NEED TO KNOW<\/p>\n
Princess Ariane<\/a>\u00a0of the Netherlands has made an official decision about her educational future.\n<\/p>\n On Wednesday, Sept. 3, the Dutch television network\u00a0Blauw Bloed<\/a> reported, via the Government Information Service, that Ariane, 18, plans to take a gap year following her graduation from the United World College of the Adriatic in Italy back in May.\n<\/p>\n The princess is the youngest of\u00a0King Willem-Alexander<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Queen M\u00e1xima<\/a>‘s three daughters, and she is following in her sisters’ footsteps in taking a year off to travel before pursuing further education.\u00a0Princess Catharina-Amalia<\/a>, 21, and\u00a0Princess Alexia<\/a>, 20, both did the same, as is common for other royals in Europe.\n<\/p>\n After completing a three-year degree in Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (PPLE) at the University of Amsterdam, Princess Catharina-Amalia is returning to the university to begin her Dutch Law course this month. Meanwhile, Princess Alexia\u00a0is studying for a degree in civil engineering\u00a0at University College London (UCL).\n<\/p>\n (L to R) King Willem-Alexander of The Netherlands, Princess Ariane, Queen Maxima, Princess Alexia and Princess Amalia at the Dutch Grand Prix on Aug. 31, 2025.<\/p>\n Patrick van Katwijk\/Getty\u00a0<\/p>\n Princess Ariane plans to spend her gap year traveling; however, the Dutch royals spent some family time together this summer before her sisters returned to their respective studies. They were photographed at the Dutch Grand Prix at Zandvoort Circuit on August 31, 2025, taking in the races before summer’s end.\n<\/p>\n Following her graduation, Princess Ariane took part in a Dutch tradition, raising her school backpack up the flagpole at the Palace Huis ten Bosch, one of the royal family’s three official residences.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n Later that month, her eldest sister, Catherina-Amalia, Princess of Orange, was celebrated for receiving her bachelor’s degree<\/a>. Her parents and sisters were in attendance to celebrate the future Queen of the Netherlands, as was the King’s mother and former monarch, Princess Beatrix.\n<\/p>\n The royal family’s Instagram account shared that the princess had focused on artificial intelligence as a major part of her studies, specifically, “the tensions between European fundamental rights and AI legislation.”\n<\/p>\n Translated from Dutch, the title of her final manuscript was \u201cBeyond Disclosure: Bridging the Gap Between the Artificial Intelligence Act and the Charter of Fundamental Rights with Deepfaked Bodies.\u201d\n<\/p>\n The future queen’s educational path hasn’t always been an easy one. During some of her undergraduate studies at the University of Amsterdam, she secretly lived in Madrid<\/a>, completing her work remotely due to kidnapping threats.\n<\/p>\n Last year, King Willem-Alexander shared his gratitude towards the Spanish royal family<\/a> for helping his daughter and heir maintain her studies during the tumultuous time.\n<\/p>\n “This was made possible by the kind efforts of many of your compatriots and yourselves. A touching demonstration of friendship at a difficult time. I’d like to express my heartfelt thanks to you and everyone else who helped arrange this,” he said during a banquet welcoming the Spanish King and Queen on an official visit.\n<\/p>\n Can’t get enough of PEOPLE’s Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter<\/a> to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!<\/strong>\n<\/p>\n Kate Middleton and Prince William in 2007.<\/p>\n CARL DE SOUZA\/AFP via Getty<\/p>\n Gap years are also famously popular amongst the British royal family. Both\u00a0Prince William<\/a>\u00a0and\u00a0Kate Middleton<\/a> took part in a Raleigh International expedition trip to Chile before moving on to their studies at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.\n<\/p>\n