Princess Leonor's Military Studies

[PhillyMonarchist]

The navy school is concerned she is not fit for their physical training yet the army had no problem

Royalty Around The World on Instagram: "Leonor de Borbón's poor physical condition is a cause for concern in Marín. Monarquía Confidencial has learned that the academy's leadership is concerned about the poor physical condition in which Leonor de Bo

13 likes, 0 comments - lascasasreales on September 4, 2024: "Leonor de Borbón's poor physical condition is a cause for concern in Marín. Monarquía Confidencial has learned that the academy's leadership is concerned about the poor physical condition in which Leonor de Borbón has entered. "She...

www.instagram.com

 

[Somebody]

That’s quite interesting. So, either she slacked over the summer or the army is less demanding than the navy or the army tolerated lower levels of fitness from her than from other cadets.

 

[lula]

Several people have already repeated it several times in this forum, Monarquía Confidencial is not a reliable website, they constantly make mistakes in their articles about royalty and invent hoaxes such as the State Visit of Charles and Camilla.

 

[Muhler]

What source is that?
Is that official in any way?
She has done two years already as a cadet and that was in the army that traditionally require a higher level of physical fitness by the very nature of the tasks they perform.
Leonor is supposed to learn to operate aboard a ship for heavens sake! She's not about to become a combat swimmer or haul anchors by hand.
If she needs to be able to swim better, she'll get some extra lapses to do. No big deal.
So I'm a little skeptical.

 

[Somebody]

What source is that?
Is that official in any way?
She has done two years already as a cadet and that was in the army that traditionally require a higher level of physical fitness by the very nature of the tasks they perform.
Leonor is supposed to learn to operate aboard a ship for heavens sake! She's not about to become a combat swimmer or haul anchors by hand.
If she needs to be able to swim better, she'll get some extra lapses to do. No big deal.
So I'm a little skeptical.

She has done only one year in the army. She was promoted to the second year after her initial training because she is the heir. So, they clearly moved her up more quickly because of her position, so it is not out of the ordinary to think that she wasn't held to exactly the same standards as her fellow-cadets.

It has been reported by multiple sources, among which:

La princesa Leonor preocupa por el estado físico en el que ha llegado a la Escuela de Marín, que tomará medidas urgentes

Los mandos de la Escuela Naval de Marín, en Pontevedra, se han percatado de que tienen un problema con la princesa Leonor. La hija de los reyes Felipe y Letizia no está al nivel de las exigencias que tiene la academia y hay que paliarlo de forma inmediata

www.vozpopuli.com

and

El serio problema de la princesa Leonor en sus primeros días en la Escuela Naval de Marín

Parece que la princesa Leonor está teniendo un problema en la Escuela Naval de Marín, donde ingresó el pasado 29 de agosto para continuar con su formación

theobjective.com

 

[AnaC]

She has done only one year in the army. She was promoted to the second year after her initial training because she is the heir. So, they clearly moved her up more quickly because of her position, so it is not out of the ordinary to think that she wasn't held to exactly the same standards as her fellow-cadets.

It has been reported by multiple sources, among which:

La princesa Leonor preocupa por el estado físico en el que ha llegado a la Escuela de Marín, que tomará medidas urgentes

Los mandos de la Escuela Naval de Marín, en Pontevedra, se han percatado de que tienen un problema con la princesa Leonor. La hija de los reyes Felipe y Letizia no está al nivel de las exigencias que tiene la academia y hay que paliarlo de forma inmediata

www.vozpopuli.com

and

El serio problema de la princesa Leonor en sus primeros días en la Escuela Naval de Marín

Parece que la princesa Leonor está teniendo un problema en la Escuela Naval de Marín, donde ingresó el pasado 29 de agosto para continuar con su formación

theobjective.com

Lol, all the "articles" quote the original "article", there are no more sources. A digital news site that "specializes" in made up and fake stories. They make up things all the time and this time claim that unnamed higher ups from the Navy have run to this unknown and less than credible "news" site to slag their future Commander in chief. Sure, Jan.

