Leonor, Princess of Asturias, is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and the first in line to inherit the Spanish throne. Between August 2023 and July 2026, she completed a demanding, multi-year military training programme that took her through Spain’s army, navy, and air and space force academies – a rite of passage that has been required of Spanish heirs to the throne for decades. This article walks through the full timeline of her training, branch by branch; the honours she earned along the way; and what comes next now that this chapter of her preparation for eventual queenship is complete.
Quick Facts: Princess Leonor’s Military Training
| Fact | Detail |
| Full name | Leonor de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Ortiz |
| Title | Princess of Asturias, Girona and Viana; Duchess of Montblanc; Countess of Cervera |
| Training started | 17 August 2023, General Military Academy, Zaragoza (age 17) |
| Training completed | 10 July 2026, General Air and Space Academy, San Javier (age 20) |
| Branches covered | Army, Navy, and Air and Space Force |
| Naval rank on completion | Alférez de fragata alumna (student naval ensign) |
| Air Force rank on completion | Cadet lieutenant (temporary rank) |
| Full lieutenant commissions | Expected mid-2027, after a joint final academic year |
| Top honors received | Grand Cross of Military Merit, Grand Cross of Naval Merit, Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit |
| Notable milestone | First solo flight, 18 December 2025, aboard a Pilatus PC-21 |
Why the Heir to the Spanish Throne Undergoes Military Training
Since the return of democracy to Spain, it has become an established, though not strictly constitutional, tradition for the heir to the throne to complete training across all three branches of the armed forces before taking on full royal duties. King Felipe VI followed this same path in the 1980s, training at the same three academies his daughter would later attend.
As Spain’s then-defence minister Margarita Robles explained when Leonor’s training began, the heir to the throne “has to have a military background and a military career”, since the future monarch also serves as commander-in-chief of Spain’s armed forces. The training is designed to give the heir direct, lived experience of military service and discipline, not simply a ceremonial title.
- Constitutional role: the reigning monarch holds the position of Commander-in-Chief of the Spanish Armed Forces.
- Historical precedent: King Felipe VI completed the same three-academy training path from 1985 to 1988.
- Institutional preparation: the programme is meant to build discipline, leadership, and firsthand knowledge of each military branch.
The tradition is not unique to Spain; several other European monarchies, including the United Kingdom and the Netherlands, expect their heirs to complete some form of military service before or during their preparation for the throne. In Spain’s case, the requirement is closely tied to the monarch’s constitutional role as Captain General of the Armed Forces, a title Leonor’s father holds and one she is expected to inherit in turn.
Timeline: Leonor’s Three-Year Military Training
Leonor’s training followed a structured, year-by-year progression through each branch of the armed forces, beginning shortly after she finished secondary school in Wales and continuing until the summer of 2026.
- August 2023: Enters the General Military Academy in Zaragoza at age 17, beginning the Army phase.
- 2024: Moves to the Naval Military School in MarÃn for her naval training phase.
- 2024–2025: Spends roughly five months at sea aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, with additional time aboard the frigate Blas de Lezo.
- 1 September 2025: Begins her final training phase at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia.
- 18 December 2025: Completes her first solo flight aboard a Pilatus PC-21 trainer aircraft.
- 10 July 2026: Finishes her military training programme at San Javier and receives her officer commissions and top honours.
Army Phase: General Military Academy, Zaragoza
Leonor began her military career on 17 August 2023 at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, the same institution where her father trained decades earlier. This first phase focused on foundational military discipline, physical training, and Army-specific instruction alongside her fellow cadets.
Upon completing this phase, she was awarded the Grand Cross of Military Merit, one of three top honours she would ultimately receive, one from each branch of the armed forces, by the time her training concluded.
Naval Phase: MarÃn and Life at Sea
Leonor’s naval training took her to the Naval Military School in MarÃn, Galicia, followed by an extended period at sea, one of the most physically demanding stretches of her entire training programme.
- Roughly five months aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, the Spanish Navy’s historic four-masted training tall ship.
- Additional sea time aboard the frigate Blas de Lezo, giving her direct experience aboard a modern warship.
- Graduation with the naval rank of alférez de fragata alumna (student naval ensign) upon finishing the programme in 2026.
This phase concluded with the Grand Cross of Naval Merit, the second of the three top decorations she earned across her military training.
Air and Space Force Phase: San Javier and Her First Solo Flight
Leonor’s final and most publicised training phase began on 1 September 2025 at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia, the same academy where King Felipe VI completed his own flight training as part of the 1987–1988 graduating class.
On 18 December 2025, Leonor completed her first solo flight aboard a Pilatus PC-21 training aircraft, becoming the first woman in the Spanish royal family to fly solo. According to reporting on her time at San Javier, she also completed a parachuting course, making her the only member of the Spanish royal family to do so.
She finished this phase as a cadet lieutenant, a temporary rank awarded on completion of the academic cycle, and was awarded the Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit, the same distinction her father received at the same academy in 1988.
Honors and Decorations Earned During Training
By the time she completed her training, Leonor had earned the highest distinction available from each of the three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces – a full sweep that mirrors the honours her father received during his own military service.
- Grand Cross of Military Merit (Army), awarded after the General Military Academy phase in Zaragoza.
