Princess Elisabeth’s Harvard future secured after Trump foreign‑student ban overturned

(BELGIUM) Princess Elisabeth of Belgium will return to Harvard University in September 2025 after a U.S. court blocked President Trump’s foreign student crackdown that had upended plans for thousands of international students. A federal judge in August 2025 halted the Trump administration’s move to revoke Harvard’s SEVIS (Student and Exchange Visitor Information System) certification, clearing the way for the Belgian heir apparent to resume her master’s studies. The Belgian Royal Palace said on August 19, 2025, that “all indicators are green,” signaling that no hurdles remain for her fall return.

In May 2025, the administration revoked Harvard’s SEVIS approval, which meant foreign students—including Princess Elisabeth—could not attend the school on student visas for the 2025–2026 academic year. The White House framed the action as part of a broader push on campus issues, accusing Harvard of being “too left-leaning” and failing to protect Jewish students during protests over Israel’s war in Gaza. The change immediately put about 6,800 international students at risk of losing lawful U.S. status tied to their studies, disrupting travel plans, housing, and internships weeks before the summer.

Harvard University responded by filing a legal challenge. In August 2025, a judge blocked the ban, restoring international students’ ability to enroll and return for the fall semester. The court’s order also eased pressure on U.S. consulates processing visa interviews and document renewals. While litigation could continue, the ruling effectively reopened campus doors in time for September, stabilizing a situation that had shifted from one week to the next for students and university staff alike.

Princess Elisabeth began a two-year Master in Public Policy at the Harvard Kennedy School in September 2024 and paused her studies in May 2025 when the ban took effect. With the court decision in place, palace officials say she is cleared to return to Cambridge for the second year of her program. Lore Vandoorne, spokesperson for the Belgian Royal Palace, confirmed the plan and timeline, noting there are no concrete obstacles. Belgian royal journalist Wim Dehandschutter said the family did not ask for special favors, aiming to avoid diplomatic strains and public criticism.

The Fulbright Program’s Belgian director, Erica Lutes, said that 15 Belgian citizens have been granted Fulbright status for the 2025–2026 academic year. Princess Elisabeth received an Honorary Award. Most Belgian grantees are obtaining their visas, though some are facing wait times linked to embassy backlogs. That pattern mirrors reports across Harvard’s international student body after the court’s ruling: progress is steady, but not every case moves at the same speed.

Court reversal and wider impact

The judge’s order means that all international students at Harvard, not just Princess Elisabeth, can return for in-person studies in fall 2025. According to analysis by VisaVerge.com, the episode shows how fast policy swings can disrupt academic plans and send shock waves through the global education market.

It also explains why universities turn to the courts when agency decisions threaten their core missions. For students caught in the middle, the ruling brings relief, but the whiplash of the summer remains fresh.

The royal household’s approach—declining preferential treatment and stressing fairness—was meant to align Elisabeth’s situation with that of her peers. Dehandschutter noted the palace’s careful posture to avoid the appearance of special access as well as possible diplomatic tension with Washington.

The case also put a spotlight on the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, led in May 2025 by Secretary Kristi Noem, and its role in campus-related immigration decisions. Critics warned that schools and students should not be swept into political battles over protests and speech.

The administration’s stated concerns about campus safety and bias came during a heated national debate about Gaza-related demonstrations. Whatever the politics, the practical effect was immediate for visa-holding students whose presence in the United States 🇺🇸 depends on their school’s SEVIS status. Once that status was pulled, even temporarily, students faced the risk of losing lawful presence and the ability to return after summer travel. The court’s block paused that outcome and restored a path back to class.

Key takeaway: the court’s decision restored a path for international students to continue their studies, but the disruption highlighted how quickly agency actions can affect individuals’ lives and academic plans.

Visa processing, timelines and practical guidance

Students affected by the ban had to wait for the court’s decision and then for consular processing to restart.

• As of August 21, 2025, many have received visas and resumed routine steps like housing assignments and course registration.
• Some students continue to face interview delays and document checks due to embassy backlogs and processing bottlenecks.
• Progress is uneven: cases are moving at different paces even after the court order.

For official visa updates and appointment information, students in Belgium should monitor the U.S. Embassy’s site at https://be.usembassy.gov/visas/, which posts current procedures and service notices.

Practical steps for affected students (recommended)

1. Check consular appointment availability and renew documents as soon as possible.
2. Confirm housing arrangements and communicate with landlords about adjusted arrival dates.
3. Notify Harvard’s Office of International Education about visa status and any delays affecting enrollment.
4. Keep records of cancelled travel, deposits, and any financial losses for potential reimbursement or insurance claims.

Key stakeholders and contacts

• Belgian Royal Palace: spokesperson Lore Vandoorne
• Fulbright Belgium: Director Erica Lutes
• Harvard University: Office of International Education
• U.S. Department of Homeland Security: Secretary Kristi Noem (as of May 2025)

Background: Princess Elisabeth’s studies and status

Princess Elisabeth, Duchess of Brabant, is the heir apparent to the Belgian throne. She started at the Harvard Kennedy School after graduating from Oxford University in 2024.

• Program: Master in Public Policy, two-year course
• Started: September 2024
• Pause: May 2025
• Expected completion: 2026

With the court’s ruling in place and documentation in order, she is set to continue her master’s this fall. The palace has kept a low profile throughout, mindful of the sensitive relationship between Belgium and the United States and the status of both heads of state.

Aftermath and broader implications

For Harvard and its global student community, the summer’s events carry a lasting message: even at a world-famous campus, student status can turn on agency actions with little warning.

• The court intervention restored order quickly, but it did not erase the stress of sudden travel changes, canceled leases, or the fear of falling behind.
• Some students had to store belongings in haste, rebook flights, or put internships on hold—choices with personal and financial costs that linger.

Policy watchers say the case will be cited in future fights over:

• University compliance requirements
• Campus climate and protest management
• The federal government’s reach into higher education

For now, the practical takeaway is clear: with SEVIS certification restored, Harvard’s international students can return to classrooms, labs, and libraries. Parents are booking flights, students are renewing housing, and faculty are preparing syllabi that assume full in-person attendance.

The Belgian royal family has stressed solidarity with other foreign students from the start. By declining special treatment, Princess Elisabeth placed her situation within the same rules that apply to everyone else on an F-1 pathway. That choice matters symbolically in Belgium and abroad and reflects the reality in U.S. immigration: outcomes often depend on clear rules, steady processing, and, when needed, courtroom checks on sudden policy shifts.

For this fall, at least, those pieces are back in place.