Princess Elisabeth of Belgium beamed with joy after becoming an officer at the Royal Military Academy last night.
Elisabeth, 21, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and heir to the Belgian throne, joined the military academy in Brussels in September 2020.
Yesterday she took part in the ceremony of taking the oath as an officer, during which she swore ‘loyalty to the King, obedience to the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people’.
In footage of the event, the princess appeared serious as she took part in the ceremony – marching and saluting the king alongside her comrades from the 160th Promotion of Social and Military Sciences.
It is not known how long Elisabeth plans to stay at the academy, but her father, King Philippe, studied there for three years as a teenager.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 21, beamed with joy after becoming an officer at the Royal Military Academy last night
Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and heir to the Belgian throne, joined the military academy in Brussels in September 2020
Photos from the event show the 21-year-old in a crisp blue military uniform, sweeping her blonde hair away from her face into a low ponytail for the occasion.
She then joined her family to pose for photos, where she stood proudly beaming next to her father, the king.
Her mother, Queen Mathilde, chose a soft pink midi dress with a high neckline and a pleated skirt for the occasion.
Meanwhile, she paired the dress with brown heels and a matching hat, styling her blonde hair into soft curls for the occasion.
Princess Elisabeth was also joined at the event by her siblings, Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel.
Her younger sister Eleonore, 15, who recently went to the opera with their mother, looked elegant in a blue patterned floor-length dress.
Prince Gabriel was smart in his own military uniform, while Prince Emmanuel opted for a navy blue suit with a baby blue tie.
As the news made headlines, one of the training school students offered insight into the course and some wise words of advice prior to Elisabeth’s enrollment.
Evelyn Gravez, 22, has almost completed her master’s degree in social and military sciences at the school.
Photos from the event show the 21-year-old in a crisp blue military uniform
King Philippe, 60, who spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 and 1981, posed for photos with his daughter
Princess Elisabeth was accompanied at the event by her younger brother Prince Gabriel, who was dressed in his own military uniform
The 21-year-old, heir to the throne, swept her blonde hair back from her face into a low ponytail for the occasion
She then joined her family to pose for photos, where she stood proudly beaming next to her father, the king.
Her mother, Queen Mathilde, chose a soft pink midi dress with a high neckline and a pleated skirt for the occasion
Meanwhile, she paired the dress with brown heels and a matching hat, styling her blonde hair into soft curls for the occasion
She told local media: ‘My advice? Above all, make as many friends as possible. They help you through it when you’re having a hard time.’
Speaking about what life would be like for the teenage princess, Evelyn revealed that her first few weeks would include learning to shoot a gun, setting up an army tent, marching with a backpack, tactical training and reading maps .
She added that the experience is “quite tough” and that “they really throw you into it”, warning that the induction period is not for everyone and that a number of students drop out every year.
However, Ms. Gravez added that the camp is nothing like the military school clichés often seen in Hollywood movies: “They don’t yell at you when you make mistakes. Of course they have to be strict sometimes.
‘Because errors must be resolved as quickly as possible. But if you learn a little slowly, they are there to encourage you, not bark at you.”
Although there are tough days ahead, the student believes that the princess will get used to it and that it may even help her lead the country in the future.
She added: “I think Elisabeth will definitely get used to it. Even if she only stays for a year.
King Philippe passed his daughter Crown Princess Elisabeth during the ceremony last night (photo)
She took part in the ceremony of taking the oath as an officer, during which she swore ‘loyalty to the King, obedience to the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people’.
The royal family took part in a ceremony in which the students of the 160th Promotion of Social and Military Sciences and the officer students of the 175th Polytechnic Promotion took the oath as sub-lieutenant or ensign second class
Princess Elisabeth stood next to her classmates last night as she took the oath in the presence of her family
Princess Elisabeth was deep in thought when she took part in the ceremony at the military academy last night
Together with her classmates, Princess Elisabeth swore her allegiance to the king during a ceremony at the academy
The princess spent 18 months at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before attending the military academy
‘We learn how to make decisions under stress, leadership techniques. That will serve her well as head of state.’
A change in the law ten years ago made it possible for the eldest child, male or female, to ascend the throne in the country. If she takes on the role, she will become the country’s first queen regent.
Elisabeth spent 18 months at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before returning to Brussels in March, ahead of the government lockdown.
She spent the lockdown with her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her three siblings in Brussels.
The course is said to teach in depth about the four components of Belgian defense; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.
King Philippe, 60, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 and 1981.