The Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony was a day full of emotions for the Spanish royal family.
Although Princess Leonor has already come of age, her relatives—King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Infanta Sofia, and Queen Emeritus Sofia—decided to accompany her to support her in this important responsibility of presiding over the ceremony.
The Princess of Asturias Awards recognize the work of outstanding personalities in five categories: Arts, Communication and Humanities, Sports, Social Sciences, and Literature.
These awards value the exceptional contributions that individuals and organizations have made in their respective fields.
Highlights of the Princess of Asturias Awards 2024
During the ceremony, members of the royal family took center stage, especially Princess Leonor. However, there were also memorable moments that deserve to be highlighted.
One such moment was the public reunion of Queen Emeritus Sofia with her granddaughters, whom she welcomed with an affectionate kiss before heading to their reserved place in the Campoamor Theater.
The entrance to the theater was another noteworthy moment, as the royal family experienced a slight setback on the blue carpet, prompting the crown princess to quickly intervene to correct a small protocol error.
In the stalls, another motherly figure stood out: Paloma Rocasolano, Queen Letizia’s mother, who occupied her usual place, close to the aisle where the King, Queen, and their daughters would pass.
Everyone made a small gesture towards her, underlining her presence and the family affection that permeated the atmosphere.
Emotion was undoubtedly the word that defined this ceremony. It could be seen on the faces of the awardees and guests, some of whom could not hold back tears.
A particularly touching moment was that of the mother of one of the winners, who could not hide her pride at seeing her daughter on stage.
Spanish singer Joan Manuel Serrat, who was another of the winners, surprised everyone after his thank-you speech by offering a rendition of his famous song “Aquellas pequeñas cosas” (Those little things), accompanied by a violinist.
At the end of his performance, King Felipe, breaking protocol, expressed his gratitude for the beautiful moment he had shared with the award winners and everyone present.
The ceremony concluded with another unexpected detail: it was Princess Leonor, and not her father, who had the honor of closing the ceremony, pronouncing the expected words: “The Princess of Asturias Awards 2025 are hereby announced.”
This gesture symbolizes the princess’s next stage on her way to fulfilling her royal duties, marking a milestone in her public life.
