Princess Leonor's Military Studies

Alondra · Jul 3, 2024

An Ard Ri said:
Who also happens to be Leonors grandmother.
(I under it was limited to just the 4 of them )

I amended my previous post to make it a bit clearer why Queen Sofia couldn't be part in the tribune with King Felipe.

This is a military ceremony with strict numbers of guests. Being Leonor's grandparent means little. I have no idea if Sofia attendance was limiting other parents from attending the ceremony, and she graciously stayed away, so more graduate parents could attend.

An Ard Ri · Jul 3, 2024

Alondra said:
I amended my previous post to make it a bit clearer why Queen Sofia couldn't be part in the tribune with King Felipe.

This is a military ceremony with strict numbers of guests. Being Leonor's grandparent means little. I have no idea if her attendance was limiting other parents from attending the ceremony and if she graciously stayed away, so more graduate parents could attend.

I guess its down to numbers at these ceremonies and every place counts!

Alondra · Jul 3, 2024

An Ard Ri said:
I guess its down to numbers at these ceremonies and every place counts!

I've been thinking about this, and please take my post as a personal opinion only.

I think there is another issue why Qeen Sofia would not attend a military ceremony for her granddaughter. Leonor is doing a 3 year stint in the military because one day she'll be Head of State in Spain and command their arm forces. Her path as Crown Heir was discussed and agreed with by the Royal House and the Spanish government. Leonor's military service is considered an essential to that path as future Head of State. Queen Sofia is a member of the Royal Family but still a former queen's consort without direct line to the Head of the State. That direct line belongs to Juan Carlos and military service is very strict even if Leonor is doing a modified version of the usual 5 year officer career.

I've probably made a mess of this but I hope you get where I'm coming from.

TLLK · Jul 3, 2024

Congratulations to Leonor on this prestigious milestone.

An Ard Ri · Jul 3, 2024

Alondra said:
I've been thinking about this, and please take my post as a personal opinion only.

I think there is another issue why Qeen Sofia would not attend a military ceremony for her granddaughter. Leonor is doing a 3 year stint in the military because one day she'll be Head of State in Spain and command their arm forces. Her path as Crown Heir was discussed and agreed with by the Royal House and the Spanish government. Leonor's military service is considered an essential to that path as future Head of State. Queen Sofia is a member of the Royal Family but still a former queen's consort without direct line to the Head of the State. That direct line belongs to Juan Carlos and military service in the case of Leonor is very strict.

I've probably made a mess of this but I hope you get where I'm coming from.

My thinking is that if they invited Queen Sofia then would have to invite Letizia's parents and that the numbers were quite limited.

(My post was hypothetical and just meant it would have been nice as I'm sure QS is just as proud of her granddaughters.)

Video from todays event a rather breezy day

Toledo · Jul 3, 2024

Alondra said:
I've been thinking about this, and please take my post as a personal opinion only.

I think there is another issue why Qeen Sofia would not attend a military ceremony for her granddaughter. Leonor is doing a 3 year stint in the military because one day she'll be Head of State in Spain and command their arm forces. Her path as Crown Heir was discussed and agreed with by the Royal House and the Spanish government. Leonor's military service is considered an essential to that path as future Head of State. Queen Sofia is a member of the Royal Family but still a former queen's consort without direct line to the Head of the State. That direct line belongs to Juan Carlos and military service is very strict even if Leonor is doing a modified version of the usual 5-year officer career.

I've probably made a mess of this but I hope you get where I'm coming from.

I would have put the rule book aside and invite Queen Sofia to join her family in this celebration and give her blessings to the princess. What's another chair going to do wrong for optics even if it was limited to parents and siblings.

Alondra · Jul 3, 2024

Toledo said:
I would have put the rule book aside and invite Queen Sofia to join her family in this celebration and give her blessings to the princess. What's another chair going to do wrong for optics even if it was limited to parents and siblings.

