Prince Emmanuel of Belgium celebrates his 21st birthday with new portrait

Prince Emmanuel is celebrating turning 21 –  a new portrait has been released to mark his special milestone. 

The third child of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium was seen in a previously unseen photograph taken at the Royal Palace of Laeken near Brussels.

Looking directly at the camera with a serious expression, the Prince wore a checked blazer over a blue shirt and chinos, standing in sunlit woods, captured by photographer Bas Bogaerts and shared on the royal family's social media accounts, @MonarchieBe.

"Hip hip hip, hooray! Prince Emmanuel is celebrating his 21st birthday today!" the Palace captioned the photo, while royal fans rushed to wish him a "happy birthday".

© ROYAL PALACE BRUSSELS - BAS BOGAERTS via Getty

"You've grown into a very handsome young man," one person commented.

Prince Emmanuel's DJ career after switching universities

While he's a student, Prince Emmanuel also has a passion for DJing, once described by his mother, Queen Mathilde, as "just a bit of fun among friends".

However, he has released two music singles, proving he's very serious about the venture.

Last July, he released his first song, "Wonder," and launched a second single, titled "Hope", this September.

© BELGA MAG/AFP via Getty Images

In March, the Prince made a major decision in his education, leaving his bachelor's degree in International Business Management and Marketing at the UCLL University College in Leuven after one semester.

Instead, he began a French-language business development course at ISTEC in Brussels, the Royal Palace confirmed to HLN at the time.

His new course is more practical, focusing on work experience and offering internships.

It's not the first time Emmanuel, who has dyslexia, has changed schools, as he moved to attend the Eureka School in Leuven when he was growing up.

Prince Emmanuel's three siblings – and his hobbies

Prince Emmanuel is third in line to the Belgian throne. 

The heir apparent is his sister Princess Elisabeth, 24, who is a Harvard and Oxford graduate.

© Getty Images

His older brother is Prince Gabriel, 21, who is pursuing a traditional military education, while younger sister Eleonore, 18, began studying at University College Utrecht in September.

Emmanuel was last pictured at a public engagement during Belgium's National Day in July, alongside his three siblings.

Alongside his DJing hobby, he's also said to enjoy nature and sports, including skiing, tennis, windsurfing, and athletics.

He's a football fan too – attending the match between the Belgian national team and Romania at the Euros in 2024.