Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, who is next in line for the throne, has come back home after finishing her first year of a Master's program in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School. However, her academic future at the famous U.S. school Harvard is uncertain because the Trump administration just changed its policy to make it harder for international students to study at American universities.
The 23-year-old queen, who got a bachelor's degree in history and politics from Oxford University, started her studies at Harvard in September 2024. Elisabeth has decided to spend her summer break in Belgium because she doesn't know what will happen to international pupils.
Belgian news outlet Het Laatste Nieuws says that Elisabeth is presently doing an internship in Brussels that focuses on human rights and international relations. For security concerns, the actual name of her employer is kept secret, but reports say, she will work full-time during the week. She has been to official events in addition to her internship. She also went to the Queen Elisabeth Piano Competition with her mother Queen Mathilde.
Internships are not required for Harvard master's students at the end of their second year. Still, the school supports them as a way to put what they learn in school into practice, gain a deeper understanding, and look into different policy areas or professional fields.
Princess Elisabeth is King Philippe and Queen Mathilde's oldest child. She was born in 2001. She is the next in line to the Belgian throne as Duchess of Brabant, and she will be the first queen regnant in the country.
The Trump administration's measures against Harvard, such as looking into its funding and threatening its tax-exempt status, have caused a lot of worry for thousands of overseas students. Lore Vandoorne, a spokesperson for the Royal Palace, said that the full effects of the U.S. decision will become obvious in the following weeks and that they are keeping a close eye on what happens.
