Leonor of Spain is growing up to be a beautiful princess!

The life of a princess
16 years old
Born in 2005
Leonor is the elder sister of Sofia (born in 2007)
Her first days at school
A gentle and calm character
Aware of her role
With Benedict XVI in 2011
Summers on the island of Mallorca
2014: the Crown Princess of Asturias
Abdication of Juan Carlos I
The Coronation of Felipe VI
The Queen of Spain, Letizia
Family moments
Her biggest support
Close to her father, King Felipe VI
Reflective and very responsible
Letizia, the Queen of style
Her first official photo
A very important day
Leonor, a confident teenager
Showing off her (mother's) style in Covadonga
Her first speech
Starting to realise the full extent of her responsibility
More mature and self-confident
Her own awards
Leonor flies (almost) alone
The multilingual princess
Perfect English
Goodbye, uniform
In heels
Her most recent official photos
Committed to the environment
The other side of being a princess
Off to Wales
Atlantic College
Only home for holidays
Supporting Spanish fashion
After graduation...
The future of the Princess of Spain
The life of a princess

From girl to young lady. For Leonor de Borbón, she has gone from an infant to a princess, taking on more and more responsibility within the Royal Family.

16 years old

Yet, she is still a teenager, who many imagine will also be concerned about the typical things that kids of that age have to deal with. How has the Spanish Princess Leonor's life changed in the 16 years?

Born in 2005

The princess was born on 31 October 2005 in Madrid. "This is the most beautiful thing that can happen to anyone in life," her father, who was the then Prince of Asturias - now King Felipe VI, told the media. As is tradition in the Spanish Royal Family, the baby was christened - or rather 'presented to the Virgin of Atocha' on 7 June 2006.

Leonor is the elder sister of Sofia (born in 2007)

In May 2007 her sister, the Infanta Sofia, was born, and Leonor went to see her.

Her first days at school

In September 2008, shortly before her third birthday, she started kindergarten. She spent her summers as a young child with the Infanta Elena (King Felipe's older sister) and her cousins. Completely surrounded by those who love her.

A gentle and calm character

According to those who close to the Spanish Royal Family, Leonor has always been a very quiet child, quite noble and with a gentle disposition.

Aware of her role

Specialists who write about the Spanish Royal Household affairs say that she looks very much like her father. They also comment on the fact that she has been very conscious of her status as a princess since she was a child.

With Benedict XVI in 2011

The fact is that, because of the huge weight she carries as a Princess of Spain, she has had very different experiences to those of other children her age since she was very young. For example when she met Pope Benedict XVI during a visit the Pontiff made to Madrid in August 2011.

Summers on the island of Mallorca

Both Leonor and her sister Sofia have spent part of the summer in Mallorca since they were children. Just as their father did as a child with his sisters Elena and Cristina.

2014: the Crown Princess of Asturias

One of the most important moments for Leonor came in June 2014, when she became Princess of Asturias and the first in line to the Spanish throne.

Abdication of Juan Carlos I

It was the time when her grandfather, King Juan Carlos I, abdicated and her father became King Felipe VI.

The Coronation of Felipe VI

On the day of the Coronation on 18th June 2014, Leonor showed, despite her young age (she was only 8 years old), a completely regal demeanour. She was turning into a princess.

The Queen of Spain, Letizia

Many have said that much of the thanks for her regal manner must be given to her mother, Queen Letizia, who is unwaveringly attentive to the education of her two daughters.

Family moments

The most idyllic (and relaxed) images of Leonor and the rest of the Royal Family have always been taken during their summers in Mallorca. There she is often seen letting her hair down and shaking off much of the 'princess pressure'.

Her biggest support

The person who is always by her sister's side: Sofia. Leonor is said to be very close to her younger sibling. Having this relationship is a great support for the young princess.

Close to her father, King Felipe VI

She also gets on wonderfully with King Felipe. They laugh a lot together.

Reflective and very responsible

Over the years, different media have reported that Leonor (L) is perhaps a little more shy than her sister, Sofía (R). She is also very reflective, like her father, and known as quite responsible.

