It has been revealed three European royals share a WhatsApp group chat to discuss what future "hurdles" they will have to overcome together when they assume the throne.
Princess Elisabeth of Belgium completed her master's degree in public policy at Harvard Kennedy School recently, marking the occasion with her first significant press interview.
The 24-year-old heir to the Belgian throne spoke to Dutch publication HNL, revealing the exclusive group chat and offering a rare glimpse into her personal relationships with fellow European royals.
The group is said to contain Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands, 22, the heir apparent, and Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway, 22, who is second in line for the throne after her father, Crown Prince Haakon.
"We've known each other for a long time and see each other occasionally at events," Princess Elisabeth explained.
"In my generation, there are several women. You see a similar shift in other monarchies.
"We are all in the same situation. It's a hurdle we will face together."
Princess Elisabeth (back right) revealed recently she shares a WhatsApp group chat with future European sovereigns Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands (back left) and Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway (centre)
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Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands had gone on record to discuss the trio's friendship last year, saying: "We stay in contact with each other because we are all living a very specific life and we don't need much explanation to understand each other."
She added: "It's a good thing that I can chat with Elisabeth and Ingrid Alexandra about very simple things in our life which are difficult, different for us, friendships, privacy, social media. We discuss how we handle it."
The group have not let their royal destiny get in the way of their education. Catharina-Amalia is currently studying Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics at Amsterdam University, while Ingrid Alexandra relocated to Australia last year to pursue a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Sydney, focusing on international relations and political economy.
The Norwegian Palace revealed she would reside in student accommodation on campus for the three-year programme.
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Princess Catharina-Amalia of the Netherlands has previously discussed the trio's close friendship
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The group pose as a powerful new set of female monarchs set to take Europe by storm in the coming decades. For some, such as Elisabeth, it will mark history, as Belgium have never had a female sovereign before.
"It is indeed a first, making it historic," she told HNL. "It does mean I don’t have an example of a Belgian reigning queen to look up to. A challenge.
"But my gender isn’t the only thing that defines me."
And the princess maintained a positive outlook on her future, commenting: "I'm actually happy knowing what I’ll be doing for the rest of my life.
Princess Elisabeth graduated from her master's degree at Havard last week, and celebrated with parents King Philippe of Belgium and Queen Mathilde
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"Many people live in uncertainty, not knowing where they are headed. There is a certain beauty in knowing: this is my path, and it leads there."
But that has not stopped the princess from raising eyebrows with her academic achievements, despite her fate seemingly written, having previously earned an undergraduate degree in History and Politics from Oxford University before her recent master's degree.
According to the Belgian newspaper Le Soir, she completed her Oxford entrance examination anonymously to ensure her royal status would not influence the admissions decision.
The Palace confirmed she was also selected for an Honorary Award from the Fulbright Program, the US Department of State's international educational exchange initiative.
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