Princess Leonor “eager to learn” as she begins the final year of her military training

The future queen of Spain arrived at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier to begin her third and final year of military training.

Princess Leonor will spend the next year training with the Spanish Air and Space Force in a specially-designed programme that has allowed her the chance to work with all branches of the Spanish military before she becomes its colonel-in-chief when she ascends to the throne.

The future queen arrived in San Javier for her first day of training dressed in the deep blue uniform of the Spanish Air and Space Force and has assumed the rank of Student Ensign Bourbon-Ortiz. Upon the completion of her studies next summer, Princess Leonor will graduate with the rank of Student Frigate Ensign.

Princess Leonor is undertaking a specialty programme designed to give her as much training as possible in a year, and has joined air force students in their fourth year of training.

According to El Pais, Princess Leonor’s first day at the General Air and Space Academy involved meeting its commanding colonel, Luis Felipe González Asenjo, and staff; touring the facilities; and meeting her roommates—she will share a dormitory space with two fellow students.

Princess Leonor also signed the General Air and Space Academy’s honour roll: “Today I begin the third stage of my military training at this General Air and Space Academy. I look forward with enthusiasm to this course, during which I will have the opportunity to begin my aeronautical training and, alongside my classmates, learn the practical and theoretical aspects of military aviation.”

Following the orientation, she changed into a pilot’s uniform and followed Colonel González Asenjo to the flight simulation building. As she climbed into the cockpit, she was asked by the assembled media how she felt about entering her final year of training. The future queen replied: “Little by little, eager to learn.”

Before Princess Leonor arrived at the General Air and Space Academy, she was required to pass tests in altitude and vision that would determine her capabilities. Leonor was ultimately successful, and over the course of the year, she must achieve 50 hours of flight simulation before she is allowed to pilot a real plane.

Between 2023-2024, Princess Leonor studied at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza and attained the rank of Cadet Ensign upon the completion of her training. Between 2024-2025, she studied at the Naval Military Academy in Marín and aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, and attained the rank of Midshipman, 2nd grade upon the completion of her training.