The year of Princess Leonor: coming of age, swearing in the Constitution and beginning of her military training

MADRID, 31 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

2023 will undoubtedly be a year that will remain engraved in the memory of Princess Leonor since her coming of age has officially made her heir to the throne, a fact that was sealed with the oath of the Constitution in a solemn session before the Cortes. Furthermore, the Princess of Asturias, already a lady cadet of her Borbón Ortiz, has begun her military training for her future role as Captain General of the Armed Forces.

"From today I owe myself to all the Spaniards, whom I will serve at all times with respect and loyalty" because "there is no greater pride," said Princess Leonor after receiving the necklace of the Order of Charles III at the Royal Palace after having sworn the Magna Carta on October 31.

In what has so far been the most important speech of his life, he asked all Spaniards for their trust and pledged to observe "behavior that deserves the recognition and appreciation of citizens." Likewise, he stressed that he will fulfill his obligations "with total dedication and unconditional dedication, always trying to grow as a person with the love and support of my family."

Previously, he had completed the formal act of swearing the Constitution on the same copy that his father did on January 30, 1986. "I swear to faithfully carry out my duties, to keep and ensure that the Constitution and the laws are kept, to respect the rights of the citizens and the autonomous communities, and fidelity to the King," said the Princess of Asturias, whose words, followed attentively by the Kings, were received with resounding applause for several minutes in the Chamber.

Already in the Palace, he stressed that with said oath he had committed himself "solemnly, formally and publicly" to the democratic principles and constitutional values ​​of Spain, which he said he assumed "fully", while at the same time he hoped to correspond "with the greatest dignity and with the best respect" his responsibility to the country.

This event was the culmination of a busier agenda in recent months for the heir to the throne, to whom in addition to the presentation of the awards that bear her name, the Princess of Girona first in July and the Princess of Asturias in October Later, she was seen again in the parade on October 12 and for the first time attended the subsequent reception at the Royal Palace, where she chatted with the guests.

Princess Leonor was also an exceptional witness of the solemn inauguration of the XV Legislature on November 29 in the Congress of Deputies by the King, who firmly defended the Constitution before deputies and senators and argued that claiming the Transition does not mean " look nostalgically at the past.

The Kings have not hidden their pride in all the public events in which they have supported their daughter, exchanging gestures and some words with her in many of them, such as when during the reception on October 12 the monarch explained to his daughter who he was. Miguel Herrero and Rodríguez de Miñón, whom he greeted warmly and approached due to his mobility problems.

Felipe VI even verbalized it during his speech on the occasion of the handover of the Princess of Asturias, when he said that both he and Queen Letizia are "very proud" of the "sense of duty" and the "excitement" with which their daughter older is facing his future.

The King has also taken advantage of these events to try to instill in the Princess of Asturias his way of seeing and understanding the role she is called to play in the future and to make her see the importance of democracy and the Constitution for Spain.

Thus, in his speech on October 31, the monarch wanted to make his daughter, and the generation she represents, see that "democracy and freedom are not built from one day to the next, but day after day" and that they require "of continuous care and permanent improvement." Likewise, he reminded him that his duty is to "comply and respect" the Constitution and that this duty "prevails at all times over any other consideration."

All these acts are part of the preparation that, since her birth but now with greater dedication, Princess Leonor is receiving for the day when she has to occupy the throne. After completing high school in Wales - where her sister, Infanta Sofía, now studies - the heiress began her military training at the Army General Academy in Zaragoza last August.

The future captain general first received the saber that accredits her as a lady cadet and on October 7 she completed the protocolary swearing of the flag, an act attended by the Kings and with which she materialized her commitment to serve Spain. With this, she completed the first training course and began the second course.

Next year the Princess of Asturias will continue her military training at the Marín Naval School, in Pontevedra, where she will embark on the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano, and the following year she will complete it at the General Academy of Air and Space in San Javier (Murcia). It will be then when her heir begins her university studies.