Princess Leonor is set to become Spain’s first queen regnant since Queen Isabella II, who ruled in the 1800s. The 20-year-old began her higher education in Wales and started her military training as the country’s future commander-in-chief in 2023
Spain stands at the threshold of a historic royal moment. For the first time in nearly 150 years, the nation is poised to have a reigning queen. Her name is Princess Leonor, and she is a twenty-year-old Gen Z royal. Leonor will be the first female monarch to rule in her own right since her great-great-great-great-grandmother Queen Isabella II, whose rule ended in 1868.
The Bourbon dynasty has ruled Spain since the early 1700s, following their victory over the Habsburgs during the War of the Spanish Succession. Following the end of General Franco’s dictatorship, the monarchy was restored in 1975 with King Juan Carlos I, who played a vital role in Spain’s transition to democracy. His son, Felipe, succeeded him in 2014 after he abdicated, and Princess Leonor is next in line to the throne.
STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS ADPrincess Leonor undergoes military training with the Army, Navy, and Air Force in preparation for their future role. Image courtesy: Instagram/casareal.es
There is no fixed date for her becoming queen yet. She will only become Spain’s queen when King Felipe VI abdicates or dies, according to reports. Now, this begs a million-dollar question: who is Leonor, the nation’s first Queen Regnant since Isabella II, in the 1800s?
About Princess Leonor
Leonor was born in 2005. She is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. Felipe tied the knot with Letizia, a former journalist, in 2004. Leonor has a younger sibling, Infanta Sofia, born in 2007, according to NDTV reports. Leonor is the Princess of Asturias and the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne. She completed her schooling in Spain.
Leonor then earned an International Baccalaureate from UWC Atlantic College in Wales, called ‘hippy Hogwarts’ school, considered a renowned institution that mainly educates future global leaders and royals, reports Tatler. Leonor’s education is primarily centred on global affairs and constitutional duties, with the aim of preparing her for future roles. She is proficient in many languages, including Spanish, Catalan, English, French, Arabic, and Mandarin.
Several media reports suggest that Leonor was officially declared the heir apparent to the Spanish throne on the day she turned 18, the same day she took the oath in the Spanish parliament.
How Leonor became the ultimate Gen Z royal heir
In Spain, the law requires that the heir to the throne undergo rigorous military training in the Army, Navy, and Air Force, and Leonor seemed to have followed her father’s footsteps in honing her military skills. From solo foreign engagements to flying a plane by herself, the Princess of Asturias has come a long way in preparation for her future role.
Leonor began her military journey in August 2023 with Army training in Zaragoza. Image courtesy: Instagram/casareal.es
After her graduation, she officially embarked on a three-year military training programme in 2023 with the Army training in Zaragoza. Leonor joined a cohort of 560 cadets there. Following completion, she transitioned to naval training in Galicia, a 140-day, 17,000-mile voyage aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, reported NDTV.
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She sailed across the Atlantic, around South America, and up to New York as part of the crew. In July, she returned to Cadiz aboard the Elcano after spending time aboard the warship Blas de Lezo, the media publication noted. In December 2025, she reached a milestone by completing her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21, becoming the first female member of the Spanish royal family to do so.
In December 2025, Leonor completed her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft. Image courtesy: Instagram/casareal.es
A social media post featured Princess Leonor, dressed in full Top Gun flying gear, showing all she had learnt through theoretical and practical lessons. After her Air Force training at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier, the twenty-year-old Gen Z will now be rewarded with the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia – the highest regional award. This marked a notable achievement in her journey as the future Commander-in-Chief of Spain’s Armed Forces.
According to Tatler, Leonor made her first solo engagement at the age of just 15. She visited the Cervantes Institute as part of its 30th anniversary celebrations and presented staff with two books.
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Leonor once hit headlines in 2022 over rumours with Spanish footballer Gavi. Several media outlets reported on a potential relationship between Leonor and Spanish footballer Gavi; however, they remain largely unconfirmed. The Times of India reported that King Felipe VI had requested a signed jersey from Gavi. However, the footballer turned down any special personalised gesture for the princess, according to the report. There is no confirmation of these reports linking the two in a romantic relationship. Both individuals, Gavi and Leonor, continue to focus on their respective paths.
With inputs from agencies
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