Patriotic Belgian Royal Jewels for Princess Elisabeth’s Harvard Graduation

One of Europe’s future sovereigns, the Duchess of Brabant, completed her university education last week, and both she and her mother, Queen Mathilde of the Belgians, wore patriotic jewels for the graduation ceremony.

King Philippe and Queen Mathilde headed to Massachusetts at the end of May to see their elder daughter, 24-year-old Princess Elisabeth, graduate from Harvard Kennedy School. Elisabeth, who graduated from Oxford with an undergraduate degree in history and politics in 2024, completed her master’s degree in public policy from Harvard. Not a bad educational resume for a future monarch.

You’ll notice a running color theme in the clothing and jewelry chosen by Queen Mathilde and Princess Elisabeth for the graduation ceremonies: lots of red, yellow, and black, echoing Belgium’s national colors. Mathilde chose this pale yellow jersey dress from Natan for the address to the graduates on May 27. She kept the theme going with her jewels, wearing favorite bright yellow gold statement pieces: the Ibiza Earrings from Nuun Barcelona and the Dessine-Moi Un Mouton Bracelet from Christine Bekaert.

Princess Elisabeth wore a lovely silk dress with a red floral pattern from Maje with a gold heart pendant and the Stella Earrings from Bamboleira, which feature red fibers wound around gold-plated bronze.

Elisabeth received her diploma in a ceremony the following day. She wore a white dress from The Kooples with her graduation robes, as well as a classic pair of diamond and pearl button earrings. The stole she wore with her graduation gown also represents Belgium’s flag.

Queen Mathilde chose red for the May 28 diploma presentation, wearing a glamorous red dress from the brand Safiyaa. We previously saw her wear the dress at the United Nations last autumn.

On both occasions, she accessorized with vintage-style hoop earrings featuring diamonds in a border of twisted gold. For the graduation ceremony, she also wore a hammered gold bangle on her right wrist that has been in her jewelry box for a decade.