Princess Leonor has been officially appointed First Midshipman of the 427th promotion of the General Corps of the Navy, according to Royal Decree 737/2024, of 23 July, published in the Official State Gazette of this Wednesday.
This appointment is part of the special regime foreseen for her as heir to the throne, included in a previous decree regarding her training and military career, at the proposal of the Minister of Defense and after deliberation of the Council of Ministers.
One day, when Leonor becomes Queen, she will hold the supreme command of the Armed Forces, for which reason a specific itinerary has been outlined for her in the three military branches.
Princess Leonor Midshipwoman
After completing her training at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, where she has spent ten months full of discipline, challenges, companionship and new friendships.
The Princess of Asturias received last July 3 from her father her office as cadet second lieutenant, the coveted six-pointed star and the Grand Cross of Military Merit with white badge in an emotional ceremony in the parade ground where she swore allegiance to the flag.
On August 29, Leonor will enter the Naval Academyof Marín (Pontevedra) to begin her naval training.
The Spanish Navy is one of the oldest active naval forces in the world, with origins dating back to the late 15th and early 16th centuries, when the great Spanish kingdoms of Castile and Aragon were united under the Catholic Monarchs.
Although this will be his new military training home after the summer, it is not entirely unfamiliar to him.
Last week he accompanied the King and Queen to the Naval Academy to preside over the induction ceremony for new officers.
During the visit, the King personally showed Leonor the facilities of the academy and the interior of the training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano, which was docked in Marin before heading to Cadiz.
After spending four months in Pontevedra, Leonor will embark in January on this ship for several months, following in the footsteps of her father, who completed similar training at the age of 18 as a midshipman in 1987.
Leonor will join the class beginning her third year of studies and will be promoted to second midshipman at the end of her studies.
After her time in Marin, in the 2025-2026 academic year she will join the General Air Academy in San Javier (Murcia) as a naval ensign, becoming part of the fourth year class.
At the end of his studies, he will obtain the rank of ensign.