Since September 1, Ensign Leonor de Borbón has been undergoing her third stage of military training at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier. But unlike her time in Zaragoza and Marín, this time, discretion prevails.
Neither the Royal Household nor the Air Force has released any new images since the initial days, when photos of the princess in her uniform and inside the cockpit of the PC-21 Pilatus aircraft, which she is learning to fly, were circulated. Since then, there has been complete silence.
What is actually known about her time at the Air Academy?
The limited information available comes from official sources and a few images. Leonor is known to have participated in sports activities at the academy and even won a medal with the fencing team at the 2025 Inter-Academy Championship.
Other than that, nothing else. A comparison with its previous stages is inevitable: in Zaragoza and Marín, we saw a constant media presence, from track exercises to maneuvers at sea.
In San Javier, however, a policy of maximum discretion appears to have been enforced.
A change in strategy or a protective measure
Everything indicates a joint decision between Zarzuela and the Air Force to maintain a lower profile during this course.
It could be a way to give Leonor more privacy in an environment that requires concentration, or perhaps an attempt to distance her public image from constant media scrutiny.
In a context as high-profile as hers, silence can also send a message: the heir to the throne is still developing, but there’s no need to reveal every step.
The “release”: the most anticipated moment
Leonor’s next major milestone at San Javier will be her “suelta,” the solo flight in which every military pilot demonstrates their ability to operate the aircraft independently.
According to King Felipe VI, during a recent event in Belgium, his daughter has already begun flying in the front cockpit of the Pilatus PC-21. That symbolic moment is just around the corner, and it will undoubtedly put the spotlight back on her.
Until then, it appears that discretion will continue to be the hallmark of this stage.