Prince Gabriel was born at 1:15 am
CET on 20 August 2003 in the Erasmus Hospital in Anderlecht, Brussels.[2] He was christened at
Ciergnon Castle, one of the royal family's summer residences, on 25 October 2003 by Cardinal
Godfried Danneels, the
Archbishop of Mechelen-Brussels.[3] His godparents are his maternal uncle Count Charles-Henri
d'Udekem d'Acoz (born 1985); and his paternal second cousin, Baroness Maria Christina von
Freyberg-Eisenberg [
de] (born 1965). King Philippe stated in an interview that he finds the name Gabriel, which is new in the royal family, not only beautiful, short and powerful, but also the name unites the three major religious traditions. He was named after his great-uncle King
Baudouin of Belgium, his maternal uncle and godfather Count Charles-Henri d'Udekem d'Acoz and
Virgin Mary (traditional name in Catholic royalty).[2]
Gabriel was a student at
St John Berchmans College until 2019,[4] where the instruction is in
Dutch, in the
Marolles district of Brussels, the capital of Belgium.[1] From 2019 to 2021, he finished his secondary education at the
International School of Brussels (ISB), an English-language private school in
Watermael-Boitsfort.[4] From September 2021, he is taking a 1-year preparatory A-Level course in mathematics, further mathematics, and physics at The National Mathematics and Science College, a
STEM-oriented sixth form college in
Warwickshire, England.[1] In August 2022, the royal family announced that Gabriel will attend the
Royal Military Academy of Belgium, studying social and military sciences in Dutch and will be a part of the 162nd class.[5] In September 2022, the Prince received his blue beret and trained under the name "Gabriël van Saksen-Coburg".[6][7] Gabriel speaks Dutch, French and English.[1]
In August 2013, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe to a
European Hockey Championship match in
Boom, in which Belgium played (and won) against Germany.[8] Prince Gabriel read the prayer intentions at his great-aunt
Queen Fabiola's funeral in December 2014.[9] He with his mother Queen Mathilde and sister Princess Elisabeth attended the finals of the
Queen Elisabeth Music Competition on 12 May 2018.[10] During the
COVID-19 pandemic, Prince Gabriel had conversations over the phone with elderly people in residential care centers in order to encourage and support them.[1] In December 2020, Prince Gabriel with his sister Princess Eléonore volunteered at a convenience store and a warehouse in
Ghent.[11] In June 2021, Prince Gabriel accompanied his father King Philippe on a visit to the 15Wing Air Transport at Military Airport
Melsbroek.[12] In April 2023, Prince Gabriel accompanied King Philippe on a visit to
French Guiana, where they witnessed the launch of the Ariane 5 rocket from the Kourou Space Center.[13][14] In May 2023, the Prince attended a garden party in honour of his father's reign's tenth anniversary.[15] On 21 July 2023, he and his sister Elisabeth were among the fellow students of the Royal Military Academy Belgium to parade during the Belgian National Day.[16] He has been involved in the Scouts since he was eight years old and has become a patrol leader in the last few years.[1]
As a Prince of Belgium and a descendant of King
Leopold I, the Prince is entitled to use a
coat of arms which was stipulated in the Royal Decree of King
Philippe in 2019.[21]
^Somers, Anne-France (26 October 2003).
"Baptême princier pour Gabriel" [Princely baptism for Gabriel]. dhnet.be (in French).
Archived from the original on 7 May 2023.
^
ab"Waarom Elisabeth 'Van België' heette in het leger en Gabriël 'Van Saksen-Coburg' is" [Why Elisabeth was called 'Van Belgium' in the army and Gabriel is 'Van Saksen-Coburg']. HLN (in Dutch). 30 September 2022.
Archived from the original on 1 November 2022. Retrieved 4 April 2023. prins Gabriël (19) is voor zijn legeropleiding ingeschreven als 'leerling-officier Van Saksen-Coburg'. [Prince Gabriel (19) is registered for his army training as an 'Officer Cadet Van Saksen-Coburg'.]
^"Prins Gabriël wordt ook international" [Prince Gabriel also becomes international]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 19 August 2013.
Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
^"Prins Gabriël stopt met hockey" [Prince Gabriel retires from hockey]. Het Nieuwsblad (in Dutch). 24 August 2013.
Archived from the original on 7 May 2023. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
^"Koninklijk besluit betreffende de verlening van de titel van Prins of Prinses van België" [Royal Decree conferring the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium] (in Dutch). Moniteur Belge. 12 November 2015.
Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. ... de titel van Prins of Prinses van België volgend op hun voornaam en voor zover ze die voeren, hun familienaam en hun dynastieke titel, en voor de andere titels die hun rechtens hun ascendentie toekomen. Hun voornaam wordt voorafgegaan door het predicaat Zijne of Hare Koninklijke Hoogheid. [... the title of Prince or Princess of Belgium following their first name and, insofar as they use it, their family name and their dynastic title, and for the other titles to which they are entitled by right of ascendancy. Their first name is preceded by the predicate His or Her Royal Highness.]
^Mieze, Marta (1 October 2022).
"Belgian Prince Gabriel completes military initiation". The Brussels Times.
Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2023. The training is intended to immerse young future-office for a professional career in the armed forces and provide basic military skills. 190 students ultimately passed the training and received their symbolic blue berets on Friday, which officialises their new title of cadet.
^Delorme, Philippe (28 August 2022).
"Gabriel de Belgique, le service pour héritage" [Gabriel from Belgium, the inheritance service]. Point de Vue (in French).
Archived from the original on 31 May 2023. Retrieved 31 May 2023. Deuxième dans l'ordre de succession – qui fait désormais fi de la loi salique –, Gabriel sera donc élève-officier, interne durant une année à l'École royale militaire (ERM),... [Second in the order of succession – which now ignores the Salic law –, Gabriel will therefore be a cadet, an intern for a year at the Royal Military School (ERM), ...]