The future queen of Spain, Princess Leonor, faces an important military and personal milestone.
The 17-year-old heir to the throne will swear allegiance to the Spanish flag on October 7 during a significant ceremony at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza (GMA).
Leonor will affirm her commitment alongside more than 400 fellow first-year cadets.
The ceremony represents an important step in her military training and in her trajectory as the daughter of King Felipe VI.
Princess Leonor prepares for the momentous military ceremony
At the GMA, preparations are underway for the October 7 flag swearing-in ceremony.
Leonor and her fellow cadets will gather in the central courtyard before parading outside to the ceremony site.
The academy director will then announce the news to King Felipe VI as head of the Armed Forces.
One by one, the cadets will take the oath promising to defend Spain and its Constitution, even at the cost of their lives.
They will seal this oath by kissing the national flag. Leonor is expected to be the first cadet to take the oath, wearing her military dress uniform.
The Princess of Asturias’ oath will not be an individual act, as was that of her father, King Felipe, in 1985.
Instead, Leonor will mingle with her fellow cadets for a group oath, part of her “normal” military training.
The ceremony on October 7 will begin at 12 noon and last about an hour and a half. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will preside over the ceremony.
It is possible that they will be accompanied by other family members, as the cadets can invite a maximum of six people.
However, Leonor’s younger sister, Princess Sofia, is likely to be absent, as she is studying abroad in Wales.
Solemn Mass
This October 6, Leonor and her fellow cadets will attend a ceremonial mass at the iconic Basilica of Nuestra Señora del Pilar in Zaragoza.
The solemn mass, which will begin at 6:30 p.m., will pay homage to the Virgin Mary.
As the cadets enter the basilica, they will approach the altar of the Virgin and present flowers in her honor.
Leonor will have her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, by her side in the religious ceremony prior to her big moment.
Where to watch Princess Leonor’s Flag Swearing-in?
As we have reported, the swearing-in of the flag will take place on Saturday, October 7 at 12:00 Spanish time.
The ceremony will be broadcast through La 1 of Spanish television and RTVE’s 24-hour channel. But it will also be available on the Internet through RTVE Play and through the YouTube channel of 24-hour RTVE Noticias.
The Princess’s oath of allegiance represents the most important act of her military career so far.
By swearing allegiance to Spain and its Constitution, Leonor visibly accepts her future role as Head of State.