Leonor and Sofia of Spain, the tender embrace in the 2022 Christmas card

After the Christmas greetings of King Charles of England and his queen consort Camilla, those of the Spanish royal family also arrived, who published the traditional Christmas Card. Not a family portrait, but a photo of future queen Leonor and ofInfanta Sofia, daughters of Felipe VI And Joy Ortiz. An unconventional choice but not new to the family, which has already preferred on several occasions in recent years put the two teenagers at the center of attention, 17 and 15 years old, representing the future of the Spanish Crown. In the Christmas card, also signed by Felipe and Letizia, the royal family wishes everyone “a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year”. But the protagonists of the photo are only Leonor and Sofia, who they pose embracing and smiling in the gardens of the Zarzuela.

A tender shot that tells, once again, the deep affection that binds the two sisters, who grew up together almost like twins. Leonor and Sofia attended the same school (albeit in different classes) and until last year they had never even separated in public. But then the heir to the throne went to study in the United Kingdom. While the little one of the house stayed at Zarzuela with mum and dad. When Leonor in late August 2021 left for Cardiff, Wales to accompany her in airport there were both sovereign parents and Sofia, who when saying goodbyeas told by the Spanish edition of Vanity Fair, it seemed the most tried.

On the other hand, the two royals, who by their parents’ wishes have lived as normal a childhood as possible, are growing up. And inevitably they took different paths. Leonor is studying as a queen at the UWC Atlantic College attended by many other royals (today from Alexia of Hollandonce from Elisabeth of Belgium and from Willem Alexander of Holland). Sofia, on the other hand, is finishing her high school studies at the Santa Maria de Los Rosales College in Madrid, attended until last year also by the older sister.

Naturally, the two sisters meet periodically during festive periods or on the occasion of official events. Most recently, for example, last November, they were together with the Princess of Asturias awardwhere they publicly demonstrated all the affection that binds them: in Oviedo they entered the awards room next to each other and Leonor also put her arm around Sofia’s waist.

Now the two princesses are together again. Leonor indeed last December 9th she has started the Christmas holidays and has returned to Spain, where she will remain until January 4th. So she will be able to live with her sister, and with the rest of the family, all the Christmas traditions of the royal family, which on Christmas Eve, the so-called Nochebuena, gathers at the Zarzuela to listen to the official speech of king Felipe And enjoy a cold buffet. A custom started by Queen Sofia so employees could be with their families. On Christmas day, then, all together at mass, followed by a sumptuous lunch.

-The sisterhood of Leonor and Sofia, the princesses of Spain at the prize of Asturias

-Letizia Ortiz goes to Hollywood (and Leonor stays in Spain): that’s why

– Sofia of Spain blows out 15 candles (without her sister Leonor)