Brussels | Belgium
The Royal Court of Belgium has announced that Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will begin her studies at Atlantic College in September of this year. The royal princess, officially styled the Duchess of Brabant, is the eldest daughter their His Majesties King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde of Belgium. The 16 year old Princess is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne.
Atlantic College is situated in the 12th century St Donat’s Castle and is located in St Donat’s in Wales. The institution is a residential college and houses around 350 students. These students are aged between 16 and 19 and represent students from, in excess of, 90 different countries who study the International Baccalaureate.
Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth of Belgium is currently attending a Dutch-speaking school of secondary education in Brussels. The heir apparent also speaks English and French and is currently learning German. The princess is expected to fit in well as she is an avid sportswomen and is a great socializer.
The world renowned Atlantic College was originally started in 1962 by German educationalist Kurt Hahn with the college “focusing on a lifelong commitment to service in the community, to collaborative work and social engagement and develops in young people a sense of personal initiative and the skills of leadership”
In order to gain admission to the college, students need to pass rigorous tests. Thereafter the majority of students are selected through their country’s National Committee. When commenting on the college’s latest royal student, Peter T. Howe, the Principal of UWC Atlantic College, 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…
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.
The college boasts with an impressive Alumni that includes the daughter of King Hussein and Queen Noor of Jordan, Princess Raiyah bint Al Hussain as well as His Majesty King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. Nelson Mandela was also made an Honorary President to the college.