Princess Leonor looks regal in new photos released ahead of her 18th birthday – as Spain gets gripped by ‘Leonormia’

• The heir to the Spanish throne will spend her 18th birthday in Madrid 
• READ MORE: Why is Spain gripped by ‘Leonormania’?

A new photo of Princess Leonor has been released by the city of Madrid ahead of her 18th birthday tomorrow.

In the new snap, the teenage royal puts on a casual yet chic display in a relaxed V-neck blue t-shirt in the new portrait.

The royal gazed away from the camera for the snap and wore minimal makeup, revealing her natural beauty.

Sharing the photo, Mayor José Luis Martínez-Almeida invited the public to join in the festivities to celebrate the future Queen’s coming of age.

The busy day of celebrations will include the queen-in-waiting taking an oath before the Cortes Generales to preserve the Magna Carter as the successor of the Head of State.     

Madrid City Council have announced celebratory plans for Princess Leonor’s (pictured) 18th birthday tomorrow, which includes volunteers distributing more than 7,500 Spanish flags across the city for residents to wave in appreciation of Leonor

Madrid City Council released a new portrait (pictured above) of Leonor with a statement issued by the mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida

Spain’s capital will be bustling with revellers tomorrow, the city where Leonor, the daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia,  was born and has spent most of her life.

The Magna Carta ceremony marks 37 years since Leonor’s father, King Felipe, swore the oath on 30 January 1986 in the same Palacio de las Cortes de la Carrera de San Jerónimo.

In addition to Leonor swearing an oath to the Spanish Constitution, the mayor has invited residents to join in on the celebrations.

Volunteers will distribute more than 7,500 Spanish flags across the city for residents to wave in appreciation of Leonor. 

Later on in the day, an honour guard of the Municipal Police, chaired by the vice mayor of Madrid, which will include the Cavalry Squadron and the Municipal Police Music Band, will be deployed in the Plaza de la Villa.

José Luis Martínez-Almeida said: ‘As mayor of the capital of Spain, I invite you to actively participate so that Madrid is once again up to par and that this historic ceremony is an eloquent icon of the loyalty and affection that we Madrid residents feel for the Royal Family in general and for Mrs. Leonor in particular on this special day of her life.

‘May our streets and balconies be decorated with the colours of the national flag, “a symbol that unites all Spaniards,” as the King recalled in the recent Flag oath of the Princess of Asturias in Zaragoza.’ 

It comes after Princess Leonor told the Spanish public she understands her duty in an impressive speech delivered this weekend.

Princess Leonor told an audience at the Princesa de Asturias Awards, held in her name, that she ‘understands her duty’

The Spanish heir to the throne has recently begun three years of military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza

The heir to the throne addressed an audience at the Princesa de Asturias Awards in Oviedo, Spain last week, where she assured them she takes her responsibility very seriously.

Speaking to the crowd, with her parents, 16-year-old sister Infanta Sofia and other family members watching on, she said it will be an ‘honour’ to swear in the Spanish Constitution on her 18th birthday. 

The queen-in-waiting added: ‘I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail.’

Elsewhere in her speech, the Spanish princess went on to praise the Princesa de Asturias Award winners, Hola! reports.

In particular, she noted the career achievements of three-time Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, who was honoured at the ceremony.

If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will make history as Spain’s first queen regnant since Isabella II

Queen Letizia of Spain and Crown Princess Leonor of Spain attend a concert ahead of the “Princesa De Asturias” Awards 2023

Leonor said she aspires to identify with the award winners, despite many of them being decades older than her, because of the incredible things they have achieved.

The Princesa de Asturias Awards takes place every year in the Spanish principality of Asturias. The ceremony recognises people for their outstanding work in science, public affairs, media and humanities.

This year’s most notable recipient was Hollywood royalty Streep, who was honoured for her contribution to film during her sensational career.

Although Princess Leonor has addressed the awards held in her name three times previously, her most recent address marks a shift towards greater responsibility for the future Spanish monarch.

The royal and her sister Infanta Sophia, 16, have been taking a bigger role in the spotlight as they come of age – with Leonor often taking centre stage at family outings.

Unlike Prince Christian of Denmark – who is just two weeks older than Leonor and also a future European monarch – the Princess’s 18th birthday celebrations will be decidedly low-key.

There will be some fanfare however, the Royal Mint of Spain will create a limited edition 40-euro coin to mark her birthday. Up to one million of the coins will be put into circulation by the Bank of Spain during the last three months of this year.

The coin will weigh 18 grams and be made of a mixture of silver and copper with the effigy ‘Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias’ engraved on it.

The 17-year-old is currently undergoing military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.

The school dubbed Spain’s equivalent to Sandhurst and follows a strict timetable, but the princess is able to return home at the weekends if she is not on manoeuvres.

Before starting at the academy, she took place in her first engagement without her parents as she headed to Gironda with sister Sofia.

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