Harvard University's halls have hosted many distinguished students, but one Harvard woman is about to make history as Belgium's first female monarch: Princess Elisabeth, who turned 23 on Friday, October 25, began a two-year master's degree program in public policy in September. She is not particularly well known in the United States, but this is one royal to keep an eye on.

Elisabeth, known as the Duchess of Brabant, was born in 2001 and is the first child of Queen Mathilde and King Philip and heir to the throne. She is the eldest of four siblings, including Prince Gabriel (21), Prince Emmanuel (19), and Princess Eleonore (16).

Interestingly, according to the royal palace website, Belgium's succession laws were changed only 10 years before she was born, so had the princess lived before 1991, her brother Gabriel would have been heir to the throne.

After completing a year at the Royal Military Academy, Elisabeth was as comfortable in camouflage as she was in a ball gown. She participated in hands-on training, learning how to fire weapons and navigate difficult obstacle courses with her fellow cadets. Prince Gabriel also attended the academy's summer camp.

According to the Belgian Royal Family website, the sporty princess “especially enjoys skiing, boating, and sailing” and likes “walking and getting in touch with nature.” She also plays the piano, loves to read, and considers books “an important source of discovery and inspiration.”

Elisabeth is also fluent in languages and, according to the Belgian royal court, gave her first public speech “in Dutch, French, and German to commemorate World War I” at the age of 12. The future monarch opened a children's hospital named after herself when she was only 9 years old, and has been performing official royal functions ever since.

As for her educational background, Princess Elisabeth received a BA in history and politics from Oxford University in July 2024 before attending Harvard University. She also attended Yale University's Young Global Scholars Program, and is no stranger to elite universities.

The future queen is also committed to philanthropy. According to the Palace, Elizabeth is particularly committed to helping “school dropouts, the elderly, the disabled, and the homeless.” [Belgium, Spain, Sweden, the Netherlands, and Norway now have female heirs to the throne. The era of the queen is upon us.