Spain’s Casa Real has released the first official solo photo of the future Queen of Spain: Leonor, Princess of Asturias who celebrated her 12th birthday yesterday.
The photo was taken on 12 October at the Royal Palace of Madrid ahead of her birthday. It was taken on the same day as the National Day celebrations in Spain. Francisco Gomez was the photographer.
She was featured in an official photo alongside the then reigning King Juan Carlos and then Felipe, Prince of Asturias five years ago in an image that represented the three generations of Spanish current and future monarchs.
Her Royal Highness celebrated her birthday privately with her friends at school and her family at home. She brought sweets to her classmates in celebration of her birthday today as she did last year when she brought cookies that she had made herself.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia keep Leonor and younger sister, Infanta Sofía out of the public eye as much as possible while they are young. They are only seen on a handful of occasions per year – including Spain’s National Day, two photo calls in the summer and winter and Easter Mass.
King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía at the 2017 events for Spain’s National Day. © Casa de S.M. el Rey
She was born on 31 October 2005 to the Prince and Princess of Asturias, now King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain at the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid by caesarian section due to the lack of progression in labour.
She is first in the line of succession to follow her father, followed by her younger sister, Infanta Sofía, age 10. She is only heir presumptive, due to Spanish succession laws, instead of the heir apparent. This means if Felipe and Letizia were to have a son, he would be first in line and claim the title Prince of Asturias. Leonor would then revert back to being referred to as Infanta Leonor. At the moment, the 12-year-old Princess is the youngest heir to a throne in Europe.
