You’ve probably seen the photos. A young woman in camouflage, face smeared with tactical grease, lugging an assault rifle through the mud of Zaragoza. It’s a far cry from the glittering tiaras and silk sashes we usually associate with European royalty. But honestly, that’s exactly the point. Leonor Princess of Asturias isn't just "playing" soldier for a photo op. She’s currently deep into a three-year military grind that is fundamentally reshaping how Spain looks at its future Queen.
Most people think being a modern princess is about ribbon-cutting and looking poised at galas. For Leonor, life lately has been about 6:00 AM wake-up calls, grueling marches, and, as of late 2025, learning to pull 4G maneuvers in a cockpit.
The Military Grind is Very Real
There was a lot of chatter when the Royal Household announced Leonor would spend three years rotating through Spain's military academies. Some skeptics called it a PR stunt. They were wrong. Since August 2023, the Princess has been treated—mostly—like any other cadet.
She started at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza. She didn't stay in a palace; she shared a dorm with other women. She learned to handle an HK G36 rifle. She crawled through the dirt. By the time she finished her stint there in 2024, she had earned the rank of Cadet Ensign.
Then came the Navy. That wasn't a Mediterranean cruise, either. She spent months aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, a four-masted tall ship. We’re talking about five months at sea, crossing the Atlantic, visiting New York and various Latin American ports, all while learning celestial navigation and how to actually run a ship. She finished that leg in mid-2025 as a Midshipman 2nd Class.
Taking to the Skies in San Javier
Right now, as of early 2026, Leonor is in the final stretch of this military trilogy. She’s at the General Air and Space Academy (AGA) in San Javier, Murcia. This is arguably the coolest—and most terrifying—part of the whole journey.
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In December 2025, she hit a massive milestone: her first solo flight. She took a Pilatus PC-21 turboprop trainer up into the Spanish sky all by herself. No instructor in the back seat. Just her and the controls. She’s the first woman in the Spanish Royal Family to ever do that.
The Pilatus PC-21 isn't some slow-moving Cessna. It’s a high-performance machine that can hit nearly 700 km/h. Cadets at AGA use it to bridge the gap before they move on to actual fighter jets like the Eurofighter. While Leonor probably won't be flying combat missions in the future, the fact that she’s put in the 50+ hours of simulator and theory work to fly solo says a lot about her discipline.
Why This Actually Matters for Spain
Spain’s relationship with its monarchy has been... complicated. To put it mildly. Between the scandals surrounding her grandfather, King Juan Carlos I, and the general rise of republican sentiment, the institution was looking a bit shaky.
Leonor is basically the "reset button."
By putting her through the same rigors as the men and women who will one day serve under her as Commander-in-Chief, the monarchy is trying to earn its keep. It’s a calculated move by King Felipe VI. He knows that in 2026, "divine right" doesn't mean anything to a 20-year-old in Madrid or Barcelona. But "earned respect"? That still carries weight.
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The First Queen Regnant in 150 Years
When Leonor eventually takes the throne, she will be the first Queen Regnant of Spain since Isabella II in the 1800s. That’s a huge gap. For over a century and a half, it’s been all Kings.
Her path to the throne was officially "unlocked" on her 18th birthday in October 2023. She swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution in front of the Cortes Generales. It was a high-pressure moment, televised to millions. She handled it with a level of poise that, frankly, made her look way older than 18.
The "Leonormania" Phenomenon
There’s this term going around in Spanish media: Leonormanía. It sounds cheesy, but the data backs it up. Recent polls show she’s consistently one of the most popular members of the Royal Family, often ranking right up there with her father and grandmother, Queen Sofía.
What’s interesting is why she’s popular.
- Relatability: Despite the title, she seems human. She has a younger sister, Infanta Sofía, whom she’s clearly close with.
- Education: She isn't just a "military brat." She graduated from UWC Atlantic College in Wales with an International Baccalaureate. She’s multilingual—fluent in Spanish, English, and Catalan, with a solid grasp of French, Mandarin, and Arabic.
- No Drama: In an era of royal tell-alls and "Megxits," Leonor has stayed incredibly low-key. No leaked club photos, no controversial interviews. She just shows up and does the work.
Dealing with the Critics
It’s not all sunshine and parades, though. There are plenty of people in Spain who think the monarchy is an outdated relic. They argue that no matter how many planes she flies, she shouldn't be "better" than anyone else just because of her birth.
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Some political factions in Spain, particularly on the left, regularly call for a referendum on the monarchy. Leonor's challenge isn't just passing her flight exams; it’s proving to a skeptical generation that a 21st-century Queen has a functional purpose in a modern democracy.
What’s Next for the Princess?
The military training wraps up in July 2026. After that, the roadmap for the future Queen looks a lot like her father’s.
She’s expected to head to university to study Law, followed by a Master’s degree—likely in International Relations. King Felipe went to Georgetown in the US for his Master's; it wouldn't be surprising if Leonor follows a similar international path to sharpen her diplomatic skills.
Actionable Insights for Royal Watchers
If you're following Leonor’s journey, keep an eye on these specific markers over the next 12 months:
- The Graduation: Watch for the official ceremony in July 2026 when she completes her Air Force training. It’ll be a major symbolic moment as she finishes the three-branch rotation.
- The University Choice: Where she decides to study for her degree will tell us a lot about her future focus—whether it's domestic law or global diplomacy.
- The Princess of Asturias Awards: Every October, she presides over these awards in Oviedo. It’s the best place to see her give a formal speech and gauge how her public persona is evolving.
The "Princess Leonor" we see today is a transition figure. She’s moving from a student to a soldier, and eventually to a stateswoman. She’s basically the face of a monarchy trying to prove it can be modern, transparent, and—most importantly—useful. Whether she succeeds in the long run is still up for debate, but nobody can say she isn't putting in the hours.