Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth, the heir to the Belgian throne continues her Public Policy Degree in the US Harvard University, as her mother Queen Mathilde visits during UN meetings.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, heir to the throne, has returned to Harvard University this autumn to begin her second year of graduate studies, after months of uncertainty over whether international students would be allowed back to campus.
The 22-year-old royal is enrolled in a two-year Master’s Program in Public Policy at the John F. Kennedy School of Government, one of the most prestigious institutions in the United States. She began her course last fall and is scheduled to graduate in the spring of 2026.
Elisabeth, who also carries the title Duchess of Brabant, welcomed a special visitor last week: her mother, Queen Mathilde of Belgium. The Queen stopped in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on her way to New York City, where she addressed the 80th session of the United Nations General Assembly. She was among several royal figures to participate in the UN gathering, speaking during the commemoration of the 30th anniversary of the landmark Beijing Declaration on women’s rights.
Earlier this year, it was uncertain whether Elisabeth and other foreign students would be able to return to American campuses. In May, President Donald Trump’s administration announced a ban that threatened to block international students from studying in person. Harvard, along with other universities, immediately challenged the order in court. A federal judge later struck down the restrictions, and student visas were renewed over the summer. Belgian media reported in July that the royal family declined to seek preferential treatment, choosing instead to wait for the legal process to conclude.
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The decision paved the way for Princess Elisabeth and fellow international students to rejoin their classes in person this September. She was issued her student visa in August, allowing her to travel back to the United States for the new academic year.
While Elisabeth pursues her studies abroad, the Belgian royal family continues its full program of national duties. In July, she joined her parents King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, along with her three younger siblings—Prince Gabriel, Prince Emmanuel, and Princess Eleonore—at Belgium’s National Day ceremony in Brussels.
As the first in line to the Belgian throne, Princess Elisabeth’s academic path has drawn international attention. Her focus on public policy is widely viewed as preparation for her future role in public service and leadership once she eventually ascends the throne.
