Princess Leonor of Spain has just enjoyed her Easter break with her sights set on her next steps. During the holiday, these past few days have been filled with reunions and family plans where, presumably, King Felipe and Queen Letizia's 20-year-old daughter's upcoming commitments and immediate future were discussed.
The calendar is shaping up to be intense with highly significant events. These include the announced visit of the Pope to Spain, from 6 to 12 June (though her exams may complicate her attendance), and the presentation of the Princess of Girona Awards. The special ceremony will be held on 14 July, at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona, followed by various activities in the province of Girona alongside her sister, 18-year-old Infanta Sofía. They will then be looking ahead to the summer holidays, before separating again to continue their studies.
© GettyThe Blueprint for a Future Queen
Younger sister Infanta Sofía's immediate academic path is already mapped out: she is studying Political Science and International Relations at Forward College, an international programme taking place across three cities - Lisbon, Paris (where she moves next term) and Berlin - which combines academic training with a clear European focus.
The Princess' case is different. Her itinerary responds to the institutional logic of the heir to the throne: Leonor cannot follow the same path as her sister, nor vice versa.
© Europa Press via Getty ImagesPrincess Leonor is currently facing the final stage of her training at the General Air Academy in San Javier. The teaching term concludes at the end of May, followed by exams; at the end of June, a final week of intensive military instruction awaits her before the presentation of commissions. Once her military training is complete, she is expected to study at a public university in Madrid and return to reside at Zarzuela Palace after five years away from home.
Just as she is about to conclude her military training - after passing through the Army, the Navy, and the Air and Space Force - she is preparing to start a new phase marking her return to civilian life after three years of military service.
Between the end of April and the beginning of May, the Royal Household will provide an update on this meticulously designed new phase. The future queen's education is considered a matter of state, but only the military training is subject to government endorsement; therefore, the decision regarding the Princess' university studies rests with both the King and Queen and Leonor herself.
The Academic Chapter
Everything suggests she will enrol at a state university in Madrid, with the Autonomous University (UAM) being the favourite as it is where her father, Felipe VI, studied. It is one of the most prestigious academic institutions in Spain, has solid international recognition, and is very close to home, Zarzuela Palace. However, Carlos III University (UC3M) is also a strong contender, being more "modern" and especially valued for Economics and International Relations, as well as Complutense University, where the Spanish Queen studied.
© Europa Press via Getty ImagesBeyond the location, the focus will be on what matters. We know that she will not follow her father's footsteps exactly, as these are different times in which institutional preparation demands a broader social outlook. Instead, she is expected to receive multidisciplinary training to tackle the "real challenges of the 21st century" in a more complex, global, and technological world.
King Felipe VI read Law and complemented it with various subjects from an Economics degree. He later completed a Master’s degree in International Relations at Georgetown (United States). While there has been no official statement from the Royal Household, probable core subjects for the heir to the throne include Law, Economics, International Relations, Political Science (or Geopolitics), and emerging technologies, alongside social sciences that cover inequality and international cooperation.
© Getty ImagesDefining a New Royal Era
Princess Leonor's university education will help her carry out her constitutional duties and understand Spain's role in an increasingly complex global era. The royal will have to prove the institution's usefulness and connect with the values of today's society, where she holds an advantage as a benchmark for new generations and as a woman in her role.
© GettyWhile awaiting news on which course and university she has chosen, the Princess is tackling the final stretch of her military training in San Javier, located in Spain's Murcia region. The teaching term will conclude at the end of May, followed by examinations and a final phase of intensive instruction. The culmination will be in July with the traditional presentation of commissions, where she will receive her ranks in the three Arms of Service.
It will be then that she says goodbye to a demanding phase, marked by milestones such as her first solo flight at the controls of a Pilatus PC-21, and turns a new page in her education. It is a defining moment, striking that delicate balance between tradition and transition that marks the path of the future Queen.
