artikelen van

May-Britt Mobach

It was back when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were still together, and Kanye actually seemed like a stable person. Okay, except for that over-the-top wedding. But then her pink-hued world suddenly turned pitch-black, because Kim Kardashian was brutally robbed in her hotel room in Paris. Not a case of: celebrity out, burglars break in. No—Kim was in bed when five armed men tied her up, held a gun to her head, and robbed her of millions of euros worth of jewelry. Why is the trial only happening now? The Kim Kardashian robbery in Paris took place in October 2016 (yes, that’s really almost ten years ago). The French justice system isn’t exactly known for its speed: think more croissant here, café crème there, and then finally reviewing the case files. But seriously—with twelve suspects, hundreds of witness statements, and an international celebrity as the victim, the public prosecutor clearly didn’t want to make any mistakes. That’s why it’s taken until 2025 for the case to finally go to court. Will Kim Kardashian testify? Big question: Will we see Kim Kardashian in the courtroom? Probably not in person. She has previously shared how emotionally traumatizing the robbery was. She genuinely thought she was going to die. During her testimony she said, “I literally felt like I was saying goodbye.” So no exaggeration there. It's expected that she will give her statement in writing or via video link. What was stolen again? Okay, flashback to the loot. The robbers made off with jewelry worth around 10 million euros. The biggest item? A 20-carat diamond ring that Kim had just received from Kanye. That ring alone was worth about 4 million euros. And although the robbers managed to sell off a few items (on the black market, of course), most of it has never been recovered. Who was behind the robbery? One bizarre detail: the robbery was carried out by a group of retired criminals. The press dubbed them The Grandpa Gang, because they were all over sixty. Seriously. One of them was even nicknamed Omar the Old. And in case you’re picturing something like Ocean’s Eleven with walkers—these men were anything but slow. They planned everything meticulously, disguised themselves as police officers, and had a detailed escape plan. What sentence is expected? Prosecutors in France are demanding severe sentences: some face up to 20 years in prison, especially the man who restrained Kim during the robbery. The rest slightly less, depending on their role. In France, they consider not only the physical violence but also the psychological impact. And Kim has since suffered from anxiety disorders, no longer trusts hotels, and never travels without security. How did this change Kim’s life? The Kim Kardashian robbery in Paris marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. No more flashy jewelry on Instagram. No more sharing her live locations. Since then, she’s been much more cautious (well, relatively speaking). She also started focusing more on social justice and even studied law. Like a Kim 2.0: less bling, more brains. 5 Facts About the Robbery You (Probably) Didn’t Know Kim begged the robbers: “Let me live, I have children.” She was alone because her bodyguard was out with Kourtney. The robbers took her phone—with all her unpublished content. Kim was tied up with duct tape and placed in the bathtub. One of the perpetrators wrote an open letter to Kim expressing remorse. Read more about the jewelry heist and what’s happened to Kim since (BBC)
By
It was back when Kim Kardashian and Kanye West were still together, and Kanye actually seemed like a stable person. Okay, except for that over-the-top wedding. But then her pink-hued world suddenly turned pitch-black, because Kim Kardashian was brutally robbed in her hotel room in Paris. Not a case of: celebrity out, burglars break in. No—Kim was in bed when five armed men tied her up, held a gun to her head, and robbed her of millions of euros worth of jewelry. Why is the trial only happening now? The Kim Kardashian robbery in Paris took place in October 2016 (yes, that’s really almost ten years ago). The French justice system isn’t exactly known for its speed: think more croissant here, café crème there, and then finally reviewing the case files. But seriously—with twelve suspects, hundreds of witness statements, and an international celebrity as the victim, the public prosecutor clearly didn’t want to make any mistakes. That’s why it’s taken until 2025 for the case to finally go to court. Will Kim Kardashian testify? Big question: Will we see Kim Kardashian in the courtroom? Probably not in person. She has previously shared how emotionally traumatizing the robbery was. She genuinely thought she was going to die. During her testimony she said, “I literally felt like I was saying goodbye.” So no exaggeration there. It's expected that she will give her statement in writing or via video link. What was stolen again? Okay, flashback to the loot. The robbers made off with jewelry worth around 10 million euros. The biggest item? A 20-carat diamond ring that Kim had just received from Kanye. That ring alone was worth about 4 million euros. And although the robbers managed to sell off a few items (on the black market, of course), most of it has never been recovered. Who was behind the robbery? One bizarre detail: the robbery was carried out by a group of retired criminals. The press dubbed them The Grandpa Gang, because they were all over sixty. Seriously. One of them was even nicknamed Omar the Old. And in case you’re picturing something like Ocean’s Eleven with walkers—these men were anything but slow. They planned everything meticulously, disguised themselves as police officers, and had a detailed escape plan. What sentence is expected? Prosecutors in France are demanding severe sentences: some face up to 20 years in prison, especially the man who restrained Kim during the robbery. The rest slightly less, depending on their role. In France, they consider not only the physical violence but also the psychological impact. And Kim has since suffered from anxiety disorders, no longer trusts hotels, and never travels without security. How did this change Kim’s life? The Kim Kardashian robbery in Paris marked the beginning of a new chapter in her life. No more flashy jewelry on Instagram. No more sharing her live locations. Since then, she’s been much more cautious (well, relatively speaking). She also started focusing more on social justice and even studied law. Like a Kim 2.0: less bling, more brains. 5 Facts About the Robbery You (Probably) Didn’t Know Kim begged the robbers: “Let me live, I have children.” She was alone because her bodyguard was out with Kourtney. The robbers took her phone—with all her unpublished content. Kim was tied up with duct tape and placed in the bathtub. One of the perpetrators wrote an open letter to Kim expressing remorse. Read more about the jewelry heist and what’s happened to Kim since (BBC)
By
If there was one small disappointing point about King's Day 2025, it was that Princess Ariane was missing. And some things are not foreign to princesses either. Like having to buck hard for your exams. Even if you are at an expensive private school with Harry Potter allure, because at this particular school our princess now chews the back of her pencils to pieces.

