Spain’s Crown Princess Leonor to start three-year military training

• Princess Leonor will begin three years of military training.
• To prepare for her future role as head of state.
• King Felipe has sought to distance himself from his father.

Spain‘s Crown Princess Leonor, the presumed heir to the throne, will begin three years of military training later this year in order to prepare for her future role as head of state.

The country’s defense minister Margarita Robles announced at a press conference on Tuesday.

“In the Cabinet Meeting today, we have approved a royal decree whose aim is to give structure to the military training and career of (Princess Leonor),” Robles said.

The 17-year-old, who is the elder of King Felipe VI’s two daughters and first in the line of succession, will succeed her father as the supreme commander of the armed forces when he resigns or passes away.

As her father did before becoming king, Leonor will undergo a three-year military education during which she will spend a year with each of Spain’s armed forces: the army, navy, and air force.

“It shows that we will have, when the time comes, a supreme commander who is a woman,” Robles added, “and in the recent years, we’ve made a big effort to incorporate women into the armed forces.”

Leonor will begin her training in August or September after completing her studies at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales, which counts several royals among its current students and graduates, including King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands and his daughter, Princess Alexia.

“It’s an essential step in the life of Her Royal Highness … toward the leadership of our country,” Robles said.

Leonor will have the rank of ensign in the navy, lieutenant in the army, air force, and space command after completing her military training.

Then, Robles continued, she may pursue a degree at a university.

The authority and duties of the monarchy are outlined in the Spanish constitution. The king serves as head of state, and the elected prime minister is in charge of the government.

Recent years have seen a lot of strain placed on the Spanish monarchy as Felipe has made an effort to put himself apart from his father, the late King Juan Carlos.

In the shadow of a financial scandal and criticism over an elephant-hunting expedition to Botswana during Spain’s financial crisis in 2012, Juan Carlos abdicated in favor of his son in June 2014.

When his financial practices were under investigation, Juan Carlos departed the country in August 2020.

His Madrid attorney, Javier Sanchez-Junco, told the media in remarks made in 2021 and 2020 that he had paid more than 5 million euros ($5.3 million) in past taxes, plus interest.

He was the subject of an investigation by Spanish prosecutors last year, but no charges were brought.

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