Princess Leonor returned this October 12 to the military parade of Spain’s National Day after two years of absence.
The royal heiress presided over the Columbus Day celebrations in Madrid alongside her parents, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, wearing an official uniform of the Spanish Army.
Princess Leonor at the Spanish National Day parade.
The 17-year-old princess had not participated in the parade for two years due to commitments with her studies in Wales.
Today Leonor is training as an army officer after enrolling in August at the military academy in Zaragoza.
For the important occasion, Leonor wore the Army’s formal dress uniform for the first time in public. Her attire included white gloves, black tie and pants along with a maroon beret.
King Felipe could be seen bending down to guide his daughter closely at times, while Queen Letizia also gave her affectionate glances.
The princess was happy and calm as she performed her first military salute alongside the King and Queen.
The royal family remained united on the rostrum, despite the absence of Leonor’s younger sister, Infnata Sofia, who is studying high school in Wales.
The return of Princess Leonor and her presence in military dress marked an important milestone for the future queen.
The National Day celebrations have deep significance for the Spanish royal family.
The first military parade attended by Leonor’s parents as King and Queen of Spain was in 2014.
October 12 commemorates the arrival of Christopher Columbus in America in 1492. It represents a symbolic date for the history and unity of the nation.
