BRUSSELS — The Royal Palace of Belgium announced on Friday that Princess Elisabeth, next in line for the throne, is eagerly awaiting news on whether she can continue her studies at Harvard University for a second year. This follows a recent announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who has imposed a ban affecting foreign students at the prestigious institution.
The policy change, declared by the Trump administration on Thursday, rescinded Harvard’s authority to enroll international students, prompting concern among the university’s foreign scholars. The change mandates thousands to either transfer or exit the United States.
Xavier Baert, head of communications at the Royal Palace, commented on the situation, stating, “We are currently assessing the impact this decision could have on the princess’s studies. However, it is premature to speculate on any outcomes at this point.” Baert noted that Princess Elisabeth, who is 23 years old, recently finished her first year in a graduate program at Harvard. She plans to spend the summer in Belgium while the situation unfolds.
Princess Elisabeth is the eldest of four children born to King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. She is pursuing a Master in Public Policy. Prior to attending Harvard, she completed an undergraduate degree in history and politics at Lincoln College, Oxford, in the United Kingdom.
Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, hosts an international student body of nearly 6,800, which comprises over 25% of its total enrollment. These students hail from a diverse array of more than 100 countries, with a majority being graduate-level scholars.
In response to the federal directive, Harvard filed a lawsuit in a Boston federal court on Friday. The university argues that the action taken by the Trump administration infringes on the First Amendment and could cause immediate and significant harm to Harvard and the over 7,000 students reliant on visas.