The footage leaves no room for doubt: the young woman in a white hoodie, light jeans, and with loose blonde hair is Infanta Sofía. She appeared briefly in a video clip posted by Forward College in its Instagram Stories. The surprise was considerable. Until now, neither of Queen Letizia’s daughters had been photographed during their studies at UWC Atlantic College in Wales. Even more, they had never appeared on the social media accounts of an educational institution.
To fully appreciate the significance of this event, it’s worth considering it in a broader context. The publication of Infanta Sofía’s image sets an important precedent for the future university life of Princess Leonor, expected to begin in 2026. Although the heir to the throne is older, her military training has postponed her entry into higher education. Thus, it is her younger sister Sofía who is now setting the tone and paving the way.
Infanta Sofía is about to begin studying political science and international relations at Forward College. This young institution came as a surprise to everyone; no one considered it as a possible place for the younger daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia to study. Its distinctive feature is that it allows students to spend three years studying at three different international campuses: Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin. Moreover, each group is limited to just 15 students.
It can be assumed that, in addition to the innovative methodology and curriculum, the small number of students in each class was a decisive factor when choosing Forward College. In such small groups, it is much easier for classmates to support the student’s privacy, especially considering her unique position due to her background. This is also an advantage for her security team, which does not have to deal with large crowds.
Forward College offers another advantage for the safety and privacy of Infanta Sofía: a residence for international students. It is not located in the Chiado district, where classes are held, but in Benfica, about thirty minutes by metro and five minutes from the Monsanto forest park. This is an exclusive complex with 24-hour security, where she can choose between a standard room of 15 square meters and a premium option up to 24 square meters, featuring a private bathroom and kitchenette.
But let’s return to the remarkable video, as no one expected the footage to appear so quickly — classes haven’t even started yet. Right now, it’s what’s called ‘Welcome Week,’ during which students introduce themselves to each other and get settled on campus. The college is actively covering these days on its social media, especially on Instagram. On the first day, we saw an idyllic space with a swimming pool and green lawn, where Infanta Sofia’s class gathered, as well as all the students attentively listening to the founders of Forward College in the main hall. After the lecture, there were snacks and informal conversations, followed by a series of games to break the ice and help students get acquainted. All these moments were captured on video and posted on the university’s official account. The youngest daughter of Letizia appears in two of them.
Her appearance lasts just a few seconds: at the end of one video, Infanta Sofia stands next to a classmate, and in another she sits on a high chair. We’ll see what happens next with images of Infanta Sofia in Lisbon: will they continue to appear spontaneously on the college’s social networks, or will the Royal House decide to share official photos? Welcome Week will run until the 19th, and classes will only begin on the 22nd. The first holidays are not far off: at the end of October comes ‘Reading Week.’ Time will tell whether the Infanta will come to Madrid or Letizia will visit her in Lisbon.
