Queen Letizia landed in Panama with a clear purpose: to be reunited with her eldest daughter.
The last time they saw each other was in January, when Princess Leonor sailed from Cadiz aboard the Elcano training ship.
That farewell, marked by tears and tight hugs, was left behind. Now it was time for a new embrace, this time of welcome, on land.
Queen Letizia and Leonor in Panama
It was not an official visit. No institutional act, no speeches, no posed photos. Letizia traveled like any mother who wants to see her daughter after several months.
She took advantage of the fact that the ship was docked in Panama to take a break from her schedule and spend a few days with Leonor.
Coincidence or not, the encounter occurred just before Mother’s Day.
The images that circulated from the port tell more than any statement. Mother and daughter, eyes closed, hugging each other for a long time.
Leonor, in white midshipman’s uniform, did not hide her emotion. Letizia, simple in white pants and blue shirt, remained close.
No formalities. She was there as a mother, not as a queen. While she waited, she shared space with the rest of the families.
Smiles, conversations, some nervous gestures. Everything normal. Like any group of parents reuniting with their children after a long journey.
The princess, for her part, followed the routine of the Elcano students. Guards, representation tasks, and when it’s time to rest, small moments of freedom away from protocol.
In previous stopovers she had already been seen going out with her companions, dining in simple restaurants, walking around the town.
The trip has not been entirely uneventful. In recent months, Leonor has had to face uncomfortable situations.
Photographs leaked, private moments exposed. In Chile, for example, the appearance of images of her in a shopping mall forced Zarzuela to take legal action.
Although the prosecutor’s office found no crimes, the episode generated discomfort.
Letizia will remain in Panama until Tuesday. It is only three days, but they will make the most of them.