Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, recently started her military training with the Spanish Air Force
Top Gun: Princess Leonor of Spain, heir to the Spanish throne, wore the uniform of the Spanish Air and Space Force for National Day celebrations Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
It is typically a day of formal dresses and sophisticated accessories. But Princess Leonor of Spain swapped elegant attire for military might as she joined her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and sister, Infanta Sofia, for the Spanish National Day celebrations.
Leonor, Princess of Asturias, debuted her uniform for the Spanish Air and Space Force after beginning her military training with the branch of the military last month. The 19-year-old, who will one day be the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces when she accedes to the throne, looked the picture of polished perfection in the dress uniform as she watched a military parade and joined the royal family for a formal reception at Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.
Led by King Felipe VI of Spain, the Spanish royals led the festivities on Sunday. They first appeared side-by-side to watch the procession before welcoming dignitaries to the royal residence. Queen Letizia looked smart in a green boatneck tweed dress which she paired with a mix of high-end and high-street accessories: a Boss leather belt, Massimo Dutti slingback shoes and a Carolina Herrera handbag. Meanwhile Infanta Sofia of Spain, who made a trip back from her studies in Portugal, opted for a Carolina Herrera cape and polka dot dress. It was an important day for the younger Spanish princess as she made her debut at the palace portion of the day, following her 18th birthday earlier this year.
Yet there is little doubt that much of the attention was on Princess Leonor, who continues to go from strength to strength as she prepares for life on the throne. The Spanish heir, who studied at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, is currently in the final year of her three-year military training programme which has taken in all three branches of the Spanish military.
‘After completing secondary education, it is necessary to consider the next formative stage of the Princess, taking into account her responsibilities, first as Heiress to the Crown and, later, as future Queen of Spain,’ the Palace announced in a statement following her time at UWC Atlantic. ‘The King, together with the Queen, considers that the military training of the Princess of Asturias is very convenient and valuable,’ the statement continued. ‘It reinforces the service and dedication capacities, and facilitates the representation tasks that she will have to assume, as Heir to the Crown of Spain, in accordance with the provisions of Title II of the Constitution.’
Her training began with a year spent at the Army Military Academy in Zaragoza, where Princess Leonor was joined by her family for her graduation in July 2024. Just as his daughter Leonor is carrying out military training to prepare for her role as future Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish army, King Felipe was a member of the armed forces in 1985, where he worked in the navy and air force. Seeing his eldest daughter graduate must have been particularly poignant for the undoubtedly proud father of two.
The second stage of Leonor’s training involved attending the Naval Military School of Marin last year, which included six months of navigation aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, sailing the Atlantic Ocean before switching to the Blas de Lezo. Earlier this summer, the Princess was reunited with her family after months at sea, and joined by King Felipe, Queen Letizia and her sister, Infanta Sofia, at a ceremony marking the completion of her naval training.
The world was given the first glimpse of Leonor in military uniform in September when she donned her smart, navy blue Air Force uniform as she arrived at the General Air Academy in San Javier, Murcia. Soon afterwards, she changed into a green jumpsuit as she climbed aboard a Pilatus PC-21s, an advanced training aircraft used by the Air Force to train pilots before moving on to fighter jets. It’s been reported that the royal will first have flying lessons on the ground before she takes to the skies.
If the glimpse of the Princess at National Day celebrations is anything to go by – she is already flying high.