Btw, in the new school year ceremony she was one of the students that received a medal for an outstanding previous year. But I'm sure that some will think that when the Army officially recognises her work it's only because of her position and when a news site that doesn't even reach a tabloid level publishes this anonymous claim it's totally credible.

 

[Prinsara]

People on and offline are looking for an excuse to take the golden girl down. It's a game, a particularly unfortunate one (see her mother or the Princess of Wales), but one day Leonor is going to stumble, because she's human. And what degree of legitimate news it will be, we'll see.

 

[Moonmaiden23]

What exactly is meant by HRH' s alleged "poor fitness"?
Does she have a chronic illness or is it something easily addressed i.e. how many pushups she can do, weight requirement etc?

ETA: No need to answer. I have clicked into the article(s) and read them.


.

 

[Alisa]

She has done only one year in the army. She was promoted to the second year after her initial training because she is the heir. So, they clearly moved her up more quickly because of her position, so it is not out of the ordinary to think that she wasn't held to exactly the same standards as her fellow-cadets.

It has been reported by multiple sources, among which:

La princesa Leonor preocupa por el estado físico en el que ha llegado a la Escuela de Marín, que tomará medidas urgentes

Los mandos de la Escuela Naval de Marín, en Pontevedra, se han percatado de que tienen un problema con la princesa Leonor. La hija de los reyes Felipe y Letizia no está al nivel de las exigencias que tiene la academia y hay que paliarlo de forma inmediata

www.vozpopuli.com

and

El serio problema de la princesa Leonor en sus primeros días en la Escuela Naval de Marín

Parece que la princesa Leonor está teniendo un problema en la Escuela Naval de Marín, donde ingresó el pasado 29 de agosto para continuar con su formación

theobjective.com

Not sure what the big deal. Leonor is getting an abbreviated version of training in the armed forces. No one can realistically expect her to hold to the same standards as regular cadets.

 

[Toledo]

That’s quite interesting. So, either she slacked over the summer or the army is less demanding than the navy or the army tolerated lower levels of fitness from her than from other cadets.

She needs to lay off the Tapas and her restaurant outings? I think they are making too much out of nothing. She is fit and had a solid exercise routine in her previous training. Is she being compared to the regular cadet men in fitness? That would be unfair.

And speaking of unfair, in one link above @Blog Real 's # 121 message, when you scroll down the article it suggests checking out three more articles about Leonor starting on how she applies her make up in the army. Did a young prince Felipe, or Leonor's cousin prince William, ever had anything like that printed on them when they had army training? Like how they kept their faces moisturized during training?

That alone shows you these articles on Leonor are to exploit her as a female more than inform us about her training with a neutral point of view.

 

[Alondra]

Monarquia Confidencial, Vozpopuli or the Objective.com are not reliable sources as Lula has mentioned. They are hardcore yellow press in digital format. They never provide reliable sources to their articles, make silly mistakes or invent what they don't know.

The Spanish Naval Academy will never talk with journalists about their guardiamarinas, let alone about the Princess of Asturias. This is not how the military works in Spain across all branches.

I don't doubt however someone has made a comment which has been exploited by the yellow press. I mentioned in this thread that it was going to be difficult year for Leonor, being a newcomer, joining the guardiamarinas in their 3rd year. She's fit but probably not as fit in swimming and rowing as the people in her class with two years of work behind them. The navy will likely do a plan for her with extra hours in her weaker fitness and that's it.

Unfortunately news about Leonor sell and if she's doing everything right, it's boring. They yellow press will do anything for a scandal....truth is not necessary.

 

[AnaC]

From Casa Real on her first day at the Navy Academy:

The following day, Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias took part in the activities of the Naval Academy. Early in the morning, she was presented with the badge of distinguished student, along with other classmates. This is a recognition that is awarded at the beginning of the course to students who have met certain requirements in the previous year, relating to the grades obtained, grade of instruction and training or absence of disciplinary offences. In the case of Her Royal Highness, the proposal for distinguished student comes from the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, where she successfully completed the last course. She also took part in an inter-brigade sports competition, which on this occasion was won by the third brigade, in which Her Highness is participating. In the afternoon, Princess Leonor embarked for her first trip to sea in seamanship training.

And her team won the sport competition!

