Princess Leonor has arrived to begin three years of military training after leaving a prestigious private school in South Wales.
The 17-year-old heir to the Spanish throne arrived this morning at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, together with her parents and sister Princess Sofia, where she will be assigned to the cadet battalion.
After meeting with the military commanders responsible for her training, the future Queen of Spain will take a module to help her adapt to military life.
Despite the enormity of the task ahead, the teen looked relaxed as she waved to well-wishers and smiled for photos alongside King Felipe, who donned military uniform for the occasion.
Leonor – who admitted she was “excited” but also “nervous” – was dressed in white jeans and a blue shirt, while her sister Sofia, 16, was also coordinated in summer jeans, trainers and a green patterned top.
Princess Leonor of Spain (left) has arrived to begin three years of military training after leaving a prestigious private school in South Wales. She was accompanied by her father King Felipe, mother Queen Letizia and sister Princess Sofia, 16
The future Queen of Spain looked relaxed as she arrived at the military academy and waved to well-wishers
Proud Mother Queen Letizia was extremely elegant in a neutral trouser suit and matching flats.
According to heraldo.esshe stays in a cabin with as many as twelve other students and gets a haircut before the first training session and is given basic military equipment.
She will be entitled to a salary of 417, although the palace has said she will waive it.
Like a boarding school, the military academy follows a strict timetable during the week. but Leonor will be free to return home on weekends if she has no maneuvers.
The princess shook hands with Manuel Pérez López, director of the Academy, as her proud father watched
Queen Letizia was extremely elegant in a neutral trouser suit as she watched her eldest daughter leave for her military training
Leonor graduated in May with an International Baccalaureate from UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.
The school is often referred to as ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ due to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.
Founded by German educator Kurt Hahn, it is located in 12th-century St. Donat’s Castle on the south coast of the country and costs a whopping £67,000 a year for courses including Tai Chi, the theory of knowledge and Tibetan literature.
Leonor will start as a military recruit next month, following in the footsteps of her father King Felipe and her grandfather Juan Carlos, all of whom have had military training in each of the country’s three armed forces.
After graduating from the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, the Spanish equivalent of Sandhurst, she attends Naval Academy and completes her three years at the General Air Academy.
The princess, who will turn 18 in October, revealed her excitement about becoming a cadet soon at the Princesa de Girona Foundation awards ceremony in Girona, Catalonia, on July 5.
She said, “I’ve just finished high school and I’m about to start a new phase with a period of military training.
“I’m happy because I know how much the Spaniards value our armed forces… it’s an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and doing my very best.”
She shared the news in Spanish, Catalan and English, much to the delight of the prize crowd, while wearing an emerald green dress and golden metallic shoes.
Tatler reported that Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed Princess Leonor of Asturias’ next move shortly before the 17-year-old graduated in May.
In her speech in March, Ms. Robles affirmed: “In due course, the Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces will be a woman, and in recent years we have made a very significant effort to include women in the Armed Forces.”
In September last year, the Spanish palace announced that Princess Leonor will study law at university in 2026 after her three-year military education.
Although Leonor’s college choice is unknown, the princess’s academic background already resembles that of her father, King Felipe.
After graduating from high school at Lakefield College in Canada, Felipe returned to Spain and attended the General Military Academy of Zaragozo, continuing his studies at the Naval Military School in Marín.
He ended his training with a stint at the General Air Academy in San Javier.
He also completed his military education with a stint in the shop Juan Sebastián Elcano, aged 18 in 1987, and went on to study law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.
Currently, Leonor, who is said to speak four languages including Mandarin, is juggling her life as a young princess with her work as a student at the boarding school in Wales.
Before her graduation in May, King Felipe VI, 55, and Queen Letizia, 50, traveled to Wales with their other daughter, Princess Sofia, 16, to celebrate with Leonor.
In one photo, Leonor was seen proudly displaying her graduation certificate in front of her as she smiled into the camera with her family.