The Royal Household has published a new video highlighting Princess Leonor’s three-year military education. The footage includes rare scenes from her training in Zaragoza, Marín, and San Javier. The release marks the end of her time at the academies.
Princess Leonor’s military journey has been brought into focus with the release of a new video by the Casa Real, offering a rare look at the future queen’s intensive training across Spain’s top military academies. The footage, published by Zarzuela, comes just days after Leonor completed her three-year formation, culminating at the Academia General del Aire in San Javier, where she was awarded the Gran Cruz al Mérito Aeronáutico with a white distinction.
The video opens with scenes from the Centro de Adiestramiento de San Gregorio in Zaragoza. Here, the Princess of Asturias is seen participating in tactical exercises, submachine gun in hand, as she maneuvers through a simulated village assault. The images capture her lying prone, aiming and firing, reflecting the demanding nature of her training. Shortly after, Leonor is shown greeting King Felipe VI and sharing a meal with him in the academy’s dining hall. These moments date back to March 2024, when the King made an unannounced visit to observe the 22nd company’s field maneuvers, the unit to which Leonor belongs.
The compilation continues with Leonor aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the Spanish Navy’s training ship, where she took part in the traditional instruction cruise. One segment features her joining a batucada in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil, enthusiastically playing the drums alongside the crew. Another scene shows her reuniting with her sister, Sofía, in Gijón at the end of the voyage, marking their first meeting in six months.
Further footage highlights her time at the Escuela Naval Militar in Marín, where Leonor is seen studying navigation charts and training on the Guardiamarina Cherenguini, a practical instruction vessel for future naval officers. The video also reveals her participation in inter-academy sports competitions in Murcia, where she competed in fencing and volleyball, continuing a tradition she began during her earlier training in Zaragoza.
The closing moments return to San Gregorio, with Leonor crawling under barbed wire and firing an assault submachine gun, before climbing into a Leopard battle tank to observe its operation. These scenes underscore the breadth of her military preparation and the symbolic transition as she completes this phase of her royal duties.
While the release of such behind-the-scenes footage is unusual for the Royal Household, it reflects a broader trend of increased transparency and public engagement by Spain’s monarchy. The video’s publication comes at a time when interest in the royal family’s activities remains high, especially following other high-profile events involving Spanish institutions. For example, recent coverage of aviation incidents, such as the Ryanair flight emergency between Greece and Germany, has also drawn significant public attention to the roles and responsibilities of those in positions of authority.
Princess Leonor’s military education is a key component of her preparation as heir to the Spanish throne. The three-year program, which included stints in Zaragoza, Marín, and San Javier, is designed to provide future monarchs with firsthand experience of Spain’s armed forces. The Gran Cruz al Mérito Aeronáutico is one of the highest distinctions awarded to military personnel, underscoring the importance of her achievement. The Royal Household’s decision to share these previously unseen moments offers a glimpse into the rigorous demands placed on the next generation of Spain’s royal family and highlights the evolving relationship between the monarchy and Spanish society.
