Born on October 31, 2005, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, is the presumed heir to the Spanish monarchy. She is the oldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia and has a younger sister, Infanta Sofia. If her ascension to the throne goes as planned, Leonor will become Spain’s first queen regnant since Isabella II, who ruled over a hundred years ago.
As mandated by the Spanish Constitution, the princess swore her loyalty to the Constitution and the King upon reaching the age of majority, thus recognizing her as the heir apparent to the Spanish crown. On her eighteenth birthday, the royal family was escorted by the Royal Guard through the streets of Madrid as they departed the Palace of Zarzuela. The Princess of Asturias took her oath in front of a joint session of the Spanish Parliament, receiving a huge round of applause after she did. A celebration from the public was held on the streets as many shouted Happy Birthday to the princess and beamed with excitement about having a woman in the royal line for the throne. With the oath taken, Leonor can legally succeed Felipe and automatically becomes head of state in the event of the monarch’s absence.
Several analysts believe that the reason for her success is that she has been out of the spotlight for so long, which is why so many Spaniards are falling victim to “Leonormania”. Because so little is known about Leonor, many are increasingly curious about her life. Normalcy is the attribute that best identifies her because of her charm, discretion, caution, and organized nature. The Spanish people can now relate to her because of this.
The reputation of the Spanish royal family is currently in disarray due to several scandals. In 2020, Leonor’s grandfather, the former King Juan Carlos, was compelled to relocate to Abu Dhabi amidst accusations regarding his financial arrangements. This came after Juan Carlos abdicated in favor of his son Felipe in 2014, following an embezzlement incident involving his daughter Cristina, who was later found not guilty. Amongst other scandals, these things have led many in Spain to question the necessity of a royal dynasty. According to a 2020 survey, 48% of Spaniards supported a royal referendum.
But with the new heiress, there seems to be a change from the people. El Español, a website, reports that King Felipe’s eldest daughter is the most well-liked royal family member, even surpassing her father. The Princess of Asturias has made a near-flawless debut as a young adult royal over the past few months, primarily avoiding the spotlight during her youth. Many are calling her a fashion icon in the making. Leonor has garnered attention from devoted followers who have followed her fashion journey over the years. The soon-to-be queen is already demonstrating her natural flair, from color-coordinated gowns to Barbiecore pink suits. She also benefits from having her elegant mother to turn to for advice when needed. In addition to Spanish, Leonor also knows French, English, and Catalan. She is also learning a little bit of Galician and Basque, two regional languages prevalent in Spain.
In August, following the completion of her International Baccalaureate studies at Atlantic College in Wales, the future head of state of Spain’s armed forces commenced a three-year military academy training program in the northeastern city of Zaragoza. This princess has demonstrated her allegiance to her country through her enrollment in the General Military Academy of Zaragoza in Northern Spain. Her beloved nickname is “Royal G.I. Jane.”
She will spend her second year (2024–2025) in the Navy and will be carried out with the employment of Midshipman both in the Naval Military School of Marín, and aboard the Training Ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, during its training voyage. Next, completing her third year in the Air and Space Army, joining the San Javier General Air Academy for the 2025–2026 academic year as a Student Ensign.