In March, the Spanish royal family announced that their older daughter, the future queen of Spain, would be entering a three-year military training program this fall. In August, King Felipe and Queen Letizia dropped off Princess Leonor and her military training began. She’s only 17 years old! I know it’s like dropping your kid off at college, but still – Leonor still looks so young, and I can only imagine that Felipe and Letizia have been going through some serious empty-nest syndrome. Well, Leonor had some kind of flag ceremony this past weekend, and her parents came up to see it.
The future queen of Spain has made an important promise with her father, King Felipe, looking on and his pride in his daughter was clear to see. After joining the 68th class of cadets paying homage to the Pilar Virgin in an evening service on October 6th 2023, the General Military Academy in Zaragoza woke up the following morning decorated for a big celebration.
The religious ceremony took place in the Zaragoza Cathedral, where all cadets walked to be presented in front of the Pilar Virgin, considered the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces in Zaragoza, and the patron saint of the academy. After the service, cadets were allowed to be reunited with the family members who were waiting for them outside the church.
On the morning of October 7th 2023, Princess Leonor was among the 411 cadets who swore their allegiance to the Spanish flag in a moving and solemn ceremony in the main court of the institution. The ceremony was attended by King Felipe who was not only present as the Chief of the Armed Forces , but also as father of one of the cadets. Queen Letizia also beamed with pride as the ceremony unfolded.
While it sounds like the king had a legitimate reason to attend this ceremony, both he and Letizia used it as an excuse to check in on Leonor. I also wonder if this is the kind of military training program where Leonor has to spend the entire time on the base/campus? Is she allowed to go home on weekends? Are there holidays in the training program? Hm. Anyway, Leonor looks sharp in her dress uniform and I’m sure she’s homesick a little bit.
Photos courtesy of Backgrid.
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- Zaragoza, SPAIN – Crown Princess Leonor of Spain during the solemn event of swearing the flag. The Crown Princess of Spain and Princess of Asturias, finishes her first military training in the army, for later training in the Navy and Air Force. After kissing the flag of Spain she participated in the military parade in front of her parents, the King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia, and military and civil authorities. Leonor de Borbon finally signed the book that was also signed by his father when studied at the Militar Academy when younger. Pictured: Crown Princess Leonor of Spain BACKGRID USA 8 OCTOBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Zaragoza, SPAIN – Crown Princess Leonor of Spain during the solemn event of swearing the flag. The Crown Princess of Spain and Princess of Asturias, finishes her first military training in the army, for later training in the Navy and Air Force. After kissing the flag of Spain she participated in the military parade in front of her parents, the King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia, and military and civil authorities. Leonor de Borbon finally signed the book that was also signed by his father when studied at the Militar Academy when younger. Pictured: Crown Princess Leonor of Spain BACKGRID USA 8 OCTOBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Zaragoza, SPAIN – Crown Princess Leonor of Spain during the solemn event of swearing the flag. The Crown Princess of Spain and Princess of Asturias, finishes her first military training in the army, for later training in the Navy and Air Force. After kissing the flag of Spain she participated in the military parade in front of her parents, the King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia, and military and civil authorities. Leonor de Borbon finally signed the book that was also signed by his father when studied at the Militar Academy when younger. Pictured: Crown Princess Leonor of Spain, King Felipe VI of Spain, BACKGRID USA 8 OCTOBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
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- Zaragoza, SPAIN – Crown Princess Leonor of Spain during the solemn event of swearing the flag. The Crown Princess of Spain and Princess of Asturias, finishes her first military training in the army, for later training in the Navy and Air Force. After kissing the flag of Spain she participated in the military parade in front of her parents, the King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia, and military and civil authorities. Leonor de Borbon finally signed the book that was also signed by his father when studied at the Militar Academy when younger. Pictured: Crown Princess Leonor of Spain, King Felipe VI of Spain, Queen Letizia BACKGRID USA 8 OCTOBER 2023 USA: +1 310 798 9111 / usasales@backgrid.com UK: +44 208 344 2007 / uksales@backgrid.com *UK Clients – Pictures Containing Children Please Pixelate Face Prior To Publication*
That’s how you try and and maintain a hereditary monarchy-showing the future monarch’s service to their county from a young age vs whining ala William.
I feel so proud of her having watched her growing up, so I can only imagine how her parents feel. She seems like a wonderful young lady who is taking her responsibilities very seriously.
I’m anti-monarchist, but she looks ready to serve. The Windsors might hang on another couple of years if they took some pointers from the Spanish royals. But they’re way too stupid.
Speaking about pointers the british (Kate) should pick up; queen Letitzia doesn’t dress like sgt Pepper in a fake look a like uniform when visiting or attending military ceremonies.
Wasn’t the Spanish getting tired of them too? Princess Leonor should serve with distinction and then stay in to earn some stripes.
I bet lazy William now wishes he stayed on longer. It just makes royalty seem more legitimate.
She swore her* allegiance and loyalty to the flag and to Spain in her capacity as a member of the armed forces. Her father attended as Chief of the Armed Forces.
*her entire class did, as they will serve Spain.
Leonor did her high school education at UWC Atlantic in Wales, so this is much closer to home for her. I doubt homesickness is an issue. I do worry that she’s in a more intensive program than most of the other cadets because they want her to do year with the army, a year with the navy, and a year with the air force. There was a documentary I had watched about her grandfather, ex-king Juan Carlos, and the connections he made while attending the military academy came in handy years later. Specifically, a contact from his academy days allowed Juan Carlos to broadcast a message on television condemning a military coup trying to oust the democratically-elected government. Hopefully Leonor doesn’t have to do anything so dramatic, but it will be a good opportunity for her to get to know ordinary soldiers.
Watched the video; made me tear up. The flag was commissioned by her great grandmother in the late 1800’s and her father & grandfather partook in the same ceremony. What made me tear up were how proud her parents are. Her dad is *such* a proud girl dad all of the time.
She is her father’s daughter.
Whew, he gave her his whole face.
Genetics really are amazing.
And he is truly gorgeous!
Love this! The king and queen looked so proud.
Get this poor girl some sunblock!