It's not about a rule book, Toledo. It's a military ceremony with hundreds of cadets graduating and limited number of guests. Parents, siblings, girlfriends, boyfriends, everyone wants to be there. Queen Sofia would always be part of the ceremony if she wanted to, but considering it's military and her former role as queen consort, I think she was wise to stay away.

lula · Jul 3, 2024

https://twitter.com/x/status/1808475449288220705

https://twitter.com/x/status/1808478094463774886

kathia_sophia · Jul 3, 2024

Congratulations Leonor! The pictures with her father and her mother were delightful. Can't wait for her next event on July 5th with just her father

Toledo · Jul 3, 2024

Sorry to try to make a point but the social media influencer Tomas Parano took a picture with both princesses. He's in the event because his cousin Jorge was appointed lieutenant. Tomas entourage included his eldest son Tomi and his younger sister Eva. I guess guest invites for the graduates was more flexible than just immediate family.

Some other articles about the event:
King Felipe and Letizia shower Princess Leonor with affection as she graduates from military school

Photo of Leonor on military uniform on her first ever official trip on her own:
Spain’s crown princess to visit Portugal as first ever official trip

By the way, while looking for articles on the graduation I found one from the notorious reporter Penafiel where he attacked Leonor and her military classes. In my eyes this guy can't sink to any lower level anymore. Now that Leonor is out and about, she will be his new target besides Queen Sofia and Queen Letizia.

lula · Jul 20, 2024

Her Royal Highness, the Princess of Asturias, Doña Leonor de Borbón Ortiz, dedicated some loving words of gratitude in the Book of Honor to the University of Zaragoza, for having contributed to her training from the Defense University Center, during the months of stay at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza.

Universidad de Zaragoza on Instagram: "Su Alteza Real, la Princesa de Asturias, Doña Leonor de Borbón Ortiz, dedicó, en presencia del rector José Antonio Mayoral y de la Secretaria General, Mª Ángeles Rueda, unas cariñosas palabras de agradecimiento

1,049 likes, 12 comments - universidaddezaragoza on July 19, 2024: "Su Alteza Real, la Princesa de Asturias, Doña Leonor de Borbón Ortiz, dedicó, en presencia del rector José Antonio Mayoral y de la Secretaria General, Mª Ángeles Rueda, unas cariñosas palabras de agradecimiento en el...

www.instagram.com

Toledo · Jul 20, 2024

Nice post about Leonor showing her gratitude to the University of Zaragoza, @lula . Yet, when I check out the Instagram comments from the start, I see the hate agenda people complaining about Leonor's visit.

That's the sad part about our country, even when the democracy is strong some sectors want to attack Leonor as if she was a politician in charge.

lula · Jul 24, 2024

Royal Decree 737/2024, of July 23, by which Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, is appointed First female Midshipman.

https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2024/07/24/pdfs/BOE-A-2024-15233.pdf

Duke of Marmalade · Aug 28, 2024

Tomorrow, August 29, Leonor will enter the Naval Military School of Marin as a third-year student with the rank of midshipman. The academic program will be specifically designed for her.

Así será el día a día de la Princesa Leonor en la Escuela Naval Militar de Marín

La heredera al trono ingresará en la academia gallega el 29 de agosto como alumna de tercero y con el rango de guardiamarina

www.eldebate.com

Somebody · Aug 28, 2024

lula said:
Royal Decree 737/2024, of July 23, by which Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, is appointed First female Midshipman.

https://www.boe.es/boe/dias/2024/07/24/pdfs/BOE-A-2024-15233.pdf

It seems midshipman is the lowest rank in the navy. Given that she is made it in advance of her second year in the military but joining 'third year navy students', I assume her fellow classmates also already have that rank - but in their case based on their previous 2 years of study in the navy.

BJB · Aug 28, 2024

Somebody said:
It seems midshipman is the lowest rank in the navy. Given that she is made it in advance of her second year in the military but joining 'third year navy students', I assume her fellow classmates also already have that rank - but in their case based on their previous 2 years of study in the navy.

Yeah, in the first two years it would've been "Aspirante" for regular students.