The future queen of Spain arrived back in the country following three weeks of training aboard the Blas de Lezo frigate. Princess Leonor now begins the final leg of naval training with her shipmates.
Having disembarked from Spanish waters in mid-January for six months of practical training aboard the naval training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, Princess Leonor sailed the seas and stopped at ports all over South and Central America before arriving in New York City on 5 June.
From there, the future queen carried out engagements with her shipmates—including a concert at Carnegie Hall and an oath of allegiance ceremony involving Spanish residents of the United States, where she acted as flag bearer—before flying back to Spain so that she could board the Blas de Lezo frigate for additional training. Her shipmates aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano sailed back separately.
For 20 days, Princess Leonor joined the Spanish Navy for military exercises off the Canary Islands.
On 3 July, Princess Leonor arrived in Gijón aboard the Blas de Lezo at the same time the Juan Sebastián de Elcano arrived in port. The future queen visited the Jovellanos Maritime Rescue Centre where she and her shipmates learned about “maritime emergency training, safety at sea and the fight against marine pollution,” according to a press release from the Spanish Royal Court.
Following their visit, the future queen had lunch with civil and military authorities aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano.
Princess Leonor will complete her six months of life at sea on 13 July, when the training ship arrives in Marín. Three days later, she will graduate with the rank of Naval Ensign.
After the summer, Princess Leonor will enroll at the San Javier Academy in Murcia for her final year of military training. The future queen will train within the Spanish Air and Space Force over the next year; completing a three-year program that saw her train with the Spanish Army and the Spanish Navy.
