During the presentation of the Golden Fleece to Queen Sofia, a detail went almost unnoticed, but it speaks volumes about Princess Leonor’s evolution.
While the ceremony brought together distinguished figures and a large part of the Spanish royal family, she returned from the General Air Force Academy to accompany her grandmother. She didn’t seek the spotlight, but her appearance carried a message that only those closely following the symbolic language of the monarchy would grasp.
Leonor chose a tailored burgundy suit by Bleis, featuring pronounced shoulder pads and subtle lapels. It’s an interesting change for her, as she has typically favored softer shades of red. This deeper, more solemn tone is not accidental.
It’s the same one Queen Letizia wore the day she received her own Order of the Golden Fleece. This gesture of “matching symbolism,” though unannounced, serves as a nod to family continuity and the historical significance of the decoration.
She completed the ensemble with a black round-neck blouse and black ballet flats with low heels. Nothing that sought to shine, nothing that competed with the star of the day.
And yet, the most notable detail was on her left lapel: the golden fleece she received in 2018, when she turned 13. That small metal detail on the burgundy added context to her entire look.
I appreciated how Leonor, even at such a solemn event, maintained a balance between her youth and her institutional role. She maintains her simple style, but is adding references that show she is already thinking like an heiress.
She didn’t need to wear anything new or take any risks; a simple, well-chosen outfit and a color that connected past and present were enough.