The princess in Italy: where is Ariane actually studying?

Princess Ariane is spending her final school year at the United World College Adriatic (UWC Adriatic for short) in Duino, a picturesque village in northern Italy. A place you'd more likely expect to see in an Italian movie than as the setting for final exams. The school is part of a network of prestigious UWC schools worldwide, known for their international atmosphere and ideals such as sustainability and global citizenship.

What does a year of UWC Adriatic cost?

Shake that piggy bank, because a year of study at UWC Adriatic costs about €40,000 a year. Fortunately, many scholarships are available to mere mortals, but the royal purse presumably doesn't have to worry about that. For this amount, you not only get top-notch education, but also a lifestyle that we still can't stop talking about.

Who went before Ariane?

Fun fact: Ariane is not the first royal to finish her school career at a UWC school. Her sister, Crown Princess Amalia, attended UWC Atlantic in Wales. And royal children from Norway, Spain and Belgium are also fans of these special schools. So perhaps Ariane will soon be able to spar with other future heads of state at a reunion - something about networking for the advanced.

What does a school day look like?

A typical day for Princess Ariane starts early. Think 07:30 up (without a royal wake-up call) and then breakfast in the common dining room. Then she dives into her class schedule, which is packed with subjects like Global Politics, Biology and Theater. Outside of classes, everything revolves around projects, volunteering and cultural activities. Think debates, yoga classes on the beach and evenings full of Italian poetry. Oh, and don't forget the Theory of Knowledge, where you get to philosophically philosophize about.... basically everything.

When does Ariane have exams?

Princess Ariane will take her IB (International Baccalaureate) exams in May 2025. This is slightly different from the Dutch final exam; much more international and demanding, experts say. The exams will be followed by a festive graduation ceremony in June. Chances are there will be some orange family members in the audience glowing. (With perhaps a tear of pride).

Where does Princess Ariane live?

Ariane lives in a dorm in the campus area with fellow students from all over the world. So not a palace, but certainly a cozy, international setting. She shares each room with a roommate, and dinner is usually served in the large cafeteria. Privacy? Mwah. But that's where you learn to work together, something that will come in handy in her future duties as a princess.

Ariane's favorite spots in the neighborhood

Although she is busy studying, Princess Ariane naturally goes out sometimes. According to insiders, her favorite places are: Trieste: a charming port city full of coffee shops, bookstores and pasta bars. @sarasspace What to do in Trieste? Leave your suggestions in the comments 🥰 #trst #trieste #italy #summer #daytrip Perfect summer daytrip from Ljubljana 🚗🇮🇹 #europe #thingstodoinitaly #secretitaly ♬ im the drama - grossfades Castello di Miramare: a magical white castle by the sea - perfect for a Sunday stroll (and Insta-worthy photos). Beach of Sistiana: where students spend summers relaxing, swimming and playing beach volleyball. And yes: these places are public, so if you happen to be in the neighborhood, you can sit on the same stone as our princess. Just be sure to wave if you spot Ariane.

What makes UWC Adriatic so special?

International community: students from more than 80 countries. Italian dream setting: right on the Adriatic Sea. Strong in culture: From opera nights to street art workshops. Sustainability: Own vegetable gardens, zero-waste initiatives. Volunteering: For example, Ariane helps the elderly in the neighborhood or gets involved in refugee projects.

Where were her sisters in school?

Princess Amalia: Amalia attended her senior year at UWC Atlantic College in Wales. A beautiful castle-like estate on the coast, where sustainability and international understanding are highly valued. Fun fact: Atlantic College is also known as the "Hogwarts of hippies. Princess Alexia: Alexia also chose UWC Atlantic College. During her time at school there, we saw her pop up regularly in spontaneous photos of school parties and activities. Alexia earned her International Baccalaureate degree in 2023. Image: Wikipedia
By