Since she turned 18 and joined the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Princess Leonor has been enjoying more private moments and activities like any girl her age, away from the cameras.
The heiress is at a time in her life where she is discovering the world, having new experiences, and feeling free.
Princess Leonor’s Private Life
This school year, she has made many new friends among the new cadets in her class in Zaragoza.
Besides going home on her days off, she has also been on trips, like a secret visit to New York.
There, she might have met up with one of her best friends, Gabriel Giacomelli, who lives in Manhattan and studies at New York University.
They met while studying at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, where they allegedly fell in love.
Some sources claim they are just good friends, but a journey of more than 9 hours was quite an adventure.
Thanks to her two years at the boarding school, she now has friends all over the world, from Europe to the United States to South America.
She enjoys going out with her friends from the military academy when she has free time.
For example, the first time they went out, they went to a place popular with young military men in the university area.
They shared pizza, sandwiches, hamburgers and a dish called “huevos rotos,” and drank soft drinks and water.
Leonor joins in on many outings and was also seen with friends at Murray’s Tavern. She always pays her own way and never lets others pay for her.
Her parents have taught her the value of hard work, and she is the only student at the academy who doesn’t receive a salary because her parents decided to give up the 417 euros that cadets usually earn.
After celebrating her 18th birthday at the Palacio del Pardo, Leonor had a surprise party thrown by her friends from the academy.
They chose a private area at Panzeer Grill, a restaurant in Zaragoza, where she enjoyed a traditional Aragonese menu with eight friends.
Leonor has also enjoyed Zaragoza’s nightlife. Recently, she went to the Babia nightclub for a “Flower Power” party, which was more like a village festival with music from a local band.
More recently, Leonor dined with her parents and her father’s military classmates at a private event at Aura, a large venue on the banks of the Ebro River, with the Pilar Basilica in the background.
Aside from her fun plans, Princess Leonor has been busy with final exams throughout May.
This past Tuesday, she received major honors from Aragón, including the Medal of the Cortes, the Medal of Aragón, and the title of Adoptive Daughter of Zaragoza.
On July 19, she will be named Dame Second Lieutenant Cadet at the end-of-year ceremony.