Princess Elisabeth, who is the 23-year-old future queen of Belgium, just finished up her first year at Harvard University. However, there’s a bit of a sticky situation with the Trump administration throwing a wrench in her plans. The ban they slapped on foreign students studying at Harvard could really mess things up for Elisabeth and her continued attendance there.
According to a spokesperson for the Belgian royal palace, Lore Vandoorne, they’re still trying to wrap their heads around the whole mess. “Princess Elisabeth has just finished her first year. The impact of [the Trump administration’s] decision will only become clearer in the coming days/weeks. We are currently investigating the situation,” said Vandoorne. And to add more fuel to the fire, Xavier Baert, the palace’s communication director, chimed in, saying, “We are analysing this at the moment and will let things settle. A lot can still happen in the coming days and weeks.”
Elisabeth is knee-deep in a public policy program at Harvard, a two-year master’s course that’s supposed to set her up for a “successful career in public service,” as per the university’s website. The princess, who is next in line for the Belgian throne, is the oldest of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde’s four kiddos. Before she landed at Harvard, she bagged a degree in history and politics from the University of Oxford. Harvard is not too pleased with the Trump administration’s move, calling it illegal and basically a form of retaliation against thousands of students. Looks like things are heating up over there in the States. How will this all play out? Only time will tell.
