The university is already knocking on the door of Princess Leonor, who next September will continue with her civilian education. Before that, she must end her three-year military phase with the conclusion of her time at the General Air Academy. The eldest daughter of the kings Felipe and Letizia has just taken another important step in her Top Gun era with her first contact with a combat aircraft.
The Royal Household has just released new images of Princess Leonor during the visit she made on April 22 to the 23rd Wing of the Hunting and Attack Squadron at the Talavera la Real Air Base, in Badajoz. After her first solo flight last December, she has now had the opportunity to fly alongside an instructor in a F-5 jet. It is a combat aircraft that in our country is used for teaching the Fighter and Attack course, according to Zarzuela.
A day earlier, the Princess of Asturias, together with her fellow fourth-year classmates, visited Wing 14 of the Air and Space Army based at the Los Llanos Air Base, in Albacete. There they were able to observe the operation of the Eurofighter engines, whose mission is to guarantee the safety of airspace both in Spanish territory and in NATO missions. They also witnessed an air display and visited the hangars where its operation is supported.
It is at this Albacete base that NATO’s Tactical Leadership Program is conducted, in which advanced air training is provided to pilots. The aim of Princess Leonor’s visit to Albacete and to her companions is for the students of the General Air and Space Academy to learn firsthand about the operational procedures of the Air and Space Force units.
The next military steps for Leonor
In addition to reporting on the latest activities of Princess Leonor, the Royal Household has also detailed her future military calendar. It will be in July when the heir to the throne completes her three military training courses. Since August 2023 she has successively attended the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, the Naval Military School in Marín, and now the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier. The young woman has also completed the training cruise on the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano.
Princess Leonor, in her pilot’s uniform.
Al término de esta etapa, la princesa Leonor habrá obtenido los empleos militares de alférez alumna del Ejército de Tierra y del Ejército del Aire y del Espacio, así como de alférez de fragata alumna de la Armada. The rank of alférez is the initial officer rank in the army and armed forces, positioned just below the lieutenant.
No será hasta julio del año que viene cuando la princesa de Asturias reciba por fin los reales despachos de teniente del Ejército de Tierra y del Ejército del Aire y del Espacio, así como de alférez de navío de la Armada. En ese momento, según han explicado desde el Palacio de la Zarzuela, Leonor participará en las correspondientes ceremonias de entrega de esos reales despachos, que tradicionalmente realiza su padre, y que tendrán lugar en Zaragoza, Marín y San Javier, como parte de sus respectivas promociones.
Leonor and her promising academic phase
By the time she receives her lieutenant commissions, Princess Leonor will have completed the first year of her degree in Political Science at the Carlos III University of Madrid. Becoming the only European heiress to complete a comprehensive military training in the three services, the heir to the throne will combine her studies at this prestigious institution with an increasing institutional role as heiress to the Crown. To that end, she will balance the schedule with her commitments within the royal family.
Princess Leonor submitted her application to the Carlos III University through the early admission process, established for students who have studied and obtained the International Baccalaureate diploma outside of Spain. Applicants are required to have a good record and to have studied subjects related to the degree they wish to study, conditions that Leonor meets. This was certified by Royal Household sources, noting that she has a “very good record”.
