Palace unveils unexpected step taken by princess for future
Key member of royal family breaks age-old tradition with crucial decision
Published July 29, 2026
With time, monarchies across Europe are beginning to break away from age-old rules and traditions to adapt to the modern times.
Prince William has already indicated how he will be changing the monarchy once he becomes king and the Danish royals saw an abdication for the first time in 900 years.
Now, an 18-year-old princess, the youngest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, has also taken a different path for her future, a major break in the tradition for Belgium royals.
Princess Eléonore announced that she would be pursuing Liberal Arts & Sciences at University College Utrecht in the Netherlands, starting in September. She would be the first of her siblings to pursue studies tailored to her own interest in another country.
She would have the opportunity to design her own curriculum for a three-year programme by selecting courses from the humanities, social sciences, and sciences in order to earn a Bachelor of Science (BSc) or Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree.
The update from the Palace comes after Princess Eléonore made her tiara debut in an antique Diamond Tiara at the State Banquet for the Japanese Emperor and Empress last month.
It was reportedly an 18th birthday present from her parents.