Inicio - Actividades y Agenda - Ingreso de Su Alteza Real la Princesa de Asturias en la Escuela Naval Militar

Detalle Actividad - Ingreso de Su Alteza Real la Princesa de Asturias en la Escuela Naval Militar

www-casareal-es.translate.goog

 

[Alondra]

One more thing....

It's extraordinarily difficult for a woman to join the Navy. Their military standards are so high, no many men join the Academy, let alone women. In this promotion, only 9 women have joined Leonor, and the military in Spain are totally diversified.

 

[Emmily]

Not sure what the big deal. Leonor is getting an abbreviated version of training in the armed forces. No one can realistically expect her to hold to the same standards as regular cadets.

Agree! This is much ado about nothing.

 

[Muhler]

She has done only one year in the army. She was promoted to the second year after her initial training because she is the heir. So, they clearly moved her up more quickly because of her position, so it is not out of the ordinary to think that she wasn't held to exactly the same standards as her fellow-cadets.

It has been reported by multiple sources, among which:

La princesa Leonor preocupa por el estado físico en el que ha llegado a la Escuela de Marín, que tomará medidas urgentes

Los mandos de la Escuela Naval de Marín, en Pontevedra, se han percatado de que tienen un problema con la princesa Leonor. La hija de los reyes Felipe y Letizia no está al nivel de las exigencias que tiene la academia y hay que paliarlo de forma inmediata

www.vozpopuli.com

and

El serio problema de la princesa Leonor en sus primeros días en la Escuela Naval de Marín

Parece que la princesa Leonor está teniendo un problema en la Escuela Naval de Marín, donde ingresó el pasado 29 de agosto para continuar con su formación

theobjective.com

I see.
I was under the impression that she had already completed two years.

No matter, my point still stands. The first phase in any military training is to build up strength and stamina that you maintain for the remainder of your time. So Leonor should during her first year have build up a sufficient fitness to make it as an army cadet.
And as has been pointed out while the physical demands of the naval academy my be very high, those who have made it to this third year of their training should now "only" be maintaining their physical standard.
Also at this level it's way past basic training and physical trials. Now it's about learning how to command a crew, be in charge of a specialist function, sail a ship or solve fairly advanced technical problems.

So I suspect where this article comes from. If the entry-demands of the naval academy are high and very women have ever joined let alone completed the cadet training then of course there might be concerns for Leonor being physically able to make it - had she been an ordinary woman.
However. Leonor is not ordinary and she is supposed to pass. She is not supposed to have a career sailing aboard ships. She is merely there to give her an in depth understanding of military life, functions and understand how to use military assets.
Leonor's next military step will be the staff-officer school, in order for her to become a major in 10-15 years. And finally the general staff course, enabling her to become a general in around 25 years.

 

[Alondra]

Muhler

And as has been pointed out while the physical demands of the naval academy my be very high, those who have made it to this third year of their training should now "only" be maintaining their physical standard.

Leonor arrived in the third navy year from the army academy. She passed with flying colours that branch of the army but is normal she'll struggle in the navy fitness when she's behind 2 years.

Different branches of the military have different physical demands, and navy is the toughest..She'll do it.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

How can she compete with men in their 3rd year? Not many women around as peers and unless Leonor is really unfit, what is certainly not the case, its a no brainer that the fitness level of the 3rd year cadets will be different to Leonor's, especially the men. My guess is that Leonor had a personal fitness coach with her in Wales already to bring her up to speed to meet military requirements and she will have continued to work on this over the summer. Poor girl, how can people expect everything at once from an 18 year old. To go through an 'especially designed' education for many years is difficult enough.

 

[Somebody]

Apparently, Leonor was not known as very sporty prior to joining the military; with her favorite sport being volleyball (which she has been seen playing in Wales as well as during her year in the army). After completing UWC, she most likely started a more intensive fitness regime to prepare for her years in the military - her mother is a fitness enthusiast, so probably was able to support her at least in parts of her efforts.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Apparently, Leonor was not known as very sporty prior to joining the military; with her favorite sport being volleyball (which she has been seen playing in Wales as well as during her year in the army). After completing UWC, she most likely started a more intensive fitness regime to prepare for her years in the military - her mother is a fitness enthusiast, so probably was able to support her at least in parts of her efforts.

