Queen Letizia of Spain and her husband King Felipe say goodbye to their daughter Infanta Sofía, 16, as she leaves Madrid for ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ school in Wales

• Infanta Sofía of Spain has left Madrid to attend he UWC Atlantic College in Wales
• READ MORE: How Letizia has proved she’s the most down-to-earth Queen

Infanta Sofía of Spain has left her residence in Madrid to start school in Wales today.

Sofía, 16, left her residence at ‘Prince Pavilion’ near Zarzuela Palace to start school at UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan in May.

The school is often referred to as ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting. 

In photos released by the Spanish Royal Household, Sofía was pictured smiling as she wheeled her sage-coloured suitcase out to the car, as her parents, Queen Letizia, 50, and Felipe VI of Spain, 55, watched on. 

Sofia sported casual clothes, donning a black and white plaid shirt, white trainers, khaki-coloured trousers and a black cropped top. 

Sofia, 16, left her residence at ‘Prince Pavilion’ near Zarzuela Palace to start school at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales

The King and Queen beamed as they posed with their daughter, who was sat on the boot of the vehicle. 

Queen Letizia donned a blue blazer with white trousers and an ivory top, also wearing sporty trainers. Whereas the King looked dapper, wearing a striped blazer, blue shirt, navy trousers and trainers.

The college is for pupils aged 16 to 19 years of age and students from all over the world, 150 countries to be exact, live and study together. 

The college is based at St Donat’s Castle, south Wales in a 12th century castle set in 122 acres of woodland and farmland with its own valley and seafront. 

It was founded in German educationalist Kurt Hahn, is situated at the 12th century St Donat’s Castle on the country’s south coast and costs a whopping £67,000 per year for courses including Tai Chi, the theory of knowledge and Tibetan literature. 

The family looked cheerful, as Sofia petted a black pet and gave it a chew toy, but it seems the Spanish royal household will now be a lot quieter than it once was. 

Sofia will follow in her sister’s footsteps by attending the Welsh school, as Princess Leonor graduated with the International Baccalaureate from the UWC Atlantic College in May. 

The Spanish King and Queen beamed as they posed with their daughter, who was sat on the boot of the vehicle

In photos released by the Spanish Royal Household, Infanta Sofia was pictured smiling as she wheeled her sage-coloured suitcase out to the car, as her parents watched on

This comes as the King and Queen’s eldest daughter, Princess Leonor, 17, left to go to military academy earlier this month.

The heir to the Spanish throne must complete the three years in line with tradition as she follows the path of her father, King Felipe.

Rather like a boarding school, General Military Academy of Zaragoza follows a strict timetable during the week. but Leonor will be free to return home at the weekeneds if she’s not on manouevres. 

After training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, which is Spain’s equivalent to Sandhurst, she will go to naval school, and will complete her three years at the General Air Academy.

The princess, who will be 18 in October, revealed her enthusiasm for soon being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, in Catalonia, on July 5.

She said: ‘I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.

‘I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces… it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.’

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