Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, is the eldest daughter of Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, Felipe and Letizia. She was born in Madrid on October 31, 2005. She has been the heir to the Crown since her father’s proclamation as King on June 19, 2014. In accordance with Article 57.2 of the Constitution, she has held the title of Princess of Asturias since that time, along with the titles of Princess of Girona and Princess of Viana titles historically associated with the firstborn heirs of the Kingdom of Castile, the Crown of Aragon, and the Kingdom of Navarre, the union of which formed the Spanish Monarchy in the 16th century. She also holds the titles of Duchess of Montblanc, Countess of Cervera, and Lady of Balaguer.
After swearing an oath to the Constitution before the Cortes Generales upon reaching the age of majority, and having completed the International Baccalaureate program at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, the Princess began her military training in 2023 a step taken in light of her responsibilities, first as heir to the Crown and, subsequently, as the future Queen of Spain. From 2023 to 2026, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias underwent military training, following a structure similar to that which governed the training of His Majesty the King, while adapting it to the current educational framework of the military academies which now also house university centers for defense studies. This training took place at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, where she studied alongside future officers of the Spanish Army; the Naval Military Academy in Marín, which included a period aboard the Spanish Navy’s training ship, *Juan Sebastián de Elcano*; and the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, where she completed her training as an officer cadet in the Spanish Air and Space Force.
This training within the Armed Forces strengthens capacities for service and dedication, and facilitates the representative duties that the Princess will be required to undertake as Heir to the Spanish Crown, in accordance with the provisions of Title II of the Constitution. In European parliamentary monarchies, it is a widely observed and shared tradition for future Heads of State to pursue a military career and, within that framework, to receive training of this nature. In July 2027, the Princess of Asturias will receive her commissions as a Lieutenant in the Infantry of the Spanish Army, a Lieutenant in the Flight branch of the Spanish Air and Space Force, and an Ensign in the General Corps of the Spanish Navy from His Majesty the King, at the General Military Academy (AGM), the General Air and Space Academy (AGA), and the Naval Military School (ENM), respectively. In Spain, the parliamentary monarchy serves as a symbol of unity, historical continuity, and institutional stability; the training of Doña Leonor underscores a commitment to a Crown that is close to society and prepared for the challenges of the 21st century.
The Spanish postal service (Correos) has dedicated a stamp issue to this phase of the Princess of Asturias’s training. The stamps feature her image in connection with the Spanish Army, the Spanish Navy, and the Spanish Air and Space Force, accompanied by their respective insignia. The composition set against a light-blue background and featuring the Royal Coat of Arms symbolizes her institutional commitment and dedication to the service of Spain, inherent to her position as Heir to the Crown.
The Household of His Majesty the King
