Meredith Kile is a Digital News Writer-Editor at PEOPLE. She has been an entertainment and political journalist for more than a decade, previously working for Entertainment Tonight, VICE and Al Jazeera America.
Some of Europe's royal families are celebrating new college graduates!
Princess Ariane of the Netherlands celebrated the completion of her exams at the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy on May 24, alongside her parents, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima.
The official Instagram account of the Dutch royal house shared a picture of the 18-year-old princess with her proud parents, as well as a photo of her holding up her certificate. Instead of the American tradition of wearing a cap and gown, Ariane sported a chic maxi dress with hoop earrings to collect her diploma.
"Today the school marks the end of the exam period with the traditional Graduation and Academic Year Closing Ceremony," the caption read in Dutch. "The results of the exams are expected at the beginning of July."
As the King and Queen's youngest daughter, Ariane is currently third in line to the throne behind her sisters, Princess Catharina-Amalia, 21, and Princess Alexia, 19.
The royal family of Spain also had a graduate to celebrate, as Princess Sofia, 18, completed her International Baccalaureate studies at United World College of the Atlantic on May 24.
An Instagram post on the Spanish royal family's account noted that Sofia's parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, attended the ceremony alongside the families of other graduates. They posed for the requisite proud family photos, even sharing candid shots of the King and Queen embracing their daughter. Sofia and her mom twinned in bold red outfits, with the graduate walking across the stage in a jumpsuit with an asymmetrical off-shoulder neckline.
Sofia's older sister, Princess Leonor - the heir to the Spanish throne - was unable to attend her graduation, as she is currently completing her Naval Military Academy training aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano. However, the Instagram post noted that Leonor was able to call Sofia to congratulate her following the ceremony.
Both Ariane and Sofia's older sisters, Princess Alexia of the Netherlands and Princess Leonor of Spain, also studied at the school. Housed in a 12th-century castle on the coast of Wales, UWC Atlantic has teasingly been referred to as a "Hippie Hogwarts" due to its "ancient atmosphere and somewhat eclectic course offerings."
Elsewhere in Europe, another royal daughter announced her plans for continuing education.
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway plans to travel to Australia to pursue a three-year undergraduate degree at the University of Sydney, with a focus on international relations and political economy.
"The Princess will be studying full-time and reside in a student residence on campus," the Norwegian Palace said in a press release on May 26. "Her Royal Highness looks forward to dedicating herself to her studies in the years to come."
Princess Ingrid Alexandra, 21, is the eldest child of Crown Prince Haakon and the second child of Crown Princess Mette-Marit, placing her second in line for the Norwegian throne behind her father, who will succeed his father, King Harald.
Her decision to study abroad comes during a time of turmoil for the royal family, as her older step-brother, Marius Borg Høiby, was arrested last August and is currently facing multiple charges of rape, abuse, reckless behavior, violations of a restraining order and more. He has denied all allegations.
Borg Høiby was four years old when his mother, the crown princess, married the future king of Norway. He has never had a royal title, nor a role as working royal.
He is, however, occasionally included in official family portraits alongside his parents, Princess Ingrid Alexandra, and their younger brother, Prince Sverre Magnus, 19 - such as these photos taken to celebrate Ingrid Alexandra's 18th birthday in June 2022.