Anyone who followed Princess Leonor’s military training knows that things weren’t always as calm as they are now. In her first year in Zaragoza, the paparazzi caught her out several times with her classmates.
At the Marín Naval Academy, it was even worse, with almost constant surveillance on land. And the breaking point came during a cruise aboard the Elcano, when photos of her partying in Salvador de Bahia and wearing a bikini in Uruguay surfaced.
The photos did not go down well at the Zarzuela Palace, and it wasn’t just a matter of the content. What was troubling was that the photographers had managed to get past her security. This had direct consequences.
The change in Leonor’s security
After Uruguay, her security protocol was tightened. There could be no more breaches of that kind. As a result, in San Javier, it is virtually impossible to get a candid photo of the princess outside the barracks. And when the photos don’t turn out, the photographers stop trying.
It’s not altruism; it’s basic economics. Getting a candid photo means spending days in Murcia, incurring travel expenses, and having no guarantee of a good result. For context, it took almost a month to sell the photos from Uruguay, and they sold for a much lower price than they would have fetched a few years ago.
For a freelancer, the math just doesn’t add up. And for the big agencies, which could indeed afford the investment, it is more cost-effective to opt for the official coverage provided by the Royal Household.
What Leonor’s life is like in San Javier
According to what she has learned, Leonor goes to and from the academy with her classmates during breaks, leads a completely normal life, and enjoys her free time without feeling watched. This is a radically different situation from the one she experienced during the Elcano, where she was the center of attention at every port of call without being able to do anything about it.
At the Zarzuela Palace, they know this is temporary. When Leonor starts college in Madrid, she will once again have to deal with surveillance, her classmates’ cell phones, and a much harder time protecting her privacy. But until that time comes, the strategy is to remain silent, focus on her studies, and only share what is absolutely necessary with the outside world.
What public engagements will Princess Leonor have after completing her military training?
On July 14, Princess Leonor will complete her time as an officer cadet in San Javier, and from then on, her institutional schedule will pick up again.
This summer, the Princess of Girona Awards are scheduled for mid-July, followed by Spain’s National Day and the Princess of Asturias Awards in the fall. She will, of course, attend these events.
But until then, the Royal Household has chosen to give her the space she didn’t have during the Elcano. The last image of her in training that was shared was from December 2025, showing her on her first flight in the PC-21 Pilatus. Since then, there has been complete silence.