The Belgian royal family manages to unite
Felipe and Mathilde were among the first to send their Christmas wishes from the Belgians. It follows the pattern of other years in which the monarchs sit in a palace room and behind them, their four children, almost all of whom are adults. Princess Elizabeth, 23 and heir to the throne, wore a burgundy dress, with her younger sister, 16-year-old Princess Eleonore, experiencing the biggest change. Beside him, behind the king is Prince Emmanuel, 19, and at the other end, Prince Gabriel, 21, who is the tallest of the three.
This year, the Belgian monarchs have been left virtually alone in the palace. Their three older children study abroad and the youngest, Eleonore, lives with them at the Royal Palace in Laken. Elisabeth is studying for a master’s degree in public policy at Harvard, Gabriel is at a military academy in Erasmus, France, and Emmanuel is training linguistically and athletically at a school outside Belgium.
