The summer season has come to an end, marking a new chapter in the life of Infanta Sofia. For the younger daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, a special period has begun: three years of study in Political Science and International Relations. She has already spent several days settling in Lisbon at the prestigious Forward College, but official photos of her student life have only just been released. After the first amateur photos featuring her and her sister Leonor appeared on social media in Portugal, the Royal Household decided to share a set of professionally taken images with the public. This photoshoot is reminiscent of the one organized upon her arrival at UWC Atlantic in Wales, where she spent two years earning her International Baccalaureate.
Regular classes for the young student will not begin until September 22. For now, she is going through an adaptation period, getting acquainted with her classmates and new surroundings. In the coming months, Infanta Sofia will be studying at the avant-garde and highly selective institution, which admits only one out of every eleven applicants. Each year of study—which will later continue in Paris and Berlin—costs about 18,500 euros. The program includes subjects such as political science, philosophy, history, and the basics of business.
The royal household has provided the media with seven official photographs. These images capture different days from the infanta’s life. She appears in casual and sporty looks, with her hair down, posing both alone and with new friends. Some of the photos feature iconic locations in the Portuguese capital, easily recognizable as Jerónimos Monastery and the famous fountain in the Belém district. In one shot, she is smiling on a Lisbon observation deck—the city where her sister, Princess Leonor, made her first official international solo visit without their parents.
Other images show her during her first classes in the faculty building, located near the tourist square Luís de Camões. The infanta attentively listens to a lecture, dressed in a white off-shoulder top. All courses are taught in English, though students also have the option to take other languages as electives. The academic institution, established in 2021, occupies the second floor of a building that is currently undergoing renovations. At Sofia’s university center, there are study halls, a library, a kitchen, and a meditation room covering a total area of 550 square meters, as well as a spacious terrace of 200 square meters.
The residence where Infanta Sofía will live during this academic year is located in the Benfica district, near Monsanto Forest Park. This is one of Lisbon’s largest parks, offering a wide range of outdoor activities, from tennis to hiking. The dorm rooms are single occupancy, each with a private bathroom and natural lighting, featuring simple and functional furnishings. In her free time, the king’s daughter can take part in various activities both on and off campus. Forward College students can create interest-based clubs: if their proposal is approved, they receive a budget and independently organize events. Previous students have already established clubs for surfing, reading, and photography. Additionally, the campus organizes social events such as winter holiday celebrations and a charity ball.
The Chiado district, where her faculty is located, is considered the most elegant area of Lisbon. It immerses visitors in the atmosphere of the Belle Époque and is perfect for having a coffee, shopping, or taking a stroll before heading out for the evening to the neighboring Bairro Alto. Most of the buildings here date back to the late 18th century, though many were renovated in the 1990s under a project by architect Álvaro Siza Vieira, a Pritzker Prize laureate, after a devastating fire in 1988. This luxurious setting will be home to the Infanta while she builds her academic future, guided by the principles of Forward College: world-class diplomas, a unique multicultural environment (with students from 33 countries), a personalized approach to learning, and the development of leadership skills.
