Princess Leonor is counting the days, or rather, the hours, to embark on a journey that promises to be the most significant of her life.
The daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia will board the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano, where she will spend the next six months sailing the world’s oceans.
Leonor will be part of a group of 76 midshipmen who will embark on this emblematic adventure. The ship will set sail next Saturday, January 11, and the excitement in the air is almost palpable.
But before the Princess of Asturias sets sail on this great adventure, there are some important appointments that Leonor cannot miss.
Princess Leonor’s trip on the ship Juan Sebastián Elcano
According to Spanish media reports, her last hours in Spain will be full of activities and a special touch of nervousness, both for her and the citizens.
The agenda is packed: from painting competitions to open visits to the ship for the general public.
There will also be an exciting event where the inauguration of the ship’s mast will take place, a moment that the princess could witness as a spectator, along with her companions.
In addition, Leonor is expected to attend an official reception for the midshipmen, organized by the mayor on Friday, January 10—an event that is sure to be of great significance.
However, the key day will be Saturday. At 9:30 a.m., a Mass will be celebrated at the Santo Domingo Convent in honor of the ship and its crew.
Then, at 10:15 a.m., the procession of Our Lady of the Rosary, patron saint of sailors, who has accompanied ships to America since the 16th century, will take place.
Finally, at 12 noon, the Juan Sebastián Elcano will depart from the docks of the town of Cadiz, in the presence of her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia. It is expected that before the ship sails, the family will have an emotional meeting.
These preceding days are full of emotions and celebrations, and are just a small foretaste of the six months of adventures and learning that await Princess Leonor in the immensity of the ocean.