Belgium’s Princess Elisabeth has begun her university education at Oxford University’s Lincoln College in the United Kingdom. Her first day of classes is today.
The Belgian Royal Palace has released nine new photos to mark the occasion, which were taken on 27 and 28 of September in Oxford by Bas Bogaerts. She is photographed alongside some of her new classmates in some of the college’s most iconic locations, including the Lodge, the Front Quad, the Grove and Radcliffe Square.
Princess Elisabeth walks past Lincoln College on Turl Street. In the background, you can see the entrance to the college library. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace 
Princess Elisabeth drinks coffee at a bar near Lincoln College. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace 
Princess Elisabeth walks in front of the Front Quad at Lincoln College. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace 
Princess Elisabeth in front of the Front Quad at Lincoln College. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace
The Lodge is the entrance and reception hall for Lincoln College; it is also where students receive their mail and other important announcements. The Front Quad provides access to different parts of the college, including the dining hall and the Grove – the heart of the college where students gather. Lincoln College’s library is one of the best at Oxford and contains rare books and manuscripts.
Princess Elisabeth walks towards “The Grove” at Lincoln College. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace 
Princess Elisabeth meets classmates at “The Grove” at Lincoln College. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace 
Princess Elisabeth in the library at Lincoln College. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace 
Princess Elisabeth strolls through Radcliffe Square with the Radcliffe Camera in the background. Photo: Bas Bogaerts/Belgian Royal Palace
The famous Radcliffe Square is for pedestrians only and is marked by the Radcliffe Camera building. That building contains the central library of the University of Oxford and is not open to the public. It was built between 1737 and 1748 and funded by the estate of Dr John Radcliffe. Attracting many tourists a year, it was designed by Nicholas Hawksmoor.
In one of the photos, the Princess is seen with friends punting – a typical Oxford and Cambridge boat trip on the River Cherwell in Oxford on wooden boats that are flat-bottomed. They boarded their boat at the Magdalen Bridge BoatHouse for the tradition that dates back to around 1860.
Elisabeth, who is first in line to the throne, completed her training at the Royal Military Academy Belgium earlier this year. She attended UWC Atlantic College in Wales from 2018 to 2020. She graduated with her International Baccalaureate Diploma in 2020.
The Duchess of Brabant will mark her 20th birthday on 25 October. She is the eldest child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde. If she ascends the throne as expected, she will be Belgium’s first queen regnant.