Letizia, the Queen of style

Both Leonor and Sofia have their mother as a constant style icon. The Queen of Spain is always flawless in her appearance, as are her girls.

Her first official photo

To mark the occasion of her 12th birthday, she had her first official photo taken. The princess was all smiles, dressed in a red Carolina Herrera dress with the Royal Palace of Madrid in the background.

A very important day

On 30 January 2018, coinciding with King Felipe VI's 50th birthday, Leonor witnessed a very significant day. Her father presented her with the Golden Fleece, the highest distinction of the Spanish Royal Family. More or less like like being knighted.

Leonor, a confident teenager

Leonor has been growing up and, little by little, we have seen a transformation in the young lady. Not only in her manner and behaviour, but also in the way she dresses and styles her hair.

Showing off her (mother's) style in Covadonga

On a visit she made in September 2018 with her parents to Covadonga (Asturias), she wore a Tweed dress with French sleeves - very similar to some of those worn by her mother, Queen Letizia.

Her first speech

On 31 October 2018, on the occasion of her 13th birthday, Leonor gave her first speech. It was at an event to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Spanish Constitution. She did a good job.

Starting to realise the full extent of her responsibility

Leonor has gone from being a child to a teenager in the blink of an eye. As time goes on, the princess has had to take on more and more responsibilities, and further realise her role.

More mature and self-confident

Recently, Leonor has portrayed herself to be much more established in her role. The teenager has shown to the world a more mature image than before, with a lot more confidence than the shy girl she once was.

Her own awards

She first attended at the awards which are given her name, the Princess of Asturias Awards, in October 2019. There, she felt secure in her role enough to make a short speech.

Leonor flies (almost) alone

Leonor, at the young age she is, now moves around practically on her own, although her parents are always there to support her and guide her steps.

The multilingual princess

At the 2019 Princess of Girona awards ceremony, she displayed a great deal of ease and fluency, both in the presentation of the awards and in the reading of her speech. The speech which she delivered perfectly in several languages (including Catalan).

Perfect English

Not surprisingly, Leonor is fluent in Spanish and English. She is also fluent in Catalan and French, amongst other languages. And she can hold her own in Arabic and Chinese.

Goodbye, uniform

The year 2020 was the last year she spent in uniform, by the way. She waved goodbye to her school before heading to boarding school in Wales.

In heels

At the 2020 Princess of Asturias Awards, we could see how far the princess has come in terms of style, as she dared to wear shoes with a low heel. Many were surprised to see this change, as she had always worn the characteristic ballerinas at this type of event.

Her most recent official photos

This official photo was taken by photographer Estela de Castro in 2020. There was a set of official images of her, her parents and her sister. Leonor looks beautiful and her change from a child to a teenager is clear.

Committed to the environment

Leonor is a 21st century princess who is environmentally conscious. In July 2021, she attended an event with a group of young people in a town close to Madrid where trees were being replanted. She dressed for the occasion in jeans and a basic white T-shirt.

The other side of being a princess

Shortly afterwards, she attended the cathedral of Santiago de Compostela (Galicia), wearing a fuchsia dress with a modern and rather grown-up cut by the Spanish fashion brand Cayro Woman.

Off to Wales

At her new school, the Atlantic College in Wales, Leonor has the opportunity to continue her education alongside young people from all over the world. They are also from different social backgrounds, as many students receive scholarships.

 

Atlantic College

Of course, Leonor isn't one of those receiving said scholarships and her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, are said to be paying around 76,500 euros ($83,000) for the two years of her A-Level studies.

Only home for holidays

Of course, the family meet during holidays or other special occasions.

Supporting Spanish fashion

For example during the 2021 Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo, when Leonor wore a sixties-inspired design in black and gold by Spanish brand Bgo & Me. She combined it with simple (but increasingly higher) black heels.

After graduation...

When the young princess graduates from the boarding school in Wales, she will go on to military training, several Spanish media have suggested.

The future of the Princess of Spain

It's something her father has in mind for the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, in order to prepare her for an important future.

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