Princess Leonor of Spain has just completed her Easter break, a period marked by family gatherings and discussions about her immediate future and upcoming commitments. During these days, King Felipe and Queen Letizia have likely coordinated plans with their 20-year-old daughter, preparing for a calendar filled with important events.
The Princess’ schedule for the coming months will be demanding. Key dates include the upcoming visit of the Pope to Spain, from 6 to 12 June, which may coincide with her exams, and the Princess of Girona Awards ceremony on 14 July at the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona. Afterward, Leonor will participate in various activities in the province of Girona alongside her younger sister, 18-year-old Infanta Sofía, before both turn their attention to the summer holidays and resume their respective studies.
Infanta Sofía’s academic path is already established: she is pursuing Political Science and International Relations at Forward College, an international programme held across Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin, combining rigorous academic training with a clear European perspective. Princess Leonor’s path, in contrast, follows the institutional logic of an heir to the throne, and cannot mirror her sister’s trajectory.
Currently, Leonor is in the final stage of her military training at the General Air Academy in San Javier. Her course will conclude at the end of May with examinations, followed by a final week of intensive instruction in June, leading up to the presentation of commissions. This marks the culmination of a three-year program through the Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force. Upon completing this stage, she is expected to begin her university studies in Madrid and return to reside at Zarzuela Palace after several years away from home.
The Royal Household plans to provide an update between late April and early May regarding this new phase of Leonor’s life. While her military training is officially endorsed by the government, her university studies remain under the discretion of the King, Queen, and the Princess herself, reflecting the personal and institutional nature of this transition.
It is anticipated that Princess Leonor will enrol in a state university in Madrid. Possible options include the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), her father’s alma mater, valued for its prestige and proximity to Zarzuela, Carlos III University (UC3M), recognized for Economics and International Relations, or Complutense University, where Queen Letizia studied. Her programme is expected to be multidisciplinary, preparing her to meet the challenges of a complex, global, and technologically advanced world.
While King Felipe VI studied Law, supplemented with Economics, and later completed a Master’s in International Relations at Georgetown, the Princess’ curriculum is likely to cover Law, Economics, Political Science or Geopolitics, International Relations, emerging technologies, and social sciences addressing inequality and global cooperation. This training aims to equip her for her constitutional duties and to strengthen the relevance of the monarchy in contemporary society, while serving as a role model for younger generations.
Leonor will conclude her military training in San Javier by the end of May, with final examinations and intensive instruction, culminating in July with the traditional presentation of commissions in the three Arms of Service. This period includes milestones such as her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21 and represents a transition from military discipline to academic preparation, marking a defining stage in her journey toward becoming Spain’s future Queen.
