Leonor and Sofía join UWC audienc and meet youth with disabilities

Princesa Leonor and Infanta Sofía participated in a surprise joint appearance at the Palacio de la Zarzuela on Friday, attending an audienc with the Patronato of UWC Spain alongside King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, before holding a private meeting with four young people with disabilities at the Residencia de Estudiantes in Madrid. Source: abces, lavanguardia, elconfidencial The sisters were not listed on the official agenda, making their presence a welcomed surprise.

Audienc with UWC Spain

The audienc brought together members of the UWC Spain foundation, sponsors, and students — both those who recently completed their International Baccalaureate and those who will begin their studies in September 2026. Source: infobae Leonor, who studied at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales from 2021 to 2023, and Sofía, who followed from 2023 to 2025, acted as 'veterans,' sharing advice and experiences with incoming students. Source: elconfidencial, abces This yearly meeting has become a tradition since Leonor first attended the school in 2021. Source: elconfidencial

Meeting with youth with disabilities

Later, the princess and infanta traveled to the Residencia de Estudiantes for a more informal encounter with Angie Lei, Fernando Castro, Isabela Arias, and Álvaro Gonzalo, aged 17 to 23, who represent a range of disabilities including autism, cerebral palsy, dwarfism, visual impairment, and acquired brain damage. Source: abces, lavanguardia The young people shared their daily challenges and the barriers they still face in education, employment, and social participation, emphasizing the need for genuine inclusion. Source: infobae, elconfidencial Two of the participants had benefited from the 'Reina Letizia para la Inclusión' program, which provides grants of up to €10,000 to support students with disabilities. The meeting followed an earlier audienc by the King and Queen with CERMI representatives, who reviewed progress since the 2024 constitutional reform on disability rights.