A lonely graduation and a mysterious future: Infanta Sofía will not receive military training.
For the first time, the academic paths of the daughters of the Spanish kings are diverging.
BarcelonaThese are months of important events that will shape Infanta Sofía's future. In two weeks, she will come of age, a month later she will graduate from UWC Atlantic College—an international baccalaureate school located in South Wales—and shortly after that, she will have to decide how she wants to direct her academic life starting in September. Until now, Felipe and Letizia's two daughters have followed a similar academic path: attending the same schools and completing the same bachelor's degrees. But now, everything suggests that for the first time, their paths will begin to diverge.
No grand celebration for the Infanta's coming of age, no family reunion for her graduation, and no military formation. Although no official communication has been made about how the heir to the throne's sister will live in the coming months, everything indicates that no pompous event will be organized to celebrate any of Sofía's personal and academic events. As for the anniversary, which will be on Tuesday, April 29, the Infanta will have barely arrived in St. Donats, the town where the UWC Atlantic College castle is located, to take her final exams for her last year of high school. Therefore, it seems she will spend her birthday in private and, if anything, with her classmates.
Leonor's 18th birthday was quite different. For the eldest daughter of the monarchs, coming of age meant accepting her position as heir to the throne with a kiss on the flag and the oath of allegiance to the Constitution in front of Les Corts, with the institution's balconies filled with Spanish flags in celebration. Then the royal family did gather for the occasion.
A lackluster graduation
It doesn't seem like she'll have any luck a month later, when she celebrates graduation, while in Elionor's case, a photo shoot and a famous family selfie taken by Letícia were leaked. When Sofía puts on her cap, her sister will be on her way to the last staircase of the training cruise.Elcano, in New York, and her father will be at the inauguration of the Ecuadorian president who is elected in this weekend's elections. Therefore, everything suggests that Leticia will attend.
As for Sofía's future, new information reinforces the distance between her professional career and that of her sister. The Royal Household has confirmed that the younger sister will not undergo military training, as Leonor is doing as heir to the throne. The news is not particularly surprising, since as an infanta she is not required to train at a military academy (as the heirs are, as future supreme commanders of the armed forces). However, it does open the door to speculation about the training Sofía will receive starting next year. According to reports, it would not be significant if she continued her studies abroad in an attempt to preserve her privacy.