‘She outclasses all the princesses who came before her’

Ouch moment We no longer have a single queen on the throne in Europe, but the next generation of crown princesses is already ready to take over from their fathers. Among them also the 22-year-old Elizabeth, Duchess of Brabant and Crown Princess of Belgium. While her life a century ago would have been purely about finding a strategic marriage, fortunately things are very different now. And develop herself as a queen in the making? That young crown princess does that with verve!

Future-proof

Unlike her father, she not only had a loving childhood, but her future was also considered. “Philip and Mathilde have always had an eye for her later position,” shared royalty journalist Joëlle Van den Houden once.

“I remember that so many people came to shake little Elisabeth’s hand that I rolled my eyes for a moment and said, ‘Wow, that girl.’ To which Mathilde said: ‘She will have to do that all her life, so she better get used to it.’”

Learned young

The preparation also included the fact that as a child Elisabeth learned to speak French, German and Dutch fluently in order to be able to talk to all future compatriots. At the age of five she accompanied her parents to an official church event, and a year later she opened a children’s museum. She was twelve when she read a self-written speech in the three national languages ​​at a WWI commemoration and thirteen when she named her first ship. She regularly accompanied both her parents and surprised everyone by attending the military academy. In all cases she showed remarkable self-control and radiated her willingness to accept her fate.

“Elisabeth already outclasses all Belgian princesses who came before her,” revealed Belgian royalty expert Brigitte Balfoort at the time. “At best, the king’s daughters of the past 190 years were raised somewhat, but certainly not educated. While Filip and Mathilde have really done everything they can to raise their children very well, they also ensure that they are well educated. Elisabeth is intelligent and has good looks, but there is also a great responsibility on her young shoulders. I have every confidence that she will do well, but I think she will also surprise us in her own way. If Mathilde thinks she has chosen a dress that is too short or is putting on too much make-up, Elisabeth will still have her way.”

Queen in the making

Elisabeth is currently working on her three-year study at Oxford’s Lincoln College History and Politics, where she started in 2021. This study abroad offers her the opportunity to enjoy relative anonymity for a while, and who knows, the prince may be able to extend this a bit with a cleverly planned plan. gap year.

In the meantime, however, she regularly shows that, in addition to being an ordinary student, she is also the future queen of the Belgians. She accompanies mothers on work visits, wears a gala outfit where appropriate and is not afraid to pose for snapshots with prominent figures in the palace.

That Elisabeth will come!

Source: Ella Vermeulen, Beau Monde archive | Image: BrunoPress, Belgian Monarchy