Princesses Gather at the 'Modern-Day Hogwarts'... "You Have to Leave Your Rolex at Home"

European Royals Prefer Admission to UK UWC Atlantic College
Excessive Display of Wealth Prohibited...Luxury Clothing and Watches Banned

UWC Atlantic College in the UK, famous as a "school for royalty and nobles," has recently been bustling with visits from European royals. This is due to parents coming to celebrate the graduation of princesses.

On the 22nd (local time), The New York Times (NYT) reported on the graduation ceremony at UWC Atlantic College on the 20th, attended by Princess Alexia (17), the second daughter of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands, and Princess Leonor (17), the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI of Spain.

King Felipe VI of Spain, Princess Leonor, Princess Sofia, Queen Letizia (from left).
Photo by EPA Yonhap News

According to the report, the princesses behaved like any other high school students, posing next to their parents or taking selfies. Prior to them, Princess Elisabeth of Belgium graduated from this school in 2021, and Princess Sofia, the younger sister of Princess Leonor, is scheduled to enroll in the same school this September.

Located in St Donat's Castle, built in the 12th century, UWC Atlantic College is a boarding school favored by royals, millionaires, and intellectuals from various countries. The school was founded in 1962 by German educator Kurt Hahn, and following his vision, it educates students to understand diverse cultures, religions, and values from around the world through school life.

Additionally, the school is nicknamed the "Hippies' Hogwarts" due to its location in a castle and its progressive and radical educational policies. Hogwarts is the wizarding school attended by the protagonists in the novel "Harry Potter."

Princess Leonor, the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI of Spain.
[Image source=EPA Yonhap News]

The tuition fee is a considerable $82,000 for two years (approximately 100 million KRW), but NYT explained that many students receive financial aid, and some even receive full scholarships.

The school's website states its main mission as "bringing together young people from around the world to foster an atmosphere of peaceful coexistence among cultures and nations."

One of the school's graduates, Lewis Callaghan, a Middle East correspondent for the UK Sunday Times, said about the school, "It makes you get used to living with people who are completely different from yourself."

UWC Atlantic College. [Photo by EPA Yonhap News]

Another characteristic of Atlantic College is its prohibition of "excessive displays of wealth (E.D.W.s)." NYT interpreted this as "banning expensive watches and luxury clothing," meaning "you have to leave your Rolex at home." Besides this, students reportedly leave school at 1 p.m. to engage in volunteer work or enjoy activities such as kayaking, archery, and farming.