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Didn't expect this news but her cousins also complete(d) secondary school in the UK, so that's on me. Is it a common move among the Belgian nobility?
Didn't expect this news but her cousins also complete(d) secondary school in the UK, so that's on me. Is it a common move among the Belgian nobility?
Didn't expect this news but her cousins also complete(d) secondary school in the UK, so that's on me. Is it a common move among the Belgian nobility?
Of course the usual negative comments in Belgian social media, but I think this step is an excellent one. Free from the eternal pressure in Belgium. Explore a new world. Use English day by day. Discover your own personality.
I'm actually so annoyed, I literally applied to UWC through the US NC, made it to the last round but got rejected sadly. Atlantic College was may first choice as well. I could have become friends with HRH. But I am happy for her, the school is an experience like no other. Hopefully she will be my second year.
I actually symoathize with the Belgian people in their negative reaction. The natural course would have been for Elisabeth to finish secondary school in a Dutch-speaking school, then go to university (probably a French-speaking one ) in Belgium, and later get a master’s degree overseas llike her father who went to Stanford University in California. Going to boarding school now in the UK is premature and unnecessary.
For those who can afford it, yes. No noble parent wants to see their children study only in Belgium, and the rich Belgian aristocrat families all send their children abroad, usually once the university years start. N° 1 country of choice is Britain, but they're also attending higher education in the US, France, Germany, Italy... As long as the school is renowned and the network interesting enough. Brexit or not, London and the rest of Britain remain a huge attraction pole for many Europeans and the English language is a real must.
Curiously it are the Lux royal children who attended obscure catholic institutions in the US and the Habsburg offspring who were sent to other obscure catholic schools in Eastern Europe.
As for Astrid's children:
- Amedeo was a boarder at Sevenoaks and then moved on to the London School of Economics. He moved to New York for work and also did extra studying there. Now he's a private banker in Switzerland (with his father?)
- Laura finished secundary school in Brussels and then studied Chinese in Paris and London. She did an internship at the UN in New York and worked for Vuitton in China. Then she moved back to London to study at the School for Oriental Studies. No idea what she's up to now, but she's living in London.
- Joachim was a boarder at Malvern & studied economics at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
- Luisa was a boarder at Sevenoaks and is now doing a masters at McGill, Montreal, Canada.
- Laetitia is currently a boarder at Sevenoaks.
It's clear Astrid's family doesn't lack any funds.
Laurent's kids are all at a Lycée Français in Belgium.
Judging from a sample of reactions in Belgian newspapers comment sections, I would say it is mostly negative. They are complaining that it will cost 25,000 euros/ year and that Belgian schools are not “good enough” for the princess.
Some headlines even used dramatic language llike Princess Elisabeth quits / leaves Belgium” to go to school in Wales.
It seems quite a different story to do your university education abroad compared to doing part of your secondary education abroad. The first being far more common than the second.For those who can afford it, yes. No noble parent wants to see their children study only in Belgium, and the rich Belgian aristocrat families all send their children abroad, usually once the university years start. N° 1 country of choice is Britain, but they're also attending higher education in the US, France, Germany, Italy... As long as the school is renowned and the network interesting enough. Brexit or not, London and the rest of Britain remain a huge attraction pole for many Europeans and the English language is a real must.
Curiously it are the Lux royal children who attended obscure catholic institutions in the US and the Habsburg offspring who were sent to other obscure catholic schools in Eastern Europe.
As for Astrid's children:
- Amedeo was a boarder at Sevenoaks and then moved on to the London School of Economics. He moved to New York for work and also did extra studying there. Now he's a private banker in Switzerland (with his father?)
- Laura finished secundary school in Brussels and then studied Chinese in Paris and London. She did an internship at the UN in New York and worked for Vuitton in China. Then she moved back to London to study at the School for Oriental Studies. No idea what she's up to now, but she's living in London.
- Joachim was a boarder at Malvern & studied economics at Bocconi University in Milan, Italy.
- Luisa was a boarder at Sevenoaks and is now doing a masters at McGill, Montreal, Canada.
- Laetitia is currently a boarder at Sevenoaks.
It's clear Astrid's family doesn't lack any funds.
Laurent's kids are all at a Lycée Français in Belgium.
Incidentally, if the Belgian papers are right, Elisabeth will be the first heir to the Belgian crown to finish secondary school abroad.
I agree that doing part of your university studies abroad is now common in Europe and actually encouraged. For Elisabeth, it would probably be mandatory anyway to spend some time overseas as an undergraduate i(bachelor’s) or graduste (master’s) student. Some people might think it may be premature , however, for her to do so while still in High School. To be fair though, other heirs have done it too: W-A went to the same boarding school in Wales and I think Felipe of Spain was in Canada for a while as a High School student.
As a Belgian myself I completely and utterly agree with you !"the Belgian people" don't have a negative reaction about a bright young girl using her talents and studying abroad. The negativity on social media is the same as it ever was: jealousy, ignorance, money.
Belgium is an international environment where the knowledge of several languages is more than stimulated, European exchanges between students are also a part of the curriculum for most students in higher education (Erasmus/Comenius etc.)
The expense of the school and the question of 'they get into these schools only because of who they are' adds to it. But UWC is different. This is a school one cant buy their way into, its very competitive, and she definitely earned her place there. The school offers scholarships to any student who gets accepted to attend, so monetary concern is not a part here either.
While I assume that she qualified, I am not completely sure that her title and position had no influence at all. There are other schools 'very competitive' schools and universities where 'you cannot buy your way into' in which somehow the children of heads of states are treated differently and get into in higher degrees than you would expect based on normal admission criteria.
They wouldn't accept someone that would be completely unfit for a school but they would have a harder time turning a princess down than other applicants. At least some of the criteria require some 'interpretation' which is in favor of the rich and famous.
I agree. I have no reason to think that she did not meet the criteria. However, there were most likely more students than places to fill, so not all students who met all criteria were accepted. For that part of the process being the future queen of Belgium certainly helped.
This isn't Harvard where you need grades (can throw money at it to ignore the slightly lower grades) and an essay (can have someone write it). Its vigerous interviews and presentations. Elisabeth would have been observed in group projects and activities. These aren't things one fakes with money.