Princess Leonor of Spain, heir to the Spanish throne, recently began her military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.
Although Leonor will undergo the same rigorous training as her peers, the Catalan portal El Nacional, claims that the Royal House has granted her a special privilege to protect the princess’s privacy.
Princess Leonor’s exclusive room
It is known that Cadet Leonor sleeps in a room with 11 other female cadets, with shared toilets and showers.
But unlike the other cadets, Leonor has a private room at the academy.
Although she has to get up early, make her bed, and follow the strict schedule just like all the cadets, this so-called room allows the heiress to enjoy some privacy away from her roommates.
This exclusive space serves two purposes:
- It allows the Borbón-Ortiz cadet to rest alone between her demanding workouts. The future queen has a full schedule of academic, physical, and military duties. This private room is a refuge to regain strength.
- This space avoids unwanted photos or gossip. Leonor’s peers are not allowed to sneak photos or share private details of the princess’s academic life. This protects both Leonor’s privacy and the wishes of the Royal Household.
Shared facilities and rules
Apart from her private room, Leonor lives like the other cadets at the academy.
She showers and uses the bathroom at designated times, cleans and irons her own uniform, and must follow strict rules.
Leonor may not wear makeup or jewelry and must style her hair according to the rules.
She eats with her classmates in the dining hall and performs cooking and cleaning duties.
During training, she receives the same treatment as any other cadet.
This equal treatment has an essential purpose: to integrate Leonor into military life.
She interacts with her fellow cadets and gains leadership experience. This builds camaraderie and allows Leonor to understand the realities of military service.
Intense military training
Leonor’s stay at the academy began with an orientation phase to introduce cadets to military discipline.
She will then begin her intensive training program covering:
- Weapons use and maintenance.
- Hand-to-hand combat.
- Military history and strategy.
- Physical training (running, swimming, obstacle courses).
- Drills and ceremonies.
- Academic training.
Cadets also perform guard duty and kitchen patrols. It’s a grueling program, designed to push the cadets mentally and physically.
In Leonor’s case, the academy condensed a traditional two-year program into an accelerated year.
This will allow the princess to complete her military studies in 2026, before heading off to college.
Despite the condensed program, Leonor will still receive the highest academic honors commensurate with her royal status.
Preparing to serve Spain
Ultimately, Leonor’s military education provides essential preparation to serve as the future sovereign of Spain. She will gain:
- Discipline and work ethic.
- Camaraderie with her fellow citizens.
- Ability to work under pressure.
- Knowledge of military service and defense issues.
This first-hand experience will be invaluable as Leonor takes on more royal duties.
Although she supposedly enjoys a little privilege, Leonor is fully immersed in the rigors of military training.