Leonor (Princess of Asturias) Height, Age, Family, Biography

Some Lesser Known Facts About Leonor

• She was born three weeks before her due date to Felipe and Letizia, the Prince and Princess of Asturias.

• She was delivered by caesarean section because the labour did not progress.

• As the daughter of the future king, she was called an ‘infanta’ and was second in line to the Spanish throne.

• The royal family announced her birth to the media by text message.
  

  A childhood picture of Leonor

• Soon after the birth, her umbilical cord stem cells were sent to a private blood bank in Arizona, USA, which caused debate in Spain because the blood bank was private and located outside the country.

• On 7 November 2005, her parents left the hospital with her.

• She was baptised on 14 January 2006 at the Zarzuela Palace by the Archbishop of Madrid. The water used for the baptism came from the Jordan River, and Spanish royals had used the baptismal font for centuries.

• Her godparents were King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, her paternal grandparents.
  

  Baby Leonor being baptised on 14 January 2006 at the Zarzuela Palace by the Archbishop of Madrid

• When she was a baby, she had a small red spot (angioma) on her nose, which is a harmless collection of blood vessels.

• Some people thought it might need surgery, but doctors said it would go away on its own, and it did.

• When Leonor was born, she was called Infanta and earned the title ‘Her Royal Highness Infanta Doña Leonor’ because she was the daughter of the Prince of Asturias.

• When her father became king, Leonor became the heir to the Spanish throne.

• She received several traditional titles, such as Princess of Asturias, Princess of Girona, Princess of Viana, Duchess of Montblanc, Countess of Cervera, and Lady of Balaguer

• She is the 36th person to be called Princess of Asturias since the title was created in 1388.

• She is called ‘Her Royal Highness The Princess of Asturias.’

• In some parts of Spain, she is also given other titles. In former Crown of Aragon regions, she is called ‘Princess of Asturias and Girona.’ and in Navarre, she is called ‘Princess of Asturias and Viana.’

• As the heir to the throne, Leonor is the honorary head of the Princess of Asturias Foundation and the Princess of Girona Foundation. Before she turned 18, her father handled those duties.

• She speaks Spanish, Catalan, and English fluently. She learned English from her British nanny and her grandmother, Queen Sofía.

• She has studied French, Galician, Basque, Arabic, and Mandarin.
  

  A childhood picture of Leonor

• In May 2014, Leonor visited the San Javier Air Force base in Murcia for the first time.

• On 18 June 2014, her grandfather, King Juan Carlos, signed papers to step down from the throne.

• On 19 June 2014, her father became King Felipe VI, and Leonor became the Princess of Asturias and next in line to the throne.

• In October 2014, a wax statue of Leonor was placed in the Wax Museum in Madrid.
  

  The wax statue of Leonor, placed in the Wax Museum in Madrid

• On 20 May 2015, she had her First Communion, as is common in Catholic tradition.

• According to Spain’s rules, the firstborn son becomes king. Since Leonor is the oldest child and has no brothers, she was first in line.

• If her father were to have a son, Leonor would lose her place as heir and become an infanta again.

• Before her 10th birthday, Leonor was given the Order of the Golden Fleece by her father. Her royal flag and banner were also approved.

• In January 2018, on King Felipe’s 50th birthday, he gave Leonor the official collar of the Golden Fleece in a ceremony at the Royal Palace.
  

  Leonor while receiving the official collar of the Golden Fleece in a ceremony at the Royal Palace (2018)

• In September 2018, she went with her parents to Covadonga for her first event outside the royal palace.

• On 31 October 2018, her 13th birthday, she gave her first public speech, reading the first article of Spain’s Constitution.
  

  Leonor while delivering her first public speech, reading the first article of Spain’s Constitution

• On 18 October 2019, she gave a speech at the Princess of Asturias Awards.

• On 4 November 2019, she gave another speech at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards. She spoke in Spanish, Catalan, English, and Arabic.

• On 24 March 2021, she went alone to attend an event marking 30 years of the Cervantes Institute.

• On 16 July 2022, she took her first international trip as a royal without her parents.

• She and her younger sister, Sofía, attended a women’s football match between Spain and Denmark at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022.
  

  Leonor and her sister during a women’s football match between Spain and Denmark at the UEFA Women’s Euro 2022

• In December 2022, Leonor visited the Spanish Red Cross in Madrid and met with young volunteers.

• On 22 September 2023, the Royal Household announced that Leonor would take an oath to the Constitution and the King when she turned 18, as required by Spanish law. This oath confirmed her as the official heir to the Spanish throne.

• On 31 October 2023, at 11:00 a.m., her 18th birthday, the ceremony began. The royal family left the