This year, Holy Week served a purpose beyond mere rest. With Princess Leonor nearing the end of her military training after serving in all three armed services, the King and Queen took advantage of these days of relative media quiet to sit down with their daughter and have a serious conversation about the next step: university.
This is no minor conversation. According to sources close to the Royal Family, the choice of where and what the heir to the throne studies is a declaration of intent that King Felipe and Queen Letizia are weighing very carefully.
The most obvious role model is her father. Felipe VI studied Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid and completed his education with a master’s degree in International Relations from Georgetown. However, the Zarzuela Palace has made it clear that this does not mean Leonor will follow the same path.
“Leonor will not follow in her father’s footsteps in every respect; that will become clear over time,” sources close to the Zarzuela Palace told Monarquía Confidencial.
What does seem to be on the table is a more interdisciplinary education, combining law with economics and sustainability, which are the cornerstones of the current global agenda. An heiress for a world different from the one her father encountered.
Where could Leonor study?
One of the most hotly debated points in these family discussions has been the location. The option being most seriously considered is for Leonor to pursue her undergraduate degree at a Spanish public institution, reserving the international phase for a postgraduate program.
This makes sense from an institutional perspective: studying in Spain strengthens her bond with the country she will one day govern, and postponing her time abroad ensures that this connection with the Spanish reality is not lost during her most formative years.
According to sources close to the Palace, Queen Letizia carries the most weight in this decision. Her position is that she wants Leonor’s university choice to allow her to stay close to the youth of her generation, away from excessively elitist environments that could disconnect her from the Spanish reality.
For a queen who has built her public image on approachability and rigor, it makes perfect sense that her daughter’s education should follow the same logic.