Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, will turn 18 on October 31, 2023.
That same day, as established by the Spanish Constitution in Article 61, the princess will have to take an oath to the Magna Carta in a ceremony that will take place in the Congress of Deputies.
But what exactly does this oath of allegiance to the Constitution mean? And why is it happening precisely on Leonor’s 18th birthday?
Princess Leonor’s oath of allegiance to the Constitution on her 18th birthday
The oath to the Constitution is a symbolic and solemn act through which the heir to the throne publicly commits to faithfully fulfill her obligations, to obey and enforce the Magna Carta and the laws, and to respect the rights of citizens and the autonomous regions.
This tradition dates back to the promulgation of the 1978 Constitution and has been fulfilled by each heir to the throne upon reaching the age of majority.
The then Prince Felipe did it in 1986, when he turned 18, setting a precedent that his daughter will now repeat.
The oath is not only to the Constitution, it also includes a commitment of loyalty to the King in office, in this case to Felipe VI.
In this way, the heiress swears respect for the Crown that she will one day be called to hold.
That this act coincides with the date of her 18th birthday is no coincidence.
The Constitution specifies that it must take place when the heir “reaches the age of majority”, that is, reaches the legal majority established in Spain, which is precisely 18 years of age.
Therefore, by swearing the oath to the Constitution on her 18th birthday, Leonor will be complying with a constitutional mandate and at the same time with a century-old monarchical tradition that establishes the commitment of the Crown to the laws and the nation.
This is undoubtedly a transcendental moment in the life of the young princess, who is taking a symbolic but significant step on the path that will one day lead her to become Queen of Spain.
Where to watch Princess Leonor’s oath of allegiance to the Constitution?
The swearing-in of the Constitution will take place on Tuesday, October 31 at 11:00 Spanish time.
The ceremony will be broadcast through La 1 of Televisión Española and the 24-hour channel of RTVE. But it will also be available on the Internet through RTVE Play and through the YouTube channel of RTVE Noticias 24 horas.