Visits to the ‘Model Village’ have become a cherished tradition, concluding the series of events held for the Princess of Asturias Foundation awards. In 2025, this honorary title was awarded to the community of Valdesoto, home to 1,500 residents. The village is renowned for its dedication to preserving age-old traditions such as the theatrical Sidros performances and Les Comedias festival.
The local residents prepared a packed itinerary for the royal family and their daughters, Leonor and Sofía, ensuring there was never a dull moment. The nearly three-hour route showcased everything Valdesoto takes pride in: bowling, cider tasting, ox demonstrations, a vintage car exhibition, regional dances, as well as introductions to local crafts and painting. Special recognition was given to the work of nearly thirty local associations dedicated to heritage conservation, cultural development, and environmental protection.
Queen Letizia showed keen interest in every detail, asking numerous questions, while Princess Leonor confidently led the procession, highlighting her growing public role. During the walk, King Felipe couldn’t resist the chance to play a traditional game of bowling and showed a respectable result. However, his eldest daughter chose not to compete with her father, and the youngest, Infanta Sofía, also politely declined to join in the fun.
During the local cider tasting, King Felipe accepted a small glass of the drink from a resident. His wife and daughters declined the offer. However, the heir to the throne eagerly sampled ‘tortos’ flatbreads with spicy sausage and even personally joined in making chorizo using an old-fashioned machine. This spontaneous gesture delighted everyone and was met with surprise and admiration for her natural manner.
The most amusing and memorable moment took place during a theatrical performance. One of the actors, a young local, addressed the princess in the Asturian dialect with a surprising question—would she agree to marry a worthy Asturian gentleman? Leonor wasn’t fazed and responded with a smile, saying she’s not planning to marry just yet. King Felipe played along with the joke, while another character humorously pointed out that the president of the principality, Adrián Barbón, is still single, prompting laughter from the audience.
At the end of the official part of the visit, the heir to the throne delivered a speech that was greeted with a standing ovation. She thanked the community for preserving unique traditions and their commitment to developing their homeland with an eye to the future. Afterwards, the royal family joined the locals for a traditional Asturian lunch, sharing the meal with eight hundred residents. After saying goodbye to their gracious hosts and posing for photos with well-wishers, the family left Valdesoto after four in the afternoon.
