Belgian princess swaps palace for Welsh castle
A TEENAGE royal heiress has become a new Princess of Wales – as Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth takes up classes at a top Welsh college.
Elisabeth – first in line to the Belgian throne – has swapped her palace home near Brussels for a dorm in Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan.
The 16-year-old will join other teenagers from across the world in the 12th century St Donat’s Castle, near Llantwit Major, as she begins studying the International Baccalaureate.
And the country’s royal family have posted photographs of the princess saying her farewells to her three younger siblings as she prepared to leave her homeland to study abroad.
The photos, taken at Laeken palace in Brussels, were shared on the royals’ Instagram account.
Elisabeth is the eldest daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and speaks French, Dutch, English and is currently learning German.
As previously reported, she had to pass a series of strict tests before earning a place at the £10,000-a-term college where she will share a dorm with three other students.
The college was founded in 1962 and is part of the United World Colleges (UWC) group.
Principal Peter T Howe said: “We look forward to welcoming Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant to UWC Atlantic College and our extended international United World Colleges community, which has helped spread messengers of peace worldwide for more than 50 years.
“Like all UWC students, the Princess’ place with us has been earned on promise and potential, and to date 78 students from Belgium have attended our college of nations.
“Across the international UWC movement we seek to create empathetic, global citizens, who are motivated to create positive change in the world. Students are selected independent of their socio-economic background.
“Those chosen by their national UWC selection committees to study the International Baccalaureate with us have proven that they share the goals of the UWC movement, and have the drive to look beyond their own personal experiences of the world to realise their potential for the benefit of others.
“In September the Princess will join our community of nations, where she will live and study alongside 360 students, who represent over 90 nationalities and cultures, many of whom are able to join us thanks to the support of our scholarship and bursary programmes.”
Before flying to the UK she posed with brothers Gabriel and Emmanuel and her sister Eleonore outside the palace home with a packed suitcase and her pet dog. She captioned the picture: “Leaving for @UWCAtlantic college! #backtoschool2018!”
The residential college has 350 students aged 16-19 from over 90 different countries who study the International Baccalaureate.
It was founded by German educationalist Kurt Hahn, who also set up Gordonstoun boarding school in Scotland, famously attended by Prince Charles.
The Queen is a current president of the college alongside Queen Noor of Jordan. Nelson Mandela also served as a president until his death in 2013.