Princess Leonor is on vacation after completing her first year at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, yet she continues to participate in various events as heir to the Spanish throne.
But the month of August will mark the beginning of a new chapter in the Naval Military Academy of Marin (Pontevedra), where she will face new academic and personal challenges.
Princess Leonor’s Naval Training
After her experience in the Army, Leonor is making the most of her vacations, although her institutional commitments have filled her days off.
Recently, we saw her on her first solo trip to Portugal then visited what will be her residence from August 31, accompanied by her parents in this important step for her development.
As in Zaragoza, the curriculum of the 56-year-old eldest daughter of King Felipe VI is specially designed for her according to Royal Decree 173/2023, of March 14.
At the Naval Academy, she will start as a First Midshipman, joining the third-year class, and then be promoted to Second Midshipman at the end of the year.
The challenges
The challenges Princess Leonor will face at the Escuela Naval Militar de Marin are significant.
Her first major challenge will be the training cruise aboard the training ship ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’, a voyage of approximately six months that involves making crucial decisions while sailing the Atlantic, Brazil and the Caribbean.
Prior to the cruise, Leonor and her companions will undergo a rigorous period of instruction and training, preparing to sail in a variety of vessels, from sailboats to motor vessels, acquiring essential skills for their naval development.
During this initial phase, Leonor will learn the fundamental skills of navigation, starting with sailing before entering the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’.
She will also face the challenge of leading and making decisions as a skipper, demonstrating her capabilities in both ship safety and crew management.
In training on open boats, Leonor will focus on developing specific skills, such as handling the crow’s nest and spar on sailboats, as well as working at elevated heights, crucial elements of her naval training.
Although Leonor’s curriculum is more demanding due to her previous two-year training, she has the special guidance of her father, who already sailed on the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ in 1987, and will most likely provide her with valuable advice for this new academic and personal stage.