Prince Emmanuel of Belgium has turned 21, and the Royal Palace marked the occasion with a portrait that had not been seen before. The photograph, taken by Bas Bogaerts at the Royal Palace of Laeken near Brussels, was posted on the royal family’s social media accounts under the handle @MonarchieBe.
In the picture the prince stands in sunlit woodland, looking straight at the camera with a serious expression. He wears a checked blazer over a blue shirt with chinos. The palace kept its caption light, opening with “Hip hip hip, hooray!” before wishing him a happy birthday, and royal followers filled the comments with messages of their own.
The milestone comes after a change of course in his studies. In March Emmanuel left his bachelor’s degree in International Business Management and Marketing at UCLL University College in Leuven after one semester. He then started a French-language course in business development at ISTEC in Brussels, the palace confirmed to the Belgian newspaper HLN at the time. The new programme is more hands-on, with a focus on work experience and internships. As a child he also changed schools, moving to the Eureka School in Leuven.
Outside his studies, the prince has built a sideline as a DJ. His mother, Queen Mathilde, once called it “just a bit of fun among friends”, but he has now released two singles: “Wonder” came out last July and “Hope” followed this September. He is also said to enjoy nature and sport, including skiing, tennis, windsurfing and athletics, and he went to watch Belgium play Romania at Euro 2024.
Emmanuel is the third child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde and third in line to the throne. His sister Crown Princess Elisabeth, 24, is the heir and a graduate of Harvard and Oxford. His older brother, Prince Gabriel, is following a traditional military education, while his younger sister, Princess Eleonore, 18, began studying at University College Utrecht in September. Emmanuel’s last public engagement was Belgium’s National Day in July, when he appeared alongside all three siblings.
