A Royal Student in Lisbon
A week after the start of the academic year, the Spanish Royal House has shared the first official photographs of Infanta Sofía studying in Lisbon. Sofía has begun her course in Political Science and International Relations at Forward College, a unique institution that plans for one year of studies in Lisbon, followed by years in Paris and Berlin. The images, released on September 15, show the daughter of the King and Queen of Spain both in the classroom and exploring iconic tourist spots in the Portuguese capital.
Exploring Lisbon's Landmarks
In some of the photos, Sofía is seen in front of the Jerónimos Monastery and posing in the Jardim da Praça do Império in Belém. Another image captures her at the São Jorge Castle viewpoint, wearing a red jacket—the same one she was spotted in last Tuesday when arriving at the college's facilities on Rua das Flores in Chiado. There's also a picture of the infanta strolling through the Martim Moniz area with other students from the school. Two additional images show Sofía in the Forward College classroom with her peers.
Academic and Cultural Immersion
Sofía started her academic year in Lisbon last Monday and is currently in an orientation period that includes activities like surf lessons, gastronomy classes, and other experiences with first-year classmates. In an interview, a co-founder of the college emphasized the importance of these experiences: "Our students live and study together for three years, and we believe this is crucial for a holistic approach and skill development. It will make a difference in their future to have lived with a community of people from 40 nationalities in three different countries, adapting to diverse cultures."
Breaking Royal Traditions
By choosing this academic path, Sofía is breaking with some royal traditions. Unlike her older sister, Princess Leonor, who attended UWC Atlantic College in Wales and is now undergoing military training, Sofía is the first to pursue an undergraduate degree outside of Spain. King Felipe VI, for instance, studied Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid before earning a master's degree at Georgetown University in the U.S.
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