Infanta Sofia's News and Events 1, Sep 2023 -

[kathia_sophia]

The Spanish monarchy is new, flexible, and adapting. Felipe explicitly stated Sofia’s role will be to "help [Leonor]", which is more than we hear of spares in most countries and doesn’t sound as though they’re planning to cut her loose.

I am sure Sofia is fine with not having to be queen and having a touch more freedom so those are points to envy right there.

It just remains to be seen whether the “help” is official or unofficial, or even both.

I see. Well, if her role is to "help Leonor", then it means she'll have a very prominent role, be it official or unofficial. But despite that, Leonor doesn't need any "help" right now, as both are on their formative years. Which means Sofía is free to choose her educational path as of now, as it is the perfect time for her to be "free" and enjoy a relatively private life until Leonor begins to work full-time as a member of the Royal House. It makes no sense to me to bound Sofía on those rules while she's a student.

 

[An Ard Ri]

La infanta Sofía, ante el año en el que tomará la gran decisión de su vida

La hija pequeña de los reyes Felipe y Letizia acabará en 2025 bachillerato internacional en el internado de Gales en el que se encuentra y quedará pendiente qué pasos dará en su futuro inmediato

www.hola.com

A big year for Infanta Sofia - 18 in April, graduation in Wales in May, what comes after this?

Yes indeed its hard to believe that Sofia will turn 18 this year!

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

I see. Well, if her role is to "help Leonor", then it means she'll have a very prominent role, be it official or unofficial. But despite that, Leonor doesn't need any "help" right now, as both are on their formative years. Which means Sofía is free to choose her educational path as of now, as it is the perfect time for her to be "free" and enjoy a relatively private life until Leonor begins to work full-time as a member of the Royal House. It makes no sense to me to bound Sofía on those rules while she's a student.

I dont see it this way. She may be free to chose her educational path but if I recall correctly, Sofia wont be able to take a job in the private sector what is a big limitation. She will be needed as spare and somebody who does a main part of the work until Leonor becomes Queen - who hopefully has a family of her own until then - before she ceases being a member of the royal family. Sofia is basically expected to devote her choices of life/ profession to the monarchy until she is not needed anymore - then expected to make her own living, if all goes well by the age around 50. She'll have to have a 'career' that works well with her royal duties and pays enough money to eventually support herself, but not in the private sector, that is not easy at all. Its pointless to compare her to Princess Margret but I am sure Sofia will frequently be torn between royal duty and the grasp of a private life, something that Leonor will not have but is somewhat easier, knowing your place for life in the royal top job.

 

[Prinsara]

To be fair, we really don’t know what “help” is going to look like. Margaret spoke to her sister Elizabeth every day on the phone. Even more the royal engagements she carried out, that emotional connection was likely invaluable for her sister the queen.

Something like that would be “help” and would not prevent Sofia in any way from basically living and working as a private citizen. It’s also possible that an abdicated Felipe and Letizia would continue to assist the new queen. So we are just going to have to wait to see what circumstances require from Sofia.

 

[Alondra]

I dont see it this way. She may be free to chose her educational path but if I recall correctly, Sofia wont be able to take a job in the private sector what is a big limitation. She will be needed as spare and somebody who does a main part of the work until Leonor becomes Queen - who hopefully has a family of her own until then - before she ceases being a member of the royal family. Sofia is basically expected to devote her choices of life/ profession to the monarchy until she is not needed anymore - then expected to make her own living, if all goes well by the age around 50. She'll have to have a 'career' that works well with her royal duties and pays enough money to eventually support herself, but not in the private sector, that is not easy at all. Its pointless to compare her to Princess Margret but I am sure Sofia will frequently be torn between royal duty and the grasp of a private life, something that Leonor will not have but is somewhat easier, knowing your place for life in the royal top job.

It's difficult to know Sofia's future until we know her degree choice after finishing school. Felipe and Letizia have always made sure both girls are treated the same, and Sofia has the education and freedom to choose her own path.

Sofia won't be able to work in a private company while being part of the royal family. Felipe has made transparency rules clear. But she can still be a doctor working for the public service. I'm not saying she's going to be a doctor, but she has freedom to manoeuvre her life and how she can help the royal family while still holding a job.

Felipe and Letizia have not brought up their daughters to be "one queen, one spare". They are both mature, smart girls with loads of confidence. Sofia's future in the royal family will be more realistic than in older, more traditional royal families, or what JC expected 40 years ago.

 

[PrincessofEurope]

I hope we get some pictures released of Sofia but I am not sure you never know with the Spanish royals - I think she will be back in Wales at school by the time of her birthday.

 

[An Ard Ri]

They might release a new photo to mark Sofia's 18th as its one of many milestones for the Infanta!

 

[Blog Real]

It is likely that they will release a new official photo and it will probably be on that date that they will announce what she will do when she finishes her studies at UWC Atlantic College in Wales.
But I would like Infanta Sofia to have a bigger event to mark her 18th birthday, even if it were an event at the Royal Palace or the Royal Theatre.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I very much doubt there will be any public events ,the SRF are very low key and have not done this in the past.
There possibly will be a family gathering a hopefully a slice of cake but it will be behind closed doors.

 

[Kinan]

I think Infanta Sofia will receive Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos III on her 18th birthday

 

[An Ard Ri]

I think Infanta Sofia will receive Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos III on her 18th birthday

Hopefully the Infanta will receive an Order to mark her 18th!

 

[Stefan]

It is likely that they will release a new official photo and it will probably be on that date that they will announce what she will do when she finishes her studies at UWC Atlantic College in Wales.
But I would like Infanta Sofia to have a bigger event to mark her 18th birthday, even if it were an event at the Royal Palace or the Royal Theatre.

No Chance. The spanish royals do not even celebrate the milestone birthdays of the Monarch of the Day or his Consort.

Hopefully the Infanta will receive an Order to mark her 18th!

I think she will get the Order of Carlos III.

 

[Tatiana Maria]

No Chance. The spanish royals do not even celebrate the milestone birthdays of the Monarch of the Day or his Consort.

I think the Scandinavians are the only remaining European monarchies which continue to officially celebrate the comings of age of the heir's siblings. Or do the UK and Monaco still do so? The Netherlands, Belgium, Luxembourg and Liechtenstein certainly don't.

 

[Blog Real]

No Chance. The spanish royals do not even celebrate the milestone birthdays of the Monarch of the Day or his Consort.

Let's see what they will do. At least one official photo and I remembered now, a private event at the Royal Palace of El Pardo like they did for Leonor's 18th birthday.

 

[lula]

Infanta Sofía will celebrate her 18th birthday in Wales, so I don't think there'll be anything more than some retrospective photos and the decree approving her award of the Grand Cross of the Order of Carlos III. It's likely the Royal Household will also wait until then to announce her plans for the coming academic year.

Between Sofia's academic schedule and Leonor's military training, there isn't much time to organize an event where the whole family will be present.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I think she will get the Order of Carlos III.

Both of her paternal aunts were awarded the Orders of Carlos III and Isabella the Catholic.
Elena
1980 : Isabella the Catholic
1988 : Order of Charles III
Cristina
1982 : Isabella the Catholic
1988 : Order of Charles III

 

[Stefan]

Both of her paternal aunts were awarded the Orders of Carlos III and Isabella the Catholic.
Elena
1980 : Isabella the Catholic
1988 : Order of Charles III
Cristina
1982 : Isabella the Catholic
1988 : Order of Charles III

I guess the got the order of Isabel the catholic because when they turned 18 the Order of Carlos III. was still only awarded to men
So not sure if Sofia will also get it. Don't think Leonor has it and she is the heiress.

 

[An Ard Ri]

I guess the got the order of Isabel the catholic because when they turned 18 the Order of Carlos III. was still only awarded to men
So not sure if Sofia will also get it. Don't think Leonor has it and she is the heiress.

I think Elena and Cristina were awarded Carlos III ahead of the State Visit to Spain by QEII.
It was also awarded to the Infantas Pilar and Margarita at the same time.
https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/1988/10/15/pdfs/A29811-29811.pdf

 

[lula]

Both of her paternal aunts were awarded the Orders of Carlos III and Isabella the Catholic.
Elena
1980 : Isabella the Catholic
1988 : Order of Charles III
Cristina
1982 : Isabella the Catholic
1988 : Order of Charles III

They received the Order of Isabel la Catholica because at that time the Order of Carlos III was not awarded to women. Queen Sofia entered the Order of Carlos III in 1983.

 

[Kinan]

Infanta Sofía is very clear about her future: she does not want to receive military training. The King and Queen have studied with her a university academic plan abroad, preferably in the United States and the United Kingdom.

La infanta Sofía tiene muy claro su futuro: no quiere recibir formación militar

La infanta Sofía ha tomado una decisión rotunda sobre su futuro profesional: no tiene intención de recibir formación militar, a pesar de las

monarquia.elconfidencialdigital.com

 

[lula]

Infanta Sofía is very clear about her future: she does not want to receive military training. The King and Queen have studied with her a university academic plan abroad, preferably in the United States and the United Kingdom.

La infanta Sofía tiene muy claro su futuro: no quiere recibir formación militar

La infanta Sofía ha tomado una decisión rotunda sobre su futuro profesional: no tiene intención de recibir formación militar, a pesar de las

monarquia.elconfidencialdigital.com

This is not a reliable website. The Royal House hasn't announced anything, so we'll have to wait for official information.

 

[Mbruno]

This is not a reliable website. The Royal House hasn't announced anything, so we'll have to wait for official information.

Agreed, but the possibility that Sofia will rule out military training makes sense. Felipe's sisters didn't have military training and Sofia has no obligation to pursue it, unlike her older sister who will be the commander in chief of the Spanish armed forces. It is up to her to decide if that is something she personally wants or not.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Yes she is free to do what she wants. I doubt she'd receive the same training than her sister anyway but if Sofia was truly interested in a military stint, it would sent a great message for the women in the force.
Re studies, Leonor will certainly follow Felipes path, study in Spain followed by a master/PhD abroad. If Sofia skips the military, I'd expect her to follow a similar path.
I bet we'll know more end of April when the Infanta turns 18.
Her last day in Wales will be May 24.

 

[Blog Real]

Infanta Sofia, if she spends a season in military training, it should only be 1 year.
But if she go straight to university, she should study something like International Relations or Political Science.

 

[kathia_sophia]

I hope she follows the path she wants, and not one imposed by the rules of the monarchy. She doesn't strike me as a girl who wants military training. She's more art-oriented, as we have seen in her first solo public engagement which was about photography. I bet it wasn't just a random choice, but a choice of her interest. I wouldn't be surprised if she chose a university degree on Art History, or Photography, or something similar.

 

[Countessmeout]

No royal should do military training unless. Male or female
1. Its something genuinely interested in
2. There is conscription in their country
3. They are the heir and will be head of the military when monarch

None of this applies to Sofia.

Military training, even a year, requires money and resources to be spent. There is no point wasting them one someone just out of 'tradition' if they won't be pursuing a career in it.

Sofia doesn't seem like a military future kind of person. So its best she be encouraged to find what education track will be best for her future. Certainly more flexibility then her sister.

 

[Mbruno]

No royal should do military training unless. Male or female
1. Its something genuinely interested in
2. There is conscription in their country
3. They are the heir and will be head of the military when monarch

None of this applies to Sofia.

Military training, even a year, requires money and resources to be spent. There is no point wasting them one someone just out of 'tradition' if they won't be pursuing a career in it.

Sofia doesn't seem like a military future kind of person. So its best she be encouraged to find what education track will be best for her future. Certainly more flexibility then her sister.

I second in particular one of your points: a military academy education is usually "free", that is, fully paid for by the taxpayers. Each cadet at a military academy costs quite a lot to the state and spending that kind of money on someone who is not going to be in active service for a minimum length of time seems like a waste to me. If Sofia chooses a military education, I hope she commits to staying in the service in the long run, but I suspect she will choose another path.

 

[Prinsara]

I’m not sure where the notion Sofia has no interest in the military comes from. One of the few things we do know about her is she’s extremely athletic, seemingly even more so than Leonor. While there’s no guarantee of overlap there, it never hurts.

Personally I feel Sofia’s “choice” is probably dictated like most things in her life have been; by PR. If it seems advantageous to have her serve too (and she wants to, of course; I don’t think she’d be forced), she will, and if the mood is against paying for another military training that won’t do much, she won’t.

There is still the question of her sister is very young, and she is her sister’s only heir for the foreseeable future. Should anything befall Leonor, does Spain really want to have a monarch with no familiarity with the military? Training Sofia may not necessarily be a waste.

 

[lula]

I think assumptions are being made based on what has been written by a website that has proven to be unreliable.

First, we don't know whether Infanta Sofía likes the military world or not. Both she and Leonor grew up with military personnel at Zarzuela Palace and military friends of their father; it's a familiar environment for them. In Spain, there is no one-year military training; the government would have to create a specific plan for her, and there is no news on that at the moment. There are many options, from studying for an engineering degree within the military, to accessing two years of officer training after completing university, or doing something symbolic and taking the short voluntary reservist course.

Second, the website talks about university studies abroad, when the Spanish royal family has always studied at Spanish universities first. The daughters are following their father's example, and there's no reason to think it will be any different. Felipe studied at a Spanish public university, so there's a cost to the taxpayer there, too.

Sofia may be interested in photography, but since she was a child, it has been known that she is good with technology and computing, and that she likes science fiction... so it wouldn't be illogical for her to lean toward some engineering field.

 

[An Ard Ri]

A Tatler article on the upcoming 18th Birthday of the Infanta Sofia of Spain.
What's next for Infanta Sofia of Spain? The second daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia is soon to graduate