Infanta Sofía Completes Her Academic Journey in Wales in the Presence of Her Parents

Infanta Sofía, the youngest daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, will conclude her two-year stay at UWC Atlantic College in Wales with an academic graduation ceremony this Saturday. In the presence of her parents and in the absence of her sister, Princess Leonor, Sofía will graduate with an International Baccalaureate, achieving impeccable grades. This marks the end of a brilliant educational chapter and the beginning of a new phase for the Infanta, who will not follow in her sister Leonor's footsteps in the military but will face new responsibilities.

The royal couple travelled privately to the United Kingdom to support their youngest daughter, but Princess Leonor's absence was inevitable as she has been aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano for five months, having also studied at the same institution.

The event, known as the 'Leavers Ceremony', was followed by a fellowship lunch and was available to stream via YouTube on UWC's official account, a novelty not seen during Princess Leonor's graduation.

Infanta Sofía, who turned 18 on April 29, spent two years at the 12th-century San Donato Castle, a legendary fortress by the sea, surrounded by forests, valleys, orchards, and gardens in Glamorgan County. It is the same exclusive Welsh coastal campus where her elder sister, the Princess of Asturias, graduated in May 2023.

However, Princess Leonor was thousands of miles away this Saturday, in Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, nearing the end of her penultimate stop on her training cruise aboard the Spanish Navy's training ship.

Unlike the clichéd graduations often seen in films, Infanta Sofía and her classmates did not wear caps or gowns but received their diplomas from their teachers, signed by the school's director, Naheed Bardai. "This diploma certifies that the president and director of UWC Atlantic confirm that Sofía de Borbón y Ortiz is a member of the class of 2025 and has been entrusted with using her talents and gifts for peace and a sustainable future," reads the academic document presented to the royal student.

During Princess Leonor's graduation, her tutor dedicated the following words to her: "Your love for deep conversations knows no bounds. Your determined passion for learning, understanding others, and exploring diverse perspectives has truly enriched your experience at UWC. We will miss your sense of humour."

The future education of the royal couple's younger daughter remains unclear. As indicated by the Royal Household on April 8, "the possibility of military training" for Infanta Sofía is not currently being considered. "Regarding next year, several options are still being considered," explained the Royal Household.