Spanish
London.- The King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, attended this Saturday the graduation ceremony of their youngest daughter, Infanta Sofía, at the UWC Atlantic College of Wales, where she finished her International Baccalaureate studies after two years.
Infanta Sofía, who turned eighteen on April 29th, is one of the 195 students graduating this year –61 men and 134 women–, who come from 58 nationalities and have 29 different first languages.
The Spanish Royal House released photographs in which Felipe VI and Letizia are observed in the vicinity of the school next to their daughter Sofía, who chose a red jumpsuit for the occasion.
At the moment of going on stage to receive her certificate of studies, the tutor of UWC College said that "Sofía's journey has been marked by her perseverance and remarkable personal growth; she has gone from being an empathetic and affectionate listener by nature to being an accredited 'supportive companion'. A true friend in difficult times, we will miss Sofía's warmth and vibrant spirit very much".
The graduation, known in the school as 'Leavers celebration', takes place with the participation of the students and their families of this school, whose headquarters is San Donato castle, from the 12th century, located 35 kilometers from Cardiff and about 270 from London.
The center, which houses students of numerous different nationalities and religions, belongs to the organization United World Colleges (UWC, in its English acronym), a network whose 'leitmotiv' is "to promote international understanding through education".
Her sister and heir to the Spanish crown, Princess Leonor, was not present at the ceremony, as she was in the Dominican Republic as part of her voyage with the Spanish Navy training ship 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano', which was stopping in Santo Domingo.
On May 20, 2023, the eldest daughter of Felipe VI and Letizia celebrated her graduation at the same Welsh school, where she also completed the International Baccalaureate before beginning her military training.
"Leonor, your love for constructive conversations knows no bounds. Your unwavering passion for learning, understanding people, and exploring diverse perspectives has enriched your experience at UWC. We will miss your humor," two representatives of the center expressed about the princess as she received her diploma.
Following in the footsteps of her older sister, in August 2023, Sofía arrived at this educational center to study for her high school diploma after having completed her secondary education at a private school in Madrid.
Following this Saturday's graduation, the infanta's academic path will differ from that of the princess, as the Royal House does not contemplate the possibility of her receiving military training.
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The decision she will make regarding her university studies is not yet known, since, as sources from the Zarzuela Palace recently explained, she was considering several options for next year.
Sofía de Todos los Santos Borbón y Ortiz, born on April 29, 2007, in Madrid, is an infanta of Spain, the second daughter of the King and Queen, and therefore second in the line of succession after Princess Leonor, and has the treatment of Royal Highness.
