Gabriel's Blue Beret Ceremony

30 September 2022

King Philippe handed out the blue berets to the new promotion of soldiers who passed the six week initiation training at the Royal Military Academy. Among the platoon was his son, Prince Gabriel (19). This moment marks the start of their official training.

Queen Mathilde and Crown Princess Elisabeth (20) were also present. 

Elisabeth was sporting a new, shorter hairstyle. She was wearing a new Natan coat dress, her Jimmy Choo pumps and new earrings by Maëlle Laduron (for Natan). She carried one of Mathilde's Dior clutches. 

🇧🇪 King Philippe, Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth arrive at the Blue Beret Parade at the Royal Military Academy.

🪖 Prince Gabriël, 19, has completed his 5-week military initiation phase and can start at academy.

🔹 He will receive his blue beret from his father Philippe. pic.twitter.com/uHISKYjIfp

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) September 30, 2022

Two years ago Elisabeth was in her brother's shoes: https://queenmathilde.blogspot.com/2020/09/blue-beret-ceremony.html  

After the ceremony, Elisabeth & Gabriel posed together for pictures. With a very proud mum looking on!

👨‍👧 Princess Elisabeth reunited with her brother Prince Gabriël after a few weeks of absence.

🪖 The past 5 weeks, he participated at a military camp in Elsenborn.

✅ After completing this initiation phase, Gabriël is officially student at the Royal Military Academy, as she was. pic.twitter.com/SOctSZ50we

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) September 30, 2022

Elisabeth & Gabriel left in one car, Philippe & Mathilde in another.

🇧🇪 After the Blue Beret Parade, Prince Gabriël, 19, and Princess Elisabeth, 20, left in the same car; their parents King Philippe, 62, and Queen Mathilde, 49, in another one. Brother and sister can share stories about the Royal Military Academy - she was student in 2020-2021. pic.twitter.com/Rw17rwiAjk

— [Wim Dehandschutter] (@WDehandschutter) September 30, 2022

Earlier in the day, Court released these pictures from Gabriel's  week initiation at Camp Elsenborn.

Remarkable to notice that Prince Gabriel had been matriculated under the name "van Saksen Coburg", unlike his sister who has served using the name "van België". Court precised later this was to mark the continuity between King Philippe & Crown Princess Elisabeth's days in the military, both as "van België". 

Just like his older sister, Gabriel chose the Dutch language to study at the ERM.