Belgian Royal News

[Larzen]

It seems that Belgian RF and Spanish RF have thorough plans for preparing their respective heirs to become head of state.
Elisabeth started at university then the military training.
Leonor is starting with military training then university.

Christian and Amalia don't seem to have plans in place - and it shows.
By 17-18 years old, both Elisabeth and Leonor already had small, age-appropriate royal engagements without their parents and where they were the focus.
I haven't seen that yet with Xn and Amalia. Amalia follows her parents around at their engagements, but seems mostly lost at those events.
Not sure I've seen Xn even following his parents around at their royal engagements. If it's happened, it hasn't happened often.

Amalia is in university, that seems perfectly fine in a country where the Monarch is not head of the military, the former queens were rarely, if ever (?) photographed in uniform. WA only very rarely since becomming King.
In Scandinavia they go to school for one year longer than it seems in the Benelux and Spain (I guess they start earlier there?). They finnish the year they turn 19. (Christian will finnish at 18 since his birthday is in october, Ingrid was 19 since she is born early in the year in january.) Amalia and Elisabeth has attended the same official forreign events, and Amalia has attende two parliament openings, none of them has been on state visits.

I really do not understand the need for one size fits all the heirs. Every country is different and has different history and values and what is important for that heir to adapt to as future monarch.
Such military parades/events which we see in Belgium and Spain is not seen here. There is forinstance no military presence except for military bands and the Kings guard on national day in Norway, and Swedens national day is also a civil event. The military memorial events are not big public displays, but more closed events at Akershus in Norway or at that military memorial spot Frederik and Mary is at annually, but no giant displays of military force down the capital.

[Principessa]

Soley for info:

In general:

In the Netherlands the compulsory age for starting at primary school ( = basisschool) is 5.
But many if not most Dutch children start school at 4.

According to the Dutch government information:

...You can register your child for primary school when he or she is 3 years old. From the age of 3 years and 10 months, your child can attend the adjustment days. Your child can go to primary school from the age of 4. Compulsory education starts on the 1st day of the new month after the child turns 5 years old....

Previously, a distinction was made between students of the same year of birth. The cutoff point for school was (if I remember correctly) October 1st. If you were born after October 1, you were placed in the class of the year after your birth year. If I remember correctly, this has been adjusted for some time now, so that children of the same year of birth are in the same class together.

You wil have 8 years of primary school. Most children are about 12 when leaving for secondary education.

The duration of secondary education depends on the level and route you are choosing. The lowest level is about 4 years while the highest level is 6 years.

In regard to the route, f.e. I have done 3 levels before heading for Uni (but I could skip years this way, so it took me about 7 years in total). I was 19 at my latest secondary education graduation.


Finally there is further education. Varying in level AND whether it is (more) practical or theoretical.


===========================

A Dutch language blog about successor and the military:

https://allthingsamalia.n...gers-en-militaire-dienst/

...Amalia has recently become acquainted with the various parts of the armed forces....

....Because the king in the Netherlands is not the head of the army, air force or navy, she is not obliged to undergo military training, although she can choose to do so: her father Willem-Alexander has not deteriorated over time. in the Navy....

[lyndell75]

Les nouvelles cartes de vœux de la Famille royale viennent de sortir !
Bas Bogaerts

[Rita]

Lovely portrait for lovely family

[Kristallinchen]

Lovely portrait for lovely family

Indeed.

[Lord G¡n]

Les nouvelles cartes de vœux de la Famille royale viennent de sortir !
Bas Bogaerts

Yeah. They stand and look close.

[lyndell75]

Belgium Royal Family at reception for Christmas at Royal Palace ©Albert Nieboer
https://twitter.com/Royaleurope
https://twitter.com/MonarchieBe

[lyndell75]

The annual mass to commemorate the deceased members of the Belgian Royal Family. 🇧🇪
From left: Queen Mathilde, Princess Delphine, King Philippe, Princess Claire, King Albert II, Prince Laurent, Archduchess Marie-Astrid of Austria, Queen Paola, Archduke Carl Christian of Austria.
https://twitter.com/RoyalArjan
https://www.garderoberoya...lieleden/#google_vignette

[ralf103]

Is this the one Delphine complained about not being invited to? OR has she always attended?

[lyndell75]

The King receives former US President @BarackObama at the Castle of Laeken, together with Princess Elisabeth.
https://twitter.com/MonarchieBe

[lyndell75]

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium will host Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Theresa of Luxembourg on their State Visit to Belgium next week.
https://twitter.com/saadsalman719

[lyndell75]

Queen Mathilde & Princess Eléonore#Violin2024
La princesse Éléonore, elle-même violoniste, assistait à la dernière soirée de finale du Concours musical Reine Élisabeth avec la reine Mathilde.
La reine des Belges et sa fille ont aussi assisté à l'annonce du lauréat de cette année.
https://x.com/ActusRoyales
https://x.com/BlogMathilde

[Principessa]

I don't know why, but in my mind Eléonore was predominantly still that small, a bit shy kid. But just like all the others, she grew up off course. And here she is, a blooming and beautiful young woman

[lyndell75]

Cologne Stadium #Euro2024
https://x.com/BlogMathilde
Dirk Waem // TT

[ralf103]

National Day 2024