On a day marked by the celebration of Father’s Day in Spain, King Felipe VI experienced a bittersweet day.
Despite the widespread joy that characterizes this date, the monarch faced the day without the company of his daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, setting a precedent in his experience as a father.
King Felipe’s Father’s Day
Father’s Day is usually an occasion for parents to enjoy special moments with their children, exchanging gifts and creating fond memories.
But for some, like King Felipe, distance gets in the way of these family traditions.
According to Spanish press reports, King Felipe, 56, marked this Father’s Day in an unusual way, as both Princess Leonor, 18, and Infanta Sofia, 16, live far away from Madrid, preventing them from celebrating the day with their father.
Princess Leonor, who had previously been absent during this holiday due to her studies at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales, is currently immersed in her military training at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza.
For her part, the Infanta Sofía is experiencing distance for the first time during this celebration, as she is studying at the same Welsh boarding school as her sister.
Despite the absence of his daughters, King Felipe devoted the day to his official duties, holding two military audiences at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
He was then expected to head to the Zarzuela Palace to continue preparing for his weekly schedule, with engagements scheduled through Thursday.
Remote family celebration
However, technology offers the possibility of shortening distances, and princesses Leonor and Sofia could have taken the opportunity to surprise their father from afar with details such as a video call or gifts sent with the complicity of their mother, Queen Letizia.
Expectations of an early family reunion are focused on next Easter, when the Spanish royal family is expected to reunite.
After an intense week of military training, Leonor will enjoy a well-deserved rest, while Sofia will take the usual Easter break.
This meeting will be their first since Christmas, and although it has not yet been confirmed whether they will make public appearances or maintain the privacy of their vacation, the reunion promises to be a significant moment for the royal family.