Final preparations are underway at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier (Murcia) for the start of the new academic year, which will be especially significant: Princess Leonor will be joining the training. On September 1, the heir to the Spanish throne will begin the third stage of her military education, this time with the Air Force.
Defense Minister Margarita Robles recently visited the academy to personally assess the conditions under which the princess will train. She inspected the base’s facilities and spoke with cadets, noting that the royal family insists Leonor be treated equally with other students.
Last year, the minister already reviewed the Army Academy in Zaragoza, where Leonor began her military career, as well as the Naval Academy in Marín (Pontevedra), where she completed the second stage of training. Now the princess will continue her education as part of the 78th training group at the Air and Space Academy.
According to current regulations, Leonor will immediately enter the fourth year and receive the rank of officer cadet. This means she will not only study but also assume her first leadership duties. Air Force officials emphasize that this year the princess will take on more responsibility, and her training is aligned with the programs of all three branches of the armed forces.
This academic year, cadets will, for the first time, train on the new Swiss Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, which have replaced the outdated C-101 models. The Ministry of Defense notes that the purchase of these modern aircraft is a key step in updating the academy’s resources and improving the quality of flight training.
The first cadets already arrived in San Javier on August 18, while the main group, including the princess, will begin classes on September 1. Throughout the 2025/2026 academic year, Leonor will undergo intensive training, and upon completing the course, she will receive the qualification required of Spain’s future commander-in-chief.
Graduating from the Air Force Academy will mark the final stage of the princess’s three-year military training program as heir to the throne. After this, she will be prepared to take on the duties of captain general, the highest military rank in Spain.
