Spanish Princess Sofía's Tight Security in Lisbon: 10 Agents for a 'Very Nice' Young Student

Always attentive, at least ten agents accompany the recent university life of the Spanish infanta in Largo do Barão de Quintela. But in the surrounding areas, in Chiado, there are those who are unaware of her arrival.

Infanta Sofía among colleagues at the entrance of Forward College. Credit: FRANCISCO ROMÃO PEREIRA/OBSERVADOR

She moves among the group of colleagues descending Rua das Flores in Lisbon. Smiling and excited to begin her first academic year in higher education, Infanta Sofía appears this Tuesday morning as a normal girl. With her hair tied in a braid, letting her bangs fall naturally over her face, and wearing a red cardigan, she arrives for another day of orientation week at Forward College, where, over the next three years, she will study Political Science and International Relations. Just this Monday, the college shared on its official Instagram page images of the welcome moments for students, where the youngest daughter of the King and Queen of Spain also appears alongside other students in team-building activities. But the apparatus witnessed by Observador this Tuesday morning shows that Sofía's presence transcends, as expected, normality.

Despite the freedom that entering college—especially in a new city—might suggest, Infanta Sofía will always be well accompanied, with her security always a priority, as proven at the entrance of the educational establishment. As soon as Sofía enters number 71 on Rua das Flores, three agents quickly position themselves near the entrance of that old building. Anyone seeing them on the street would never think they were part of the team that constitutes the security perimeter for the daughter of the King and Queen of Spain. Dressed in civilian clothes, they took care of Largo do Barão de Quintela without anyone noticing them. They will stay there for the following hours, always attentive to who passes by, and ready to protect the infanta at any moment.

Security agents strategically positioned in Largo do Barão de Quintela, among cars, doors, and the garden. Credit: FRANCISCO ROMÃO PEREIRA/OBSERVADOR

It is a team of about 10 people, mostly Spanish agents, who came especially from Madrid, as Observador found out. In the middle, Portuguese is heard: at least two agents from the Public Security Police are present, who, without going into details, advanced that they are also attentive to anyone trying to photograph the infanta. It is impossible to stop the gesture, but whenever possible, they ask for the identification of the photographer in question. Each in their strategic position, there is also someone with a direct view of Rua das Flores from Largo Camões.

Despite the discreet but large apparatus set up in that area, the presence of Infanta Sofía remains timid. In the surroundings, the arrival of the youngest daughter of Felipe VI and Letizia to Bairro Alto is little or not talked about, but right next to the entrance of Forward College, Vasco Lopes still comments on it with his colleague at BD Mania. The employees of the comic book store admit being aware of Sofía's arrival but confess they don't know if they will ever get to see her, "with the security she must have." "But I think she won't have free rein to walk around here. I don't believe it," he says. The colleague recalls the movements after the first news that Sofía was coming to Lisbon: they received "Spanish reporters and the commissioner of the Bairro Alto police station to brief on security." They only fear that if security becomes tight, business will be harmed: "During the WYD, people didn't come here," he exemplifies.

Discussions about Infanta Sofía's arrival at BD Mania and Bairro Alto Creative Hub. Credit: FRANCISCO ROMÃO PEREIRA/OBSERVADOR

Making the way to Rua Luz Soriano, in Bairro Alto, it is there that we find the Bairro Alto Creative Hub. Once home to Diário Popular and the Observador newsroom, the building now hosts the second campus of Forward College. At the entrance, we notice the presence of a car with dark windows, betrayed by the small blue light behind the wheel: it is one of the members of Sofía's security team. As Observador found out, the infanta started the morning in that building, before descending later to Rua das Flores. "I spoke with her and she is super nice. I think everyone liked her, and from the other people I spoke with, everyone said she was nice," revealed to Observador the young man who has been covering the doorman's place in the building since Sunday. "My parents are the owners of the building," he comments, adding: "My mother was very excited about the infanta's coming. But the King and Queen haven't been here yet."

In that post temporarily, he regrets not knowing if in recent weeks Sofía's coming has been a topic of conversation in the surroundings but affirms that among the workers of the Creative Hub it certainly was. Concerned about "the fact that she doesn't feel pursued," he says he has already seen security in the area: "In civilian clothes, but I'm not sure if they really were. But she also doesn't walk very protected, she walks among colleagues."

Mariana Gouveia hopes to serve Infanta Sofía at Panificação da Mercês. Credit: FRANCISCO ROMÃO PEREIRA/OBSERVADOR

In the surroundings, in fact, the conversation has not focused on the new stage in the infanta's life. At the Misericórdia Parish Council, an employee—and resident of Bairro Alto—states that she did not know that Leonor's younger sister was coming to Portugal to study and that it is much less talked about in the area that she is coming to the college located a few streets above. "If I saw her on the street, I wouldn't even know who she is, but I'm happy she is here in Bairro Alto and in Lisbon," also comments an employee at a local hairdresser.

Already Mariana Gouveia, a baker at Panificação da Mercês, reacts enthusiastically to the news that Infanta Sofía will study a few meters from that store. "I knew she was coming to Portugal but I didn't know she was coming here," she confesses, adding that if one day she enters to buy one of the breads or cakes displayed in the window "it would be top, the top of the top." "I know who she is, yes. She is beautiful, my God. Of course a person knows. But if she came here it would be cool, I would be very happy," she says. At the door, a regular customer, and one of the few elderly people who come to Panificação da Mercês, reveals not having heard about the topic, confessing it is not of her interest. In the opposite sense, there are those who do not whisper: Sofía "has to come here to buy bread."