A princess becomes an heiress

A future queen regnant made her first appearance as heiress to the throne today.  Princess Elisabeth of Belgium was the first child born to this new generation of European royals.  Today, aged 11, she becomes her father's heir.  She was regal in red and watched closely by her mum, Queen Consort Mathilde, through the swearing in ceremony that saw dad become king.  And little Elisabeth took charge of her brothers, Gabriel and Emmanuel, and their sister, Eleonore, with all the style of a future head of the royal house.

The royal household in an official photograph released on the evening of Sunday 21st July on the day that Philippe succeeded Albert II as King of the Belgians

 

For now she is the heiress and faces the challenge of learning the royal ropes while learning alongside her future subjects as she continues her education.  But her life has changed subtly as shown in the official photo released this evening by the Royal Household.  King Philippe stands centre stage with King Albert II at his side and in front of them, Princess Elisabeth, who one day will become her country's eighth monarch and its first Queen Regnant.