The second Sofia of Spain is marking a special birthday. Sofia, daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, turns 18 on April 29 2025.
The Infanta, second in line to the throne of Spain, is keeping the celebrations low key. While her older sister, Princess Leonor, went to the country's parliament to swear her allegiance to the constitution, Sofia has posed for some snaps in the garden.
The muted approach was already a done deal before her big day. There's been a marked difference in how the two daughters of the King of Spain have approached reaching the age of majority. It was announced several weeks ago that Sofia won't follow Leonor's lead and do military service. But this low key birthday has an unexpected bonus.
Less than 24 hours before Sofia turned 18, Spain was hit by a massive power outage that stopped traffic, trains and planes and saw hospitals forced to switch to emergency generators. With no internet, card payments in shops stopped working and huge queues formed for ATMs. Against that backdrop, Spain's royals partying for a regal birthday wouldn't have been a good look.
Sofia, who was born on April 29th 2007 and named after her paternal grandmother, Queen Sofia, has been a discreet part of her royal family so far. She appears quietly confident in public and has carried out solo engagements. Her role, in the near future at least, will be as a support to the older sister with whom she clearly has a strong and deep bond. The two are apart for this birthday, with Leonor at sea as part of her naval training, but as both are now officially adults, the future of Spain's royals is becoming an increasingly important part of their lives.