The heir to the Belgian throne celebrates her 17th birthday on 25 October 2018.

Princess Elisabeth was born by caesarian at 9.58 pm (local time) at the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht in 2001, the eldest of King Philipe and Queen Matilde’s four children.

She became the Duchess of Brabant when her father, Philippe, became King of the Belgians on 21 July 2013, following the abdication of her grandfather, King Albert II.

Belgium changed its constitution in 1991 so a monarch’s eldest daughter could ascend the throne.

Princess Elisabeth is expected to become the first Queen Regnant in Belgian history when she succeeds her father.

She speaks French and English and is learning German.

Princess Elisabeth attended a Dutch-speaking high school in Brussels and is now attending Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan in Wales, to complete her International Baccalaureate in 2020.

More than 350 students from over 90 countries are enrolled at the school in the 12th-Century Castle of St Donat’s.

German educator Kurt Hahn, who also founded Gordonstoun in Scotland, founded Atlantic College in 1962, to promote international understanding through education.

Princess Elisabeth has been learning the piano, enjoys various types of music, and she plays tennis, skiing and scuba diving and trekking.

She likes cooking and always looking for new recipes to try and loves reading as it is an important source of discovery and inspiration.

In addition, Princess Elisabeth volunteers to help children with learning difficulties, people with disabilities, the homeless and the elderly.

She lives with her parents, her brothers Gabriel and Emmanuel and younger sister Eléonore at the Royal Palace of Laeken.

Princess Elisabeth officially opened the new Princess Elisabeth Children’s Hospital, which is part of Ghent University Hospital, on 7 September 2018.

The Princess Elisabeth Research Station in Antarctica was named in her honour.

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