Belgian royal Princess Elisabeth arrives home in time for annual Christmas concert after studying abroad

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium has arrived home in time to celebrate Christmas with her family.

Elisabeth, 23, who is next in line to the Belgian throne, attended the family's annual Christmas concert at the Royal Palace Brussels alongside parents King Philippe and Queen Mathilde as well as younger sister Princess Eleonore, 16.

The royal chose a stunning burgundy velvet dress for the occasion with an open back and gold and ruby earrings.

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Elisabeth was away at university.

She is studying for her Masters of Public Policy at Harvard University in the US, moving countries once more for her schooling. The royal graduated from Oxford University in the UK in July after studying History and Politics.

The palace announced she was to move to the US in May, after the princess passed the entrance tests.

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The palace said: "The princess was also selected for an 'Honorary Award' from the Fullbright Program, the US Department of State's international educational exchange programme."

The Kennedy School's mission is to "improve public policy and leadership so that people can live in safer, freer, more just, and more prosperous societies".

Princess Elisabeth is following in her father's footsteps by studying in the US. King Philippe studied political science at Stanford, another esteemed university in the country.

Princess Eleonore attends the International School of Brussels. She chose a silver gown by Lauren Ralph Lauren for the occasion.

Queen Mathilde, 51, chose a red A-line dress by Natan Couture. King Philippe, 64, chose a charcoal grey suit with blue patterned tie.

The family posed for a series of photos together as well as with guests.

The king and queen's sons Prince Gabriel, 21, and Prince Emmanuel, 19, were not at the event but did pose for photos for the family's annual Christmas card released earlier this month.

The photo used was taken inside the palace. In the photo the king and queen are seated in front of their four children.

Princess Elisabeth is also known as the Duchess of Brabant. When she takes over as head of Belgium she will become the first-ever female monarch of her country.

Born in Anderlecht on October 25, 2001, Elisabeth grew up alongside her three younger siblings, brothers Gabriel and Emmanuel and sister Eleonore.

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She previously attended Royal Military Academy in Brussels in 2020 where she studied Social and Military Sciences, with her family attending her graduation.

Despite her time abroad, Princess Elisabeth has made frequent trips back at Belgium.

Elisabeth has been attending official engagements since the age of five in preparation for her future role.

She completed her first official activity in 2011 at the inauguration of the paediatric wing of the University Hospital of Ghent, now called the Princess Elisabeth Children's Hospital.

She has also lent her name to science, with a Belgian scientific research station now named the Princess Elisabeth Antarctica Research Station.

In 2019, she travelled overseas alongside her mother on a humanitarian trip to Kenya organised by Unicef, and in 2023 she accompanied her father to both the Coronation of King Charles III as well as Jordan's Crown Prince Hussen's wedding to Princess Rajwa.

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