Belgium's Princess Elisabeth Completes Military Initiation Training

A Belgian princess has completed four weeks of military initiation training, earning the blue beret.

Princess Elisabeth has finished one month of training at Elsenborn, a Belgian army camp, days after joining Brussels' Royal Military Academy for officer recruits at the end of August.

The royal has mirrored her father, King Philippe of Belgium, in receiving military training, with the monarch having passed though the Belgian Royal Military Academy, qualifying as a fighter pilot and completing his military training with a para-commando course.

This year the academy has taken on 170 student officers, who have been given courses on Belgium's army, air force, navy and medical branches.

For 2020 training has been different, as recruits have worn masks, practiced social distancing where possible and followed COVID-19 guidelines in the classroom.

During classes, students have been assigned permanent seats with separating screens installed between them as an extra measure.

In May, the Belgian royal palace made the announcement Princess Elisabeth would be enrolling in the Royal Military Academy.

Her father attended between 1978 and 1981, and, like him, she has been following the same learning programme as the other students.

Princess Elisabeth is the first in line to the throne and upon becoming Queen will receive the title of Commander-in-Chief of the Belgian Army.