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Princess Alexia of the Netherlands will recognize a familiar face on campus when she begins her studies at the UWC Atlantic College after the summer. According to RTL Boulevard, King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima ’s 16-year-old daughter knows Princess Leonor of Spain—who will be attending the same school in Wales—but not very well.
During the Dutch royal family’s annual summer photocall last week, Willem-Alexander and Maxima revealed that it wasn’t until Alexia had already been accepted did they hear that King Felipe and Queen Letizia’s firstborn is also going to be a student at the United World College of the Atlantic.
“That was a total surprise for us. But I’m sure they will get along well and I think it’s fantastic that the Crown Princess of Spain has come through the selection process all on her own and chosen” the King said (via RTL Boulevard). “They didn’t know who it was until she had to appear for an interview at the last minute.”
At the school in the UK, Alexia will be able to experience “different cultures, day and night.” King Willem-Alexander, who completed his secondary education at the United World College of the Atlantic and obtained his International Baccalaureate from there in 1985, said, “I experienced that myself. When you are 16 you know yourself enough, but you are still open like a sponge to take in influences from outside.”
With Alexia leaving the nest and Princess Catharina-Amalia taking a gap year, Queen Maxima is “confident” that her daughters “will do well.” The mom of three said, “They still have a mom and dad at home. If there’s a problem, we’re always available.”