Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, had her first Columbus Day full of exciting moments.
Dressed in the impeccable uniform of the Spanish Army, the Princess wore the green uniform with a white shirt, black tie and white gloves. She also wore the prestigious Golden Fleece around her neck, an honor bestowed by her father in 2018, and a beret that recognizes her as a lady cadet.
In addition to attending the military parade in uniform for the first time, Princess Leonor also made her debut at the traditional reception for the authorities at the Royal Palace in Madrid, where the King and Queen received around 2,500 people.
Curiosities of Columbus Day
Despite the seriousness of the event, there were moments of curiosity that did not go unnoticed. For example, when the protocol failed.
Before the parade, King Felipe corrected the Princess when he, the Queen and her daughter started to greet everyone. The King gestured to the Princess to take off her glove, as he had already done, but she had forgotten
On the other hand, she watched the entire parade standing, just like her father, as a symbol of respect for her fellow soldiers.
It was also the first time she participated in the emotional tribute to the fallen soldiers.
Columbus Day Reception
Among the curious facts of the reception at the Palace was that Leonor entered the throne room following in the footsteps of her parents, but surprised everyone by wearing the same uniform again. Unlike King Philip, who opted to change into an elegant dark suit.
While waiting at the Royal Palace for all the guests to arrive, Leonor could be seen adjusting her uniform jacket.
At that moment, Queen Letizia did not hesitate to help her daughter, showing a natural and compassionate gesture that reflects the strong bond between mother and daughter.
In addition, during the besamanos or greeting of the guests, the Queen, who was at her side, was in charge of explaining who the thousands of people invited were.
Leonor and the handsome soldier
But undoubtedly one of the most outstanding moments that went viral on social networks was the surprise Leonor received when she saw her classmates from the Military Academy enter the Palace as guests at the reception.
The Princess of Asturias could not contain her excitement and greeted them all with a big smile, especially one of the male cadets, while the King and Queen looked on attentively.
Princess Leonor’s first Columbus Day was an unforgettable one, full of exciting moments and curious details that have left their mark on the history of Spanish royalty.
S.M., como haría cualquier padre con su niña, sonríe, pero seguro está ya haciendo averiguaciones y pensando en mandar a alguno a Chafarinas. 😅pic.twitter.com/Y50uYsqvzG
— VíctorSánchezdelReal (@sanchezdelreal) October 12, 2023