Princess Leonor was beaming as she received the sword that symbolises her official title of Dama Cadete (Dame Cadet), in the first important milestone of her military training.
The Princess of Asturias was among the 613 new recruits who, on 19th September 2023, received their official titles of Cadets, and the ceremonial swords that come with that, from the hands of their peers in the second year of training.
The ceremony only lasted about 30 minutes, and was presided over by General Manuel Pérez López, the Director of the Academy. Parents were not allowed to attend, but cadets have apparently had a chance to spend last weekend with them, having been reportedly granted their first leave, which would have allowed the heir to the throne to spend her mum’s birthday (which fell on Friday 15th) at home.
This ceremony followed a week and a half of manoeuvre training in the San Gregorio camp, where cadets were able to get more familiar with assault firearms, as well as combat tactics.
Now, the Cadets are officially considered able to fight, and they would be called up to do so should the need arise for Spain.
Princess Leonor entered the Zaragoza General Military academy on the 17th of August, the first step in a three years programme that will see her pass through all three branches of the armed forces.
For now, her next milestones will be on the 6th and 7th of October, when she and her fellow cadets will attend a church servicec with the swearing on the flag happening on the next day.
At the end of next month, it is expected that Princess Leonor will receive a special leave permission, as she turn 18 years old on the 31st of October and the Spanish Constitution requires her to be officially sworn in before Parliament.
