Infanta Sofia turns 19 today, immersed in her discreet life as a university student in Lisbon. If the youngest daughter of the kings Felipe and Letizia celebrated coming of age at the UWC Atlantic College boarding school in Wales while finishing the second year of high school, now Sofia de Todos los Santos Borbón y Ortiz is once again abroad to face the final stretch of the first year of the degree in Political Science and International Relations.
With an academic path that differs from that of Princess Leonor, since the Royal Household does not contemplate the possibility that she receive military training, the infanta Sofía is «one more student» at Forward College. From the university chosen by the kings Felipe and Letizia for their daughter, they assured at the start of the school year that «there is no special treatment for the infanta, she is treated like the rest of the students, there is no special measure».
Very focused on her studies, the infanta Sofía blows out one more candle as she advances in her role in the Spanish royal family with slow but steady steps. Her first solo institutional act was on December 13, 2024, when she delivered the prizes of the photography contest organized by Patrimonio Nacional that bear her name in the Gallery of the Royal Collections.
Parallel to the discreet life she enjoys in our neighboring country, Felipe VI has already indicated that he counts on his younger daughter to represent the Crown. “The continuity of the monarchy is today represented, logically, by the Princess of Asturias, but also, not to forget, with the company of her sister, Infanta Sofia, who has to help a lot,” the monarch assured during an event in Madrid.
The Infanta Sofia and Her Final Stretch in Lisbon
The Forward College school calendar allowed its students to enjoy the so-called spring break, which Princess Sofia took advantage of to return to Madrid. There she enjoyed family plans, accompanying her parents and her sister Leonor during a procession in Carabanchel. She also took the opportunity to reconnect with some friends from her school days at Santa María de los Rosales.
The Infanta Sofia, in Lisbon.
With her batteries recharged, it is time for Infanta Sofia to face the final stretch of her first year of Political Science and International Relations. In addition to deciding to obtain an extra certificate in Sustainable Entrepreneurship and Social Impact, she must pass some demanding final exams. To that end, she has prepared herself with classes in English (with electives in Portuguese, French, and German) that are taught in small groups of only 15 students.
To prepare these exams, in addition to the social impact projects and oral presentations, Infanta Sofia has coaching sessions where progress is reviewed and goals and aspirations for the following year are set. AI is also important at Forward College, where it is used to accelerate learning and “develop an entrepreneurial mindset and acquire the skills necessary to drive meaningful change in the world,” according to the center.
Infanta Sofia’s Next Objective: Paris
June 19 will be the last day of classes for Infanta Sofia, who will then begin her summer holidays. After that summer period comes the time for another move. The sister of Princess Leonor will spend the second year of her degree in Paris and the third in Berlin. From Forward College they assure that the goal is for the students to acquire knowledge about diverse European cultures, languages and professional contexts.
In the French capital the infanta Sofia will again share campus with students from up to 33 different nationalities, with the Spanish, British, German, Italian and Norwegian being the five most numerous. Located nine minutes by train from the Latin Quarter, the Parisian facilities of Forward College are set among gardens and ecological parks and offer everything from cultural events to student associations and numerous sports.
