Princess Elisabeth of Belgium is no ivory tower academic, and she’s already busy making her mark on Harvard University—in the United States. This prestigious institution offers her a unique opportunity to explore her studies, building on her previous experience at UWC Atlantic College in Wales. Yet as she pursues her academic journey, she’s haunted by recent political action. These changes have brought new scrutiny to Harvard’s admissions policies for foreign students.
We are still looking into what happened. Our task is to figure out what effect this choice will have on the princess, if any. It’s too early to say right now. We’ll just have to wait and see what happens this school year. Let us not fool ourselves,” commented Xavier Baert, spokesman for the Belgian royal family.
The graduation of Princess Sofia of Spain from UWC Atlantic College was recently covered by The Independent. This exclusive academic institution has had a number of other royals pass through its halls as students. Princess Leonor of Spain was unable to attend Sofia’s graduation due to an obligation to spend time with naval exercises. This further underscores the contrasting public and private commitments these young royals have to juggle.
Similarly to Princess Elisabeth, Princess Alexia of the Netherlands has had a taste of life at UWC Atlantic College. The school has since become something of a jointure for young royals. Among the high-profile attendees are King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and Spain’s Princess Leonor. Their shared experiences will help forge strong bonds between them.
Princess Catharina-Amalia of Netherlands attacked difficult times while attending university in Madrid. Her safety was at stake and she had to move as a result. Despite these difficulties, she recently donated tulip bulbs to establish a small garden, symbolizing resilience and hope as she completes her education.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway has the coolest plans of all! She’ll be living in Australia for a total of three years, beginning in August 2025. She is hoping to complete a double major in international relations and political economy. She now plans to live on campus for the rest of her time at university. She just finished 15 months of military deployment with the Engineer Battalion in Brigade North. The impact of that experience on her academic work cannot be overstated.
Crown Princess Mette-Marit of Norway participated in an arts and cultural exchange at Wangaratta High School in North East Victoria. This experience shows what an invaluable component of royal education international exposure can be. This grand tradition lives on, as future studies abroad adventures await Ingrid Alexandra.
These young royals each go on separate but related educational adventures, which only add to their commitment and pursuit of knowledge. Their stories highlight how the global crises now affecting us all are shaping their education. In choosing to pursue diverse, impactful paths, each of them represents the new essence of modern-day royalty. They address issues bigger than the ivory tower.
