Prince Christian, Princess Amalia and Princess Elisabeth are all in their 20s and are all future monarchs. It seems natural that Crown Princess Leonor, who is 20, would also hang out with them, but she appears somewhat isolated and has never been pictured with any of them. Anyone know why?
Posted by biebrforro
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Right now, she is in intensive military training. She is going home only if there are big celebrations. The other royals are just studying. Princess Elizabeth was supposed to study at Harvard, but might need to choose a new university
Spanish Royal Family does seem close to other European houses. For eg: For Queen Margerta of Denmark’s bday King Filipe made a video addressing her as “aunty Daisy” and they hosted Amaelia in 2023. I guess during all these celebrations Leonor was either in army or busy. It would be great to see her with other royals and maybe a Tiara moment?
I do know the relationship between Amalia and Elisabeth is pretty easy since they’re both native Dutch speakers.
I wouldn’t say the Spanish and British monarchies are exceptionally distanced to the other euro monarchies, it’s just that the Benelux and scandi monarchies are very close to each other
The Royal Families of Belgium and Netherlands have always been close and Denmark is right there, so it’s very likely they grew up together and have been friends for a while. The Spanish Royal Family rarely go to events of other Royal Families and mostly focus on their own country.
Princess Amalia is so pretty 💜
It’s because Leonor and the Royal Household have different priorities regarding her. It’s not a matter of the Spanish royals being distant, or that they dislike attending social events with other royals, as some reporters have repeated endlessly; it’s mainly a matter of scheduling conflicts and, as I said, priorities. For Leonor, the focus right now is completing her military training and continuing her studies.
The Spanish royal family is quite straightforward and transparent. If you compare dates and information, it becomes clear that Leonor wasn’t simply sitting at home doing nothing while other royals attended these events. She was either studying in Wales, in the military, or she simply couldn’t attend due to agenda constraints.
As far as we understand, once she completes her military training and begins her university studies, she will start balancing her private and educational schedule with public engagements and events like this.
Regarding her tiara debut, according to non-official reports, that moment is still some way off, and there is a possibility it may happen when a foreign monarchy pays a State Visit to Spain.
Spanish budget cuts. Norway can manage since it’s a short trip so won’t hurt their low-budget monarchy.
It could also be a matter of personal choice or preference on her part.
The Spanish political climate is much more difficult for the monarchy (republicanism, regional separatism, legacy of Juan Carlos’s scandals, generally “angrier” politics, and the fact that the throne was only restored in the 70s) than Denmark, Norway, etc – even in cases where the national and regional politics can be a lot, like in Belgium, the monarchy isn’t really criticised.
Add to that Spain’s Press which is a lot more ruthless than in e.g. Scandinavia.
Felipe and Letizia have a reputation for bringing up their children relatively strictly and you can see the consequences of the political climate in Leonor taking on her role in a serious manner from a young age (reading the constitution, making speeches from a young age, swearing her oath in parliament, etc) as they make her a fixture in public life in a way that the other young royals aren’t yet.
Leonor has carried out official visits even abroad (Portugal, the various landings throughout Latin America) and is of course in her third year of military service – it’s a different path so far to her contemporaries. And it means her image is also clearly being carefully managed – we have a 20yo Princess who is at best photographed going to restaurants, but there’s no excessive parties or anything that could be used as ammunition against her. I think that’s why we didn’t see her at e.g. Christian’s 18th bash, with all the young royals in gowns and tiaras having a wonderful time – the optics just don’t work in Spain.
To quote Leonor herself after she swore her oath to the constitution aged 18,
>”I have contracted a great responsibility with Spain before the General Courts (Parliament), which I hope to meet with the greatest dignity and the best example….I will always remember the words of my father when he gave me the Toison de Oro (aged 13!): you will be permanently guided by the Constitution, fulfilling it and observing it, you will serve Spain with humility and awareness of your institutional position. These are words which at all moments I will keep with me.”
>”In this spirit and with a great sense of duty, I will conduct my actions in all areas of my life paying attention always to the general interests of our nation. I will observe a behaviour which the recognition and appreciation of our citizens deserves. And I will fulfill my obligations with total dedication and a willingness without conditions…I devote myself from today to all Spaniards, to those whom I will serve in all moments with respect and loyalty. In this important day which I will always remember with emotion, I ask that you trust in me, as I put trust in our future, in the future of Spain.”
There’s a very serious slant to her public role that is coming much more slowly into the lives of her Scandi and Benelux counterparts!
That said, I’m sure she knows Amalia as she studied in Madrid, but we just don’t get those public images. And Elisabeth and Amalia will naturally be closer being an hour or so’s drive from each other and both being native-level Dutch speakers. Ingrid-Alexandra, I don’t know!
As some comments say here, the Spanish Monarchy have to be more careful with their image, Amalia can get away with attending mostly tiara events and flying her sorority sisters to Greece on a government plane, Leonor is more heavily scrutinized, Elisabeth somewhat combines the two, but Belgium is still not Spain where the monarchy’s position is more precarious.
I believe it’s a decision of the Spanish Royal House. In my opinion, this decision is a mistake; Leonor should have already had contact with the other heirs. After all, having relationships with other royal houses is also important, and she’s the only one who hasn’t.
She’s also doing military service/training in all branches of the Spanish forces, at a year each. I don’t think she’s done quite yet.
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