Action girl! Princess Elisabeth of Belgium swears allegiance to the King as becomes an officer at military academy

• Princess Elisabeth of Belgium swore an oath to become an officer last night 
• Read more:  Princess Ariane of the Netherlands, 16, begins studies at the UWC 

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium was beaming with joy after becoming an officer at the Royal Military Academy last night.

Elisabeth, 21, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and heir to the Belgian throne, joined the military academy in Brussels in September 2020.

Yesterday, she took part in the ceremony of taking the oath as an officer – swearing ‘loyalty to the King, obedience to the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people.’

In snaps from the event, the Princess appeared serious as she took part in the ceremony – marching and saluting to the King alongside her comrades from the  160th Promotion of Social and Military Sciences.

It is not known how long Elisabeth plans to spend at the academy but her father King Philippe studied there for three years as a teenager.

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 21, was beaming with joy after becoming an officer at the Royal Military Academy last night

Elisabeth, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and heir to the Belgian throne, joined the military academy in Brussels in September 2020

In photographs from the event, the 21-year-old can be seen wearing a smart blue military uniform, sweeping her blonde hair from her face into a low ponytail for the occasion.

Afterwards, she joined her family to pose for photos, where she was seen beaming proudly as she stood alongside her father, the King.

Her mother Queen Mathilde opted for a blush pink midi dress for the occasion, which featured a high neckline and a pleated skirt. 

Meanwhile she paired the dress with brown heels and a matching hat, sweeping her blonde hair into gentle curls for the occasion.

Princess Elisabeth was also joined by her siblings Princess Eleonore, Prince Gabriel and Prince Emmanuel at the event.

Her younger sister Eleonore, 15, who recently joined their mother for a night at the opera, looked elegant in a blue patterned floor length dress.

Prince Gabriel was smart in his own military uniform, while Prince Emmanuel opted for a navy blue suit with a baby blue tie.   

When the news hit the headlines, one of the training school’s students offered insight into the course and some sage words of advice ahead of Elisabeth’s enrolment. 

Evelyn Gravez, 22, has almost completed her master’s degree in social and military Sciences at the school.

In photographs from the event, the 21-year-old can be seen wearing a smart blue military uniform

King Philippe, 60, who spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981, posed for photographs alongside his daughter

Princess Elisabeth was joined by her younger brother Prince Gabriel at the event, who dressed in his own military uniform 

The 21-year-old, who is heir to the throne, swept her blonde hair from her face into a low ponytail for the occasion

Afterwards, she joined her family to pose for photos, where she was seen beaming proudly as she stood alongside her father, the King

Her mother Queen Mathilde opted for a blush pink midi dress for the occasion, which featured a high neckline and a pleated skirt

Meanwhile she paired the dress with brown heels and a matching hat, sweeping her blonde hair into gentle curls for the occasion

She told local media: ‘My advice? Above all, make as many friends as possible. They’ll help you through if you’re having a hard time.’

Speaking about what life would be like for the teenage princess, Evelyn revealed her first weeks would include learning to fire a gun, setting up an army tent, marching with a backpack, tactical training and reading maps.

She added that the experience is ‘pretty tough’ and that ‘they really throw you in’, warning the initiation period is not for everyone and that a number of students drop out each year.

However, Ms Gravez added that the camp is not like the cliches of military school often seen in Hollywood movies: ‘They don’t yell at you when you make mistakes. Of course, sometimes they have to be strict. 

‘Because mistakes, they have to be sorted out as quickly as possible. But if you are a bit slow to learn, they are there to encourage you, not to bark at you.’ 

Although there will be tough days ahead, the student believes that the princess will get used to it and that it might even help her lead the country in the future.

She added: ‘I think Elisabeth will certainly get used to it. Even if she only stays one year.  

King Philippe passed by his daughter Crown Princess Elisabeth during the ceremony last night (pictured) 

She took part in the ceremony of taking the oath as an officer – swearing ‘loyalty to the King, obedience to the Constitution and the laws of the Belgian people’

The royal took part in a ceremony during which the students of the 160th Promotion of Social and Military Sciences and the officer students of the 175th Polytechnic Promotion take the oath as Sub-lieutenant or ensign second class

Princess Elisabeth stood alongside her classmates as she made the oath in front of her family last night 

Princess Elisabeth appeared deep in thought as she took part in the ceremony at the military academy last night 

Alongside her classmates, Princess Elisabeth swore her allegiance to the King in a ceremony at the academy 

The Princess spent 18 months boarding at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before joining the military academy 

‘We learn to make decisions under stress, leadership techniques. That will be useful for her as head of state.’ 

A change in the law a decade ago made it possible for the eldest child, male or female, to ascend the throne in the country. She will become the country’s first Queen Regent if she takes up the role.

Elisabeth spent 18 months boarding at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before returning home to Brussels in March ahead of the government lockdown.

She spent lockdown living with her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her three siblings in Brussels. 

The course is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.

King Philippe, 60, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981.  

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