Princess Leonor is one of Europe’s most closely followed young royals and the heir to the Spanish throne. As the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, she has been preparing for a future role as Spain’s head of state from an early age.
Her education has combined international studies, constitutional preparation, public service, and an unusual military career spanning Spain’s army, navy, and air and space forces. In 2026, she also reached another important stage in her education, with plans to study political science at university.
This article explores Princess Leonor’s biography, family background, education, military training, royal responsibilities, and future as Queen of Spain.
Who Is Princess Leonor?
Princess Leonor, whose full name is Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, was born in Madrid on October 31, 2005. She is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain. Her younger sister is Infanta Sofía.
Leonor became heir to the Spanish throne when her father became king on June 19, 2014. At that time, she received the title Princess of Asturias, traditionally associated with the heir to the Spanish Crown. She also holds the titles Princess of Girona and Princess of Viana, along with several historic titles connected to Spain’s monarchy.
Today, Princess Leonor is preparing for the possibility of becoming Spain’s future queen.
Princess Leonor’s Royal Family
Leonor is the first child of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
King Felipe VI succeeded his father, King Juan Carlos I, in 2014. Queen Letizia came from a journalism background before marrying Felipe and becoming queen.
Growing up in the Spanish royal family has meant that Leonor has had public responsibilities from a young age. However, her role has gradually expanded as she has moved from childhood appearances to formal constitutional and institutional duties.
Her position as heir means that her education and public development are closely connected with the future of Spain’s constitutional monarchy.
Princess Leonor’s Early Education
Princess Leonor attended school in Spain before completing her secondary education at UWC Atlantic College in Wales.
She completed the International Baccalaureate program at the Welsh institution in 2023. Her education abroad gave her experience in an international environment while also preparing her for the diplomatic and cultural responsibilities associated with her future position.
Her education has not been limited to traditional academic subjects. Language learning, public speaking, leadership, international affairs, and knowledge of Spain’s institutions have all been important elements of her preparation.
Princess Leonor’s Military Training
One of the most distinctive parts of Princess Leonor’s preparation is her military training.
Spain established a special framework for her military education because of her position as heir to the Crown and the constitutional role of the monarch. Her military preparation has involved all three branches of Spain’s armed forces.
She first trained at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, where she began her army-related military education. She subsequently continued with the Spanish Navy before moving into training with the Air and Space Force.
This extensive preparation is significant because Spain’s monarch holds the constitutional position of commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Her Air and Space Force Training
In August 2025, Princess Leonor joined the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia, as a student officer. Her training included both academic and practical elements connected with military aviation.
Her training has included work with the Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, flight simulators, operational briefings, aircraft preparation, and actual instructional flights.
In April 2026, she completed a solo flight in the PC-21 as part of her training. She also participated in survival training and other military exercises.
Her aviation training demonstrates the practical nature of her military education rather than simply serving as a ceremonial qualification.
Princess Leonor and Parachute Training
Another notable part of Leonor’s military education has been parachute training.
She completed the Basic Parachuting Course at the Méndez Parada Military Parachuting School at Alcantarilla Air Base in Murcia. The training prepared her to carry out automatic parachute jumps and resulted in her receiving the Cazador Paracaidista qualification badge.
This training formed part of the broader military program designed to expose the future monarch to different aspects of Spain’s armed forces.
Princess Leonor’s University Education
After completing her military education, Leonor is scheduled to continue her academic studies.
In April 2026, the Spanish Royal Household announced that she had been admitted to the Political Science degree at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid. The four-year program includes subjects connected with political science, law, economics, sociology, history, humanities, and international relations.
This field of study is particularly relevant to her future responsibilities because the Spanish monarch has constitutional duties involving the country’s institutions and international representation.
Leonor is expected to combine her university studies with official responsibilities as heir to the Crown.
Princess Leonor’s Constitutional Role
A major milestone in Leonor’s life came on October 31, 2023, when she turned 18 and swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution before Spain’s Parliament.
The ceremony was significant because it formally emphasized her constitutional responsibilities as heir to the throne. The Spanish Royal Household lists the constitutional oath as one of the key milestones in her public career.
Her future position is therefore not simply symbolic. Spain is a constitutional monarchy, and the monarch’s responsibilities are established by the country’s Constitution.
Princess Leonor’s Public Appearances
As she has grown older, Leonor has taken part in increasingly important national events.
She regularly appears at major ceremonies, awards events, military occasions, and other institutional activities. She has also delivered speeches at important events, including ceremonies connected with the Princess of Asturias Awards and Princess of Girona Awards.
Her public speaking has become an important part of her preparation because a future monarch must communicate effectively with citizens, institutions, and international audiences.
Princess Leonor and the Princess of Asturias Awards
The Princess of Asturias Awards are among Spain’s best-known international awards, recognizing achievements in areas such as science, arts, communication, social sciences, and international cooperation.
The awards are particularly significant for Leonor because they are connected directly to her principal title.
Her participation at the annual ceremony in Oviedo has given her opportunities to meet scientists, artists, researchers, social leaders, and other internationally recognized figures.
These events also allow the future queen to develop experience representing the Spanish Crown in a formal but culturally diverse setting.
What Will Princess Leonor’s Future Role Be?
Princess Leonor is the heir apparent, meaning she is first in line to inherit the Spanish throne under the current constitutional framework.
When she eventually becomes queen, she will assume the constitutional responsibilities of Spain’s monarch. These responsibilities include representing the state, participating in formal constitutional processes, and serving as a symbol of the continuity and unity of Spain.
The timing of her accession cannot be predicted. She will become queen when the current reign ends through the constitutional processes governing succession.
Princess Leonor’s Military Career After Training
Leonor’s military preparation is expected to continue beyond her initial academy experiences.
According to the Spanish Royal Household, in July 2027 she is scheduled to receive the corresponding military commissions as lieutenant in the Army and Air and Space Force and as ensign in the Navy. The ceremonies are planned for Zaragoza, Marín, and San Javier.
This reflects the unusual breadth of her military preparation and the importance attached to understanding all three branches of Spain’s armed forces.
Why Is Princess Leonor Important to Spain?
Princess Leonor represents the future of Spain’s monarchy.
Her generation faces a very different social, technological, political, and international environment from previous generations of Spanish royals. Her education in an international school, military preparation, political science studies, and growing institutional responsibilities reflect an effort to prepare her for a modern constitutional monarchy.
Her public development is therefore watched not only because she is a member of a royal family, but because she may eventually become Spain’s head of state.
Final Thoughts
Princess Leonor has progressed from a young Spanish royal to a highly prepared heir to the throne. Born in Madrid in 2005, she became Princess of Asturias when her father became king in 2014 and has since taken on increasingly important responsibilities.
Her education has combined international schooling, constitutional preparation, military training, and higher education. Her military experience across Spain’s armed forces and her planned political science degree at Universidad Carlos III demonstrate the broad preparation being undertaken for her future.
Although the date of her accession to the throne remains unknown, Princess Leonor is already an important figure in Spain’s public life. Her continuing education, military career, and institutional duties will likely shape her development as the future Queen of Spain.