Spain’s People’s Princess! How Leonor won her country’s heart – as royal fans descend on Madrid for her historic 18th birthday celebrations

• Fans are expected to distribute over 7,500 Spanish flags across the city today 
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From her charismatic way with the public to her elegant sense of style, it’s hardly surprising that ‘Lenormania’ has swept Spain in the lead-up to their Princess’ 18th birthday today.

This morning, the young royal – whose formal title is Princess of Astorias – swore allegiance to the Spanish constitution at the Lower House in Madrid.

Despite the country’s political divisions, reports out of Spain suggestion the nation is largely united behind the young princess, who is currently completing her military training in her role as Cadet Borbon.

While she was studying at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, the royal kept her appearances to a minimum.

However, she has slowly been stepping into the spotlight since taking on her new military role – causing her popularity to skyrocket.

Princess Leonor, 18, pictured arriving at the Lower House in Madrid this morning ahead of her swearing in ceremony

According to El Espanol newpaper, Princess Leonor is currently the most popular member of the Spanish Royal Family – even beating her father King Felipe to the title.

Speaking at the Princesa de Asturias Awards in Oviedo, Spain last week, the princess acknowledged how important today’s proceedings are for her future role as Head of State. 

She said: ‘I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail.’ 

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.’

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

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.

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.

Pictured: Members of Spain’s Civil Guard patrol outside the Lower House ahead of Princess Leonor’s ceremony

Pictured: Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday portrait appears on flags around Madrid today to mark the occasion 

Coffee mugs with a photograph of Spain’s Crown Princess Leonor are on sale at a shop in downtown Madrid

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.

Fernando Rayón, Professor of Political Information at CEU San Pablo University, told Euronews that the Spanish Royal Family have ‘got their timing right’ with Princess Leonor’s recent appearances.

The expert said: ‘While she was studying, the princess was very reserved in her appearances.

‘The image that Leonor gives is that of being where she needs to be. She makes no statements, there are no gratuitous images of her at home or partying. That’s why people see her for what she is: the future Queen and Head of State.’ 

Lenor’s busy day of celebrations began with the queen-in-waiting taking an oath before the Cortes Generales to preserve the Magna Carter as the successor of the Head of State. 

Ahead of the ceremony today, members of the Spanish Civil Guard were seem on patrol outside of the Lower House – which contains the legislative chambers and the Senate.

The Royal Standard flags were hung from each window of the second floor of the historic building as well as a larger one placed over the main entrance.

Pictured: crowds of royal fans gather at the Puerta del Sol square to watch Princess Leonor’s swearing in ceremony

Pictured: inside Lower House in Madrid where the swearing in ceremony is taking place this morning

Princess Leonor swears allegiance to the Spanish constitution at the Spanish Parliament on the day of her 18th birthday

Last night, the city of Madrid released a new official portrait of the Princess ahead of her swearing in ceremony.

In the photo, the royal is wearing a casual yet chic blue v-neck knit and gazing into the distance. Leonor opted for minimal makeup and wore her dark blonde hair down. 

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.

This morning, the image has appeared on flags on lampposts around the city – as royal fans arrived in their thousands to join in the celebrations. 

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.

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

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

To mark the occasion, shops in the country’s capital have also started selling royal memorabilia – including coffee mugs with Leonor’s face printed on the side.

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.

Later today, 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.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain pictured with baby Princess Leonor shortly after her birth 

Leonor is seen as a baby sitting on the stairs of the palace in one of the many new photos shared by the Palace

The royal – now 18 – is seen greeting well-wishers last October when she was still a student in Wales

‘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.’

When Leonor becomes Queen, she will be the country’s first female regent since 1868. 

Recent changes to primogeniture rules mean we can also expect queens on the throne in a number of European countries, including Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. Queen Margrethe is currently sovereign of Denmark.

The law hasn’t changed in Spain, where the monarchy still favours the first-born boy.

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 18-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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