- Grand Cross of Naval Merit (Navy), awarded after completing training at MarÃn and at sea.
- Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit, Air and Space Force, awarded after completing training at San Javier.
She was also recognised by the town of San Javier itself, which awarded her its Gold Medal and named her an adopted daughter shortly before her graduation, in a ceremony held on 3 June 2026.
Graduation Day: July 10, 2026
Leonor’s military training officially concluded on 10 July 2026 at a graduation ceremony held at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier. King Felipe VI presented her commission in person, in his constitutional role as Captain General of the Spanish Armed Forces, promoting her to the rank of student naval ensign.
The ceremony was also a family occasion: it marked the first public appearance together for Leonor and her younger sister, Infanta SofÃa, since the pair had welcomed Pope Leo XIV to Spain the previous month. Queen Letizia also attended, marking the end of what royal commentators described as a defining, multi-year chapter in Leonor’s preparation for her future role.
What Comes After Military Training?
Completing the core training programme does not fully close the book on Leonor’s military career. Her graduating class is set to complete one further, joint academic year during 2026–2027, concluding in July 2027, at which point Leonor is expected to receive her full commissions as lieutenant in both the Army and the Air and Space Force and ensign in the Navy in ceremonies held across Zaragoza, MarÃn, and San Javier.
In the meantime, Leonor is set to begin civilian academic life for the first time since 2023, enrolling in a political science degree at the Getafe campus of Madrid’s Carlos III Public University. This marks her first extended return to living near Zarzuela Palace since she left for Wales in 2021, though this time without her younger sister, who is continuing her own studies abroad.
Balancing university coursework with the final joint military year ahead will mark a new kind of challenge for Leonor, one that mixes civilian academic life with continued institutional obligations. Royal commentators have noted that this dual-track student and future commissioned officer reflects the broader pattern of her preparation so far: layering practical, hands-on experience on top of formal education, rather than treating either as a substitute for the other.
How Her Training Compares to King Felipe VI’s
Leonor’s military path was deliberately modelled on her father’s own service. Both trained at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, the Naval Military School in MarÃn, and the General Air Academy in San Javier, and both received the same top honour from the Air and Space Force, the Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit, upon completing their flight training.
The most notable difference is Leonor’s own record within that shared tradition: she is the first woman in the Spanish royal family to complete this training path, the first to fly solo as part of it, and the only member of the royal family to date to complete a parachuting course.
Frequently Asked Questions
When did Princess Leonor start her military training?
She began on 17 August 2023 at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, shortly after finishing secondary school in Wales, at age 17.
When did Princess Leonor finish her military training?
Her core training concluded on 10 July 2026 at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, though full lieutenant commissions for her graduating class are expected in mid-2027.
Which branches of the military did Princess Leonor train in?
She trained across all three branches of the Spanish Armed Forces: the Army, the Navy, and the Air and Space Force.
Did Princess Leonor learn to fly?
Yes. She completed her first solo flight aboard a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft on 18 December 2025, becoming the first woman in the Spanish royal family to fly solo.
What military honours has Princess Leonor received?
She has received the Grand Cross of Military Merit, the Grand Cross of Naval Merit, and the Grand Cross of Aeronautical Merit, the top distinction from each branch.
What will Princess Leonor do after completing her military training?
She is expected to begin a political science degree at the Getafe campus of Carlos III Public University in Madrid while continuing toward her full military commissions in 2027.
Conclusion
Princess Leonor’s three-year military training programme, completed on 10 July 2026, closely followed the path her father, King Felipe VI, walked decades earlier but with milestones of her own, including a first solo flight and the distinction of being the only member of the Spanish royal family to complete parachute training. Having earned the top honour from each branch of the armed forces, she now moves toward full officer commissions in 2027 while beginning civilian university studies in Madrid. Her military service stands as one of the most concrete, institutional steps yet in her long preparation to become Spain’s next head of state.
References
HOLA! “Princess Leonor says goodbye to the military after 3 years of training.” (July 2026) https://www.hola.com/us/royals/20260710912202/princess-leonor-military-training-graduation-emotional-day/
HOLA! “Princess Leonor begins elite paratrooper training in Spain.” (May 2026) https://www.hola.com/us/royals/20260521902817/princess-leonor-first-royal-family-paratrooper/
HOLA! “Princess Leonor’s military chapter is ending, and sister SofÃa will be there to see it.” (July 2026) https://www.hola.com/us/royals/20260707911508/princess-leonor-military-graduation-infanta-sofia/
HOLA! “Princess Leonor receives the same military honour as King Felipe VI.” (July 2026) https://www.hola.com/us/royals/20260701910311/princess-leonor-grand-cross-aeronautical-merit/
Euro Weekly News. “Spain’s Princess Leonor finishes military training in Murcia with historic honours.” (June 2026) https://euroweeklynews.com/2026/06/30/spains-princess-leonor-finishes-military-training-in-murcia-with-historic-honours/
Wikipedia. “General Military Academy.” https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/General_Military_Academy
About the Author
This article was researched and written by the Royals & Culture Desk, a team focused on producing accurate, up-to-date explainers on European royal families, their history, and their public roles. All facts in this piece were verified against current reporting on Princess Leonor’s military training, as of August 2026.
