Princess Leonor Begins Military Training with Warm Send Off from Family

Leonor, The Princess of Asturias, King Felipe VI's eldest daughter and heir presumptive, began her military training in the three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces - army, navy, and air force.

She was accompanied by her parents, the King and Queen of Spain, and her younger sister, Infanta Sofia, to the military training camp of the General Military Academy of Zaragoza in Aragon, Spain.

Princess Leonor of Spain begins military training

Princess Leonor bids goodbye to her family as she begins military training ©Casa de S.M. el Rey

Spanish royal family's send-off to Princess Leonor as she begins military training ©Casa de S.M. el Rey

The Spanish royal family shares photos of their arrival in the military camp. Clad in white pants and summery tops, the sisters tightly hugged each other as the long separation kicks in. Queen Letizia also gave her daughter an emotional hug as well as King Felipe VI.

Princess Leonor is expected to stay in the military academy for the next three years to study and train with other Spanish military students. The training is part of her preparation as Spain's future regnal Queen.

Infanta Sofia and Princess Leonor ©Casa de S.M. el Rey

©Casa de S.M. el Rey

Unlike most monarchies in Europe, Spain has not yet changed the line of succession to the Spanish throne, they still maintained the male-preference primogeniture succession, thus Princess Leonor is only heir-presumptive.

However, the fact that her parents do not have a son, she is expected to inherit the Spanish throne from her father, and all the duties pertaining to the country's head of state, and thus training in the military is necessary.

Infanta Sofia gives her sister a tight hug

Princess Leonor also signed a guest book. The page read, "HRH the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, on the day of her arrival at the General Military Academy to begin her military training. Leonor, Princess of Asturias."

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will also have to say goodbye to their youngest daughter. Infanta Sofia as the youngster will begin her baccalaureate studies in UWC College of the Atlantic in Wales, England in September.

Infanta Sofia is following the footsteps of her older sister who also went to Wales to attend UWC for two years. But unlike the Princess of Asturias, Infanta Sofia is not expected to train in the military but will be supporting her parents and sister performing royal duties.

A day after Princess Leonor started her military training, the Spanish royal family shares photos of the 17-year-old princess kick-starting her training. Leonor looked compose and in her military uniform as she attended classes, training, and military formation.

She will turn 18 in October this year and one of the responsibilities she will be taken over from her father is the chairmanship of the Princess of Asturias Foundation and Princess of Girona Foundation. Both chairmanship is part of her official role as the Princess of Asturias and Girona.