If you have been paying attention to young royals for a while, Princess Leonor of Spain has probably caught your attention.
Known as Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz—in honor of her father, King Felipe VI, descendant of the French House of Bourbon; and her mother, Letizia Ortiz, former journalist and the current queen—the 20-year-old elder daughter of the reigning monarchs is often lauded for her style choices and poise during official commitments and family vacations. Beyond her fashion choices, and the fun fact that that she’s a Halloween baby (born in Madrid on October 31, 2005), there are many more interesting things to know about her.
Below, we break down why Leonor’s position within the Spanish royal family is worth noting, and why her being next in line for the crown is no small feat.
Why is Leonor the Crown Princess of Spain?
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When we say Leonor is the Crown Princess of Spain, we mean that she is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, making her the first woman in line for the crown since her four-times great-grandmother, Isabella II, who ruled from 1833–1868.
In addition to “Crown Princess,” Leonor also has many other official titles, including Leonor Her Royal Highness Princess of Asturias. Asturias is a region in the northwest of Spain, which was named a principality in 1388 by King John I of Castile to bestow the title of Prince of Asturias on his eldest son, Henry.
In 2019, Leonor opened up about what this title means to her when she spoke at the Princess Asturias Awards ceremony, saying: “It is also the land that gives its name to the title I hold as Heir to the Crown, just as my father, the King, did for so many years. And I do so with a sense of responsibility; I feel deeply honored by it. It is a title that commits me to the dedication and effort of serving Spain and all Spaniards. In my home, the words Spain and Asturias are always linked with the same strength with which history has bound them. That is how I feel in my heart.”
According to the Spanish Royal House’s official website, Leonor also holds the titles of “Princess of Girona and Princess of Viana, corresponding to the firstborn of the Kingdom of Castile, the Throne of Aragon and the Kingdom of Navarre, whose union formed the Spanish Monarchy in the 16th century.” In addition, she holds the titles Duchess of Montblanc, the Countess of Cervera, and the Lady of Balaguer.