The question of when exactly the heir to the Spanish throne will assume full responsibility for conducting the ceremony that bears her name has been in the air for several years. This moment is inevitable, and yet, despite numerous predictions, 2025 will not be the year of Princess Leonor’s solo triumph at the Princess of Asturias Awards. She has been attending this landmark event since she was twelve, but for now, the main burden of organizing and hosting the ceremony in Oviedo still rests on the shoulders of her father, King Felipe VI, who himself took on this role at the age of eighteen.
Rumors of an imminent “changing of the guard” intensified after Leonor came of age. In private, it was rumored that this year she would not only deliver the closing speech instead of the monarch, but that the king and queen might not attend Oviedo at all, leaving their eldest daughter accompanied only by her sister, Infanta Sofía, for the traditional visit to the exemplary Asturian village. However, these speculations did not come true. Apparently, Spaniards are not yet ready to imagine the awards without Queen Letizia, a native of Asturias, who is adored in her homeland. Still, Leonor will undoubtedly take on more independent responsibilities during the event program over time.
The decision to postpone the full transfer of responsibilities is well-founded. The Princess of Asturias Award is a major event, befitting the intellectual and creative level of its laureates. This year’s list of recipients is once again impressive, featuring such figures as former European Central Bank chief Mario Draghi, tennis legend Serena Williams, and renowned photographer Graciela Iturbide. In such company, not only flawless preparation is needed, but also a special confidence that, according to those close to the royal family, the Princess still has to fully develop. Sources close to the palace delicately hint that the heir does not yet possess sufficient desenvoltura—that ease and naturalness required to handle such a demanding and high-profile event on her own.
No one questions the education, sense of duty, or sensitivity of the future queen. She has years of experience attending official ceremonies and, since 2019, has successfully delivered speeches at the Campoamor Theater, consistently earning the audience’s affection. In addition, her intensive military training, which has lasted nearly three years, is coming to an end, freeing up time for her to focus more closely on her public duties. However, it’s one thing to be part of an event under the supervision of her parents, and quite another to become its main figure. While this decisive step—which won’t happen in 2025—may not be far off and could take place in 2026. As Meryl Streep once remarked, it is important for the princess to retain the same energy and curiosity she had on the eve of her eighteenth birthday, because they will serve her well on her long journey.
