Elisabeth Graduates from Harvard

Crown Princess Elisabeth (24) is about to graduate from Harvard with a Master in Public Policy.  King Philippe & Queen Mathilde will be present at this big moment for their eldest daughter.

Tuesday 26 May 2026

King Philippe & Queen Mathilde arrived in Boston.

Elisabeth gave interviews to Belgian media that will be published later this week.

In the afternoon the Royal Couple and Princess Elisabeth met with the Dean of Harvard.

🇧🇪 Belgian Crown Princess Elisabeth, ahead of her graduation, meets the Dean of Harvard Kennedy School, accompanied by King Philippe. Queen Mathilde joined them shortly after.

🗣️ Dean to Elisabeth: “Congratulations to you.” Philippe to the Dean: “My wife is coming.”

📷 Palace pic.twitter.com/cDLZqFh2CS

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) May 27, 2026

Wednesday 27 May 2026

9:00 Awards Ceremony 

18:00 Degree Programs Reception 

Thursday 28 May 2026

9:00 Morning Exercises 

13:00 Diploma Ceremony

Elisabeth To Take A Gap Year

26 May 2026

Today Belga shared this news: after her graduation from Harvard with a Master's in Public Policy, Crown Princess Elisabeth (24) will be taking a gap year.

The Palace declined to comment so far.

Queen Mathilde told the press a few weeks ago she wants her daughter to have some extra time before she starts a lifetime of work for crown and country. 

Queen Elisabeth Competition 2026: Cello

This year's Queen Elisabeth Competition is dedicated to cello. It's a special edition since the world renowned music competition celebrates its 75th edition, a 150 years after the birth of its namesake and founder, Queen Elisabeth and of Pablo Casals, the famous Spanish cellist who is considered one of the greatest musicians of the 20th century.

The winner of the 2026 edition of the Queen Elisabeth Competition will therefore receive Casals’ legendary “Gofriller” cello on loan for four years.

Queen  Elisabeth of the Belgians and Pablo Casals, 1961

First round: Monday 4 May to Saturday 9 May 2026 at Flagey.

4 May 2026: After visiting the exhibition "The Belgian royal family and the cello", Mathilde attended a session.

Semi Finals: Monday 11 May to Saturday 16 May 2026 at Flagey.

13 May 2026: King Philippe & Queen Mathilde had a meeting at the royal palace with the jury members of this year's competition, presided by Gilles Ledure.

Afterwards Queen Mathilde attended a session at Flagey.

The same day, Mathilde also visited violin makers Jan & Matthijs Strick, the father & son who run Maison Bernard. They are responsible for the maintenance, tuning, and repair of the cellos during the competition.

Mathilde gave extensive interviews to VRT and RTBF about the competition, the imposed work, the friendship between Queen Elisabeth & Pablo Casals, and Casals' famous cello.

16 May 2026: Queen Mathilde attended a session and the naming of the twelve finalists.

Finals: Monday 25 May to Saturday 30 May 2026 at Bozar.

25 May 2026: King Philippe & Queen Mathilde attended a session.

Mathilde's brother, Charles d'Udekem was also in the audience! He was seated next to Fang Man, the composer of the conscripted work for the finalists.

29 May 2026: Prince Gabriel (22) attends a session. 

30 May 2026: Queen Mathilde attends the final session of the finale week, and the announcement of the winner.

2 June 2026: Queen Mathilde attends the award ceremony at the Queen Elisabeth chapel in Waterloo.

Laureate Recitals (by the 6 non classified laureates) on 3 June and 4 June 2026 at Flagey.

Laureate Concerts (by numbers 6, 5 and 4) on 8 June 2026 at Bozar.

8 June 2026: Queen Mathilde attends the laureate concert.

Final Concert (By numbers 3 and 2 and the winner) on 10 June 2026 at Bozar, attended by King Philippe & Queen Mathilde.

