This week, in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of Felipe VI’s ascension to the throne, the University of Burgos organized a series of conferences.
One of them, held this Wednesday, was attended by Jaime Alfonsín, who until recently was the head of the Royal Household.
Under the title “The training of Princess Leonor”, the topic was clearly defined, although there were some surprises that also involved the Infanta Sofia and the possibility that, like the Princess of Asturias, she will receive military training in the Army.
Will the Infanta Sofia receive military training?
The former head of the King’s Household, recently replaced by Camilo Villarino, expressed that it is “necessary for the Princess of Asturias to reinforce her academic training by learning the job of reigning”. According to him, this is not acquired at school or university.
Alfonsín emphasized that this ‘office’ implies an “absolute restriction of freedoms”. This reality is evident in practically all European monarchies since the heirs to the throne are young.
However, it has also been observed how the current kings have granted their heirs certain licenses to live and experiment in accordance with their age before assuming institutional responsibilities that inevitably limit their freedom.
Referring to the training and progress of the Princess of Asturias, Alfonsín commented that “they offer great confidence and invite optimism”.
However, he emphasized that academic training alone is not enough: “Leonor will have to prepare herself to exercise the office with a special and singular training, which must start from an awareness of what she is and is called to be, of what she represents and her responsibilities.”
For Alfonsín, who now acts as private advisor to the King’s Household, the heir to the throne must be trained “as a person, in civic, humanist, moral and constitutional values”.
Leonor has as her guide and example her father, Felipe VI, who is responsible for this education both in his role as father and as king.
According to Alfonsín, this education should also be applied to the youngest daughter of the King and Queen, the Infanta Sofía, something that has already been seen with her admission to the UWC Atlantic College boarding school in Wales. With one exception: military training, which is intended exclusively for Leonor as a future queen.
While nothing prevents the Infanta Sofia from following in the military footsteps of her older sister, Alfonsín considers it “unacceptable” that she should combine a possible public service with a job in private enterprise, something that is allowed in other monarchies such as those of Belgium or the Netherlands, where the siblings of the holder of the Crown do not receive allowances.