Princess Sofia's First Day at School in Lisbon: A Royal Student's Journey Amid Tight Security

Princess Sofia's Arrival in Lisbon

Infanta Sofia was spotted last Tuesday in the streets of downtown Lisbon, looking like a normal student. Wearing a red cardigan, her hair in a braid with bangs falling naturally, she walked among the youth at Forward College, where she will study Political Science and International Relations next year. The school is located at number 71 Rua das Flores in Lisbon, near Cais do Sodré, but the actual study location is higher up, in the heart of Bairro Alto, in the former headquarters of Observador—which was also once the newsroom of the defunct Diário Popular.

A Nostalgic Visit to the Old Newsroom

When journalists Sâmia Fiates and Diogo Ventura first visited the school days before classes started, they found a nearly deserted building. The elevator was broken, the reception empty, and Sâmia ended up manually turning on each light in the meditation room—a task more complicated than it seemed. This lack of security was surprising for an elite school, with no protocol preparations for royal visits.

Diogo Ventura felt nostalgic in a space full of memories, recalling his first internship there. He interviewed João Porfírio, the Photography editor, in the tile room—once a large meeting area. He remembered the crowded newsroom, cluttered desks, and especially the beloved terrace with its beer machine, essential for Friday 'Sagres hours' at 6 PM, birthday parties, and other events.

Although the tradition continues in the new garage at the Alvalade facilities, the memory of that outdoor area remains, kept almost intact by the school. The ceiling lights are also preserved, but everything else has been transformed into minimalist spaces with few tables, white walls, and classroom boards, even in the magnificent tile room. Downstairs, the old multimedia room is now a meditation space with poufs and soft lighting—ideal for relaxing or napping, an irony for those who spent chaotic days there on the phone.

Following the Princess on Her First Day

Five days later, journalists Carolina Sobral and Francisco Romão Pereira followed Infanta Sofia on her first day of classes, which started at the school's main building. They arrived late due to a metro strike, detoured to BD Mania, and there, among comic book shelves, they unexpectedly encountered the princess descending Rua das Flores. Carolina made eye contact, and in an instant, Sofia discreetly moved to the shadow of the wall and entered the building.

Four of the approximately ten plainclothes Spanish security agents accompanying the princess approached Carolina and Francisco, demanding to see photos and calling a discreet but attentive PSP officer who asked for their documents. Carolina felt like she was in a spy movie: every step watched, every glance measured. Most people they spoke to—mostly tourists and local shopkeepers—were unaware of the princess's presence in Lisbon. However, two security agents kept a close watch on them, like silent sentinels. Near the faculty, one even circled around them with a coffee cup.

As the day progressed, the initially stern security guards began to loosen up, engaging in small talk about Madrid, their love for Lisbon, food, and the weather. Between nerves and smiles, Carolina and Francisco joked that they must have their photos on some 'wanted' list by now.

An Invitation and Closing Notes

We don't want any trouble: both the princess and her protectors are invited to a Friday 'Sagres hour' at 6 PM in Alvalade to see our new space—though it doesn't have a terrace.

Two good news items to close this week and this newsletter:

1. For the second consecutive month, Observador leads the national podcast ranking, Podscope by Marktest. Our podcasts were listened to 2.2 million times in August, with Contra-Corrente being the ninth most heard nationally, with over 200,000 downloads.

2. The Portuguese Society of Authors elected Pop Up from Rádio Observador as the best radio program of 2024. This pop culture show, one of the oldest on Rádio Observador, debuted in the first week of broadcasts in June 2019, featuring hosts like Tiago Pereira, Maria Ramos Silva, Bruno Vieira Amaral, and Pedro Boucherie Mendes.