Fashion Flashback: Seeing Double Junior

Eléonore, Alexia of The Netherlands, Marie Ducruet and Marie of Denmark in the same dress (Maje).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's purse (Furla).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's handbag (Dior).

Elisabeth with Mathilde's clutch.

Eléonore with Mathilde's clutch (Armani).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's clutch (Olga Berg) and earrings (Gas Bijoux).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Armani).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Hervé Van der Straeten).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's clutch (Carolina Herrera). Queen Letizia has the same.

Elisabeth using Mathilde's earrings (Carolina Herrera).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's pumps (Giorgio Armani) and handbag (Dior).

Mathilde using Elisabeth's purse.

Elisabeth using Mathilde's clutch (Natan).

Eléonore using Mathilde's clutch.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Percossi Papi).

Elisabeth and family friend Isaure Huyghues Despointes in the same dress (Maje).

Elisabeth and Jeanne Bogaerts (wife of John Bogaerts) in the same dress (ba&sh).

Elisabeth with Mathilde's earrings (Sezane) & clutch (DVF).

Elisabeth and Mathilde using the same earrings (Sezane).

Elisabeth wearing one of Mathilde's hats (Fabienne Delvigne), and Mathilde's clutch and earrings (Delphine Nardin).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's clutch (Natan).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Christine Bekaert).

Elisabeth with Mathilde's clutch (Fabienne Delvigne).

Eléonore, Elisabeth and their cousin Laetitia in the same dress (Maje).

Eléonore wearing Elisabeth's blouse (Zara).

Gabriel with one of his father's ties.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's gala gloves.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Carolina Herrera).

Elisabeth, Mathilde and Princess Amalia of the Netherlands in the same gown, different colour (Essentiel Antwerp). 

Eléonore and Duchess Pauline von Württemberg in the same dress (Maje).

Elisabeth & Eléonore wearing a necklace from the Maje "médaillon astro" series with their respective star signs: scorpio for Elisabeth, aries voor Eléonore.

Elisabeth using her mother's clutch (Armani).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's earrings (Carolina Herrera).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's clutch (Fabienne Delvigne) and earrings (Percossi Papi).

Elisabeth using one of Mathilde's clutches.

Mother & daughter and their collection of La Prima clutches (Armani).

Elisabeth & Princess Marie of Denmark in the same two-piece suit (Giorgio Armani).

 

Eléonore and Princess Amalia wearing the same dress. (DVF)

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Percossi Papi)

Elisabeth and French writer Christine Orban in the same gown (Dries Van Noten).

Elisabeth with Mathilde's earrings and top (Natan).

Elisabeth using Mathilde's clutch (Dior).

Elisabeth & Eléonore wearing Mathilde's earrings (Carolina Herrera).

Elisabeth carrying Mathilde's clutch (Bag with a Story).

Elisabeth carrying Mathilde's clutch (Furla).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Percossi Papi).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's bracelet and earrings.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings (Percossi Papi). Cousin Lili Rosboch has the same.

Elisabeth wearing the same DvF dress as Véronique Halloin, secretary general of the FNRS.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings. (Tikli/Christine Bekaert)

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings.

Elisabeth & Mathilde sharing a pair of earrings (Percossi Papi).

Elisabeth wearing a coat that's also been seen on princess Marie of Denmark (Emporio Armani).

Elisabeth carrying one of Mathilde's purses (Armani).

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings.

Elisabeth wearing one of Mathilde's bracelets (Francesca Romana Diana).

Elisabeth wearing a blouse previously seen on Mathilde.

Elisabeth wearing Mathilde's earrings.

Elisabeth and Pippa Middleton wearing the same dress (Maje).

Eléonore wearing Elisabeth's dress. Princess Alexia of the Netherlands has also worn the same.

Eléonore wearing Elisabeth's dress.

Eléonore wearing one of Elisabeth's dresses (River Woods).

Eléonore wearing her sister's dress.