The heir to the Spanish throne asked her father to replace his face mask after he made one of the most important speeches of his reign. Princess Leonor helped her father maintain pandemic rules as he retook his seat following an emotional address at a National Memorial for victims of coronavirus.
King Felipe VI had just finished speaking at the ceremony, at the Royal Palace in Madrid, and was retaking his seat when his elder daughter realised he hadn’t put back on the mandatory face mask he had been using until taking the podium. She tapped his arm and, as he turned to face her, she lent in to speak to him discreetly with the moment was caught on camera. Felipe thanked Leonor, now 14, and quickly took his mask out of his jacket pocket and replaced it.
The Princess of Asturias had taken on a major role at the commemoration which was also attended by politicians, health and essential service workers, representatives of the emergency services and relatives of some of those who have died in the pandemic in Spain. She and her father placed the first white roses around a memorial flame before the other attendees stepped forward to place their own tributes.
Leonor attended the ceremony alongside her sister, Infanta Sofia, and their mother, Queen Letizia. The royals arrived at the Palace from their home at the Zarzeula in the outskirts of Madrid. They were greeted on arrival by Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, who in recent days has spoken out about the financial allegations surrounding King Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos. The group chatted briefly before greeting other dignitaries.
The National Memorial was a chance for Spain to remember the almost 29,000 people who have died of coronavirus in the country and to give thanks for all those who have worked to treat patients, keep the country moving and stop the spread of the virus.
