Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium has showed off her strength as she carried out tactical drills at the Royal Military Academy.
Elisabeth, 19, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and heir to the Belgian throne, is finishing her first year at the Royal Military Academy, after completing her secondary education at UWC Atlantic College in Wales.
Latest photos show the royal this week as she took part in a three-day internship at a Commando Training Centre in Marche-les-Dames, Belgium.
Crown Princess Elisabeth of Belgium has showed off her strength as she carried out tactical drills at the Royal Military Academy
Elisabeth, 19, the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and heir to the Belgian throne, is finishing her first year at the academy after completing her secondary education at UWC Atlantic College in Wales
Latest photos show the royal this week as she took part in a three-day internship at a Commando Training Cente in Marche-les-Dames, Belgium
Clearly excelling in her training, the teenager was pictured acing rope courses and scaling the castle
Clearly excelling in her training, the teenager was pictured acing rope courses and scaling the castle.
Other shots show her cruising through a zipwire while in some she joined her fellow cadets as she carried a dignhy into water and rowed.
For the officer cadets of the Royal Military Academy (RMA), this camp is part of the last training phase for first year students, and constitutes part of the Initial Military Phase.
Elisabeth is following in her father King Philippe’s footsteps, as he studied there for three years as a teenager.
Other shots show her cruising through a zipwire while in some she joined her fellow cadets as she carried a dignhy into water and rowed
For the officer cadets of the Royal Military Academy (RMA), this camp is part of the last training phase for first year students, and constitutes part of the Initial Military Phase
Elisabeth (pictured) is following in her father King Philippe’s footsteps, as he studied there for three years as a teenager.
When the news Elisabeth was attending hit the headlines, one of the training school’s students has 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.
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.’
Belgium’s Crown Princess Elisabeth takes part in a three-day internship at a Commando Training Center, as part of her one-year training at the Royal Military Academy,
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
Elisabeth spent lockdown living with her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her three siblings in Brussels.
Acing the course! Elisabeth will be learning to fire a gun, setting up an army tent, marching with a backpack, tactical training and reading maps as part of her course
Speaking about what life will 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.
Ready for action! Elisabeth takes part in a three-day internship at a Commando Training Center
Row row! Elisabeth is shown rowing in a dinghy as part of her work at the military academy
‘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.
‘We learn to make decisions under stress, leadership techniques. That will be useful for her as head of state.’
Learning the ropes! Elisabeth is shown scaling down the cliffside as part of the course
Elisabeth, pictured, spent 18 months boarding at UWC Atlantic College in South Wales before returning home to Brussels in March ahead of the government lockdown.
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.
The school is known as Welsh ‘hippie Hogwarts’ and has seen many European royals including Princess Leonor of Spain and Princess Alexia of The Netherlands.
The princess, who received her International Baccalaureate Diploma last summer, is currently at the end of a one-year course in social and military sciences
The course is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical
Elisabeth (pictured) is following in her father’s footsteps. King Philippe, 61, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981.
Belgium’s Crown Princess Elisabeth attending a three-day training camp at the Training Center Commando, to finish her one year formation at the Royal Military Academy in Marche-les-Dames. – Among other things, she does rock climbing, abseiling, death rides and dinghy. During this internship, the officer cadets work in an unusual environment, they learn to push their limits, develop their courage and their will to succeed in these group tests
Elisabeth spent lockdown living with her parents, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, and her three siblings in Brussels.
The princess, who received her International Baccalaureate Diploma last summer, is currently at the end of a one-year course in social and military sciences.
The course is said to teach in-depth about the four components of Belgian defence; Army, Air Force, Navy and Medical.
King Philippe, 61, spent three years at the esteemed institution between 1978 to 1981.