Princess Leonor has been at the Air Academy in San Javier, Murcia, since September, completing her military training as a fourth-year officer.
Between flight simulators, demanding physical tests, and daily discipline, weekends are sacred. And the princess enjoys them like any twenty-year-old girl would: going out with her friends to local clubs and pubs.
A few weeks ago, just before Christmas, Leonor was seen at the Bastilla nightclub on the Lo Pagán promenade, very close to the academy. She was with her classmates and her security team, who this time chose to blend in with the crowd in party attire instead of their usual dark suits.
People between the ages of 25 and 35 were trying to blend in with the nightlife. She also frequents the Brothers pub, a typical local spot where San Javier students go every weekend to unwind from the military routine.
It’s nothing new to her. In Zaragoza and Marín, she also went out with her colleagues on her days off. She has made good friends in every place she has been, just as her father and grandfather did during their military training.
Spending many hours together under pressure often creates bonds that last a lifetime. The difference is that Leonor has to do it with civilian escorts following her everywhere.
Meanwhile, three weeks ago, she achieved her “first flight” by piloting the Pilatus PC-21 solo after fifty hours in a simulator.
This is her final year of military training, marking her third army before assuming her official duties. But until that moment arrives, weekends in San Javier remain for her what they are for any twenty-year-old student: a necessary respite.