U.S. State Department. This initiative operates in over 160 countries and has produced numerous notable alumni, with 70 former Fulbright scholars receiving Nobel Prizes.
On another note, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde will be attending the opening of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris, where they will participate in a dinner hosted by the president of the International Olympic Committee beneath the Louvre’s pyramid. Their four children are set to join them from August 7 to 10, cheering on the Belgian athletes during the games. The Belgian royals will be in the company of other royal families, including King Felipe and Queen Letizia, who will also take part in the Olympic opening ceremonies.
For more information on this upcoming royal event, you can check out the original article on Yahoo Life.
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