She must have done a lot behind the scenes from an early age, at the army she had to do stuff like skiing, probably riding horses, this takes time. She will have been prepared for a long, long time by a fitness coach specifically for army related sports.

 

[Alondra]

Apparently, Leonor was not known as very sporty prior to joining the military; with her favorite sport being volleyball (which she has been seen playing in Wales as well as during her year in the army). After completing UWC, she most likely started a more intensive fitness regime to prepare for her years in the military - her mother is a fitness enthusiast, so probably was able to support her at least in parts of her efforts.

Leonor was involved like any other kid in sports - volley, gymnastics and ballet as main ones. She didn't however complete a marathon as a teenager but we didn't expect it of her.

She's been doing fine in the military as an 18.year old.

 

[Muhler]

Muhler

And as has been pointed out while the physical demands of the naval academy my be very high, those who have made it to this third year of their training should now "only" be maintaining their physical standard.

Leonor arrived in the third navy year from the army academy. She passed with flying colours that branch of the army but is normal she'll struggle in the navy fitness when she's behind 2 years.

Different branches of the military have different physical demands, and navy is the toughest..She'll do it.

On the contrary.
My point was that in the beginning of joining a military unit you are brought up to a higher level of fitness. Once that level is reached, you maintain it.
Leonor ought to have reached that level during her first year - at the army academy.

So IMO if she made it the first year, she'll make it this year as well.

After all the purpose of the navy academy is to produce qualified officers to man the ships, not top athletes.
High physical demands are usually there to weed out the less disciplined and less determined applicants and cadets, as both determination and discipline are requirements for reaching a high level of fitness.

Anyway, if she should struggle a bit, she'll get extra coaching. The militaries of the world have after all been doing this for several thousand years.

 

[Alondra]

On the contrary.
My point was that in the beginning of joining a military unit you are brought up to a higher level of fitness. Once that level is reached, you maintain it.
Leonor ought to have reached that level during her first year - at the army academy.

So IMO if she made it the first year, she'll make it this year as well.

After all the purpose of the navy academy is to produce qualified officers to man the ships, not top athletes.
High physical demands are usually there to weed out the less disciplined and less determined applicants and cadets, as both determination and discipline are requirements for reaching a high level of fitness.

Anyway, if she should struggle a bit, she'll get extra coaching. The militaries of the world have after all been doing this for several thousand years.

I agree with you, always had. As you say, if Leonor needs extra coaching, the Navy will provided it like they do it with hundreds of others.

 

[Royalty Observer]

The "article" is clearly an attemp at stirring controversy and it also shows the ignorance related to the topic of fitness. There are different levels of how fit a person can be. You become fit by doing different types of physical activity and having the correct diet regimen but it takes time to increase the level. Leonor is clearly a fit person but she is also young. She is also a women so what it perceived by some as "low fitness level" may also just be a low energy day that all women have (one other point that leads me to the ignorance of the article writer)

 

[Alondra]

The "article" is clearly an attemp at stirring controversy and it also shows the ignorance related to the topic of fitness. There are different levels of how fit a person can be. You become fit by doing different types of physical activity and having the correct diet regimen but it takes time to increase the level. Leonor is clearly a fit person but she is also young. She is also a women so what it perceived by some as "low fitness level" may also just be a low energy day that all women have (one other point that leads me to the ignorance of the article writer)

It's not simply the question of fitness. It's about Army fitness, which is a different ball game in all their branches.

 

[Mbruno]

The navy school is concerned she is not fit for their physical training yet the army had no problem

Royalty Around The World on Instagram: "Leonor de Borbón's poor physical condition is a cause for concern in Marín. Monarquía Confidencial has learned that the academy's leadership is concerned about the poor physical condition in which Leonor de Bo

13 likes, 0 comments - lascasasreales on September 4, 2024: "Leonor de Borbón's poor physical condition is a cause for concern in Marín. Monarquía Confidencial has learned that the academy's leadership is concerned about the poor physical condition in which Leonor de Borbón has entered. "She...

www.instagram.com

Maybe the Navy has higher standards of fitness than the Army although the common wisdom is that the opposite is normally true in most countries ( except for the Marine Corps when it is formally part of the Navy as in the UK for example; in the US, the Marines are a separate branch in itself).

No doubt some people will argue, in defense of the Princess, that she may be suffering from gender discrimination as some instructors may disproportionately question or doubt the fitness of female cadets compared to their male counterparts, but I don't think that is the case.

To be honest, Leonor never struck me as being particularly athletic or fitness oriented and I am actually surprised that questions about her fitness were not raised in the Army either.

Fitness standards are maybe not so strict nowadays in many armed forces, but actually they should be a major red line both for enlisted personnel and aspiring officers. That is one of the reasons why I personally could never pursue a military career myself.

 

[Alondra]

Maybe the Navy has higher standards of fitness than the Army although the common wisdom is that the opposite is normally true in most countries ( except for the Marine Corps when it is formally part of the Navy as in the UK for example; in the US, the Marines are a separate branch in itself).

No doubt some people will argue, in defense of the Princess, that she may be suffering from gender discrimination as some instructors may disproportionately question or doubt the fitness of female cadets compared to their male counterparts, but I don't think that is the case.

To be honest, Leonor never struck me as being particularly athletic or fitness oriented and I am actually surprised that questions about her fitness were not raised in the Army either.

Fitness standards are maybe not so strict nowadays in many armed forces, but actually they should be a major red line both for enlisted personnel and aspiring officers. That is one of the reasons why I personally could never pursue a military career myself.

I have no idea why you think the Navy in Spain is different from the exceptions you apply to the Marine Corps. I've said it before, and will repeat it again, the Spanish Navy is the toughest Army branch in their physical level requirements.

 

[Somebody]

Because the Navy and Marine Corps are two different entities and have distinct (more taxing) requirements, just like the Commando Corps is a separate entity within the Army with distinct (more taxing) requirements.

Of course Leonor is not expected to join either Corps which often only consists of men as even the fittest women don't meet their physical requirements.

 

[Toledo]

The "article" is clearly an attemp at stirring controversy and it also shows the ignorance related to the topic of fitness. There are different levels of how fit a person can be. You become fit by doing different types of physical activity and having the correct diet regimen but it takes time to increase the level. Leonor is clearly a fit person but she is also young. She is also a women so what it perceived by some as "low fitness level" may also just be a low energy day that all women have (one other point that leads me to the ignorance of the article writer)

A sector of the Spanish press copies a lot of its tabloid news style from the foreign yellow press that bashes royals and, in republics, government officials for the sake of someone buying the tabloid. Same if it's online, you check out the website curious about a headline and they get money from side ads.

It's normal they create the articles to establish fear in the future. Fear sells news. In this case related to Leonor and her training it's the 'look at who's going to rule over us' propaganda. With Leonor the tabloid press got a jackpot to exploit because she's both the heir and she is a woman.

For example, her royal male cousins that are also heirs like Prince William don't get the same type of attack, they focus of girlfriends because it's the macho virility mentality of those behind the tabloid articles. With Leonor the focus is on her ability to keep up with the guys in the armed services, and when she is not at their level exaggerate it even more for a good tabloid cover.

But here's the reality, neither Leonor nor her royal equivalent cousins in Europe are expected to lead armies like Napoleon, or command them for wars like Catherine the Great of Queen Boudica. She will be the head of state one day and expected to wear the uniform of each branch during events. She is doing an excellent job in her training, and I assume Princess Sofia will follow her steps when she reaches the same age for being the potential heir to Leonor until we get the next generation of royal children in Spain.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

Exactly. She wont be the fittest recruit, she doesnt have to be anyway, but she'll do well enough - a lot of people will have seen to that behind the scenes before she entered the military.

Re Sofia, I am curious what happens. I read a while ago that she will do a stint in the military but a slimmed down version of Leonor. We'll know the plans soon enough.

 

[Somebody]

So, what would you say is the reason the heir has to take three years of military training - given that the monarch is indeed no longer expected to lead the military forces into battle? I assume it is more than being able to wear different uniforms...