The King and Queen of Spain have seen their younger daughter off on the next chapter of her life.

Infanta Sofia has left the family home at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid for Wales where she is beginning a two year course at UWC Atlantic College.

Sofia, 16, was seen with her parents and the family’s pet dog, Jan, as she loaded her cases ready for the airport trip and a new stage in her education.

Her departure comes less than a fortnight after her older sister, Princess Leonor, left home to begin her military training at Zaragoza.

Leonor, 17, and Sofia, had spent the previous weeks in Mallorca with their parents and paternal grandmother, Queen Sofia. The Spanish Royal Family traditionally passes part of the summer on the island.

Infanta Sofia also made the trip to Australia with her mother, Queen Letizia, to support the Spanish women’s football team in the World Cup final and was on hand to celebrate as they took the trophy with a 1-0 win over England.

After her emotional farewell, Sofia made the trip to Wales where she was later photographed enjoying the grounds of the college. Princess Leonor studied at the college between 2021 and 2023 where she was a classmate of Princess Alexia of the Netherlands. Alexia’s younger sister, Princess Ariane, has just begun a course at UWC in Italy.

Sofia is second in line to the throne of Spain behind her sister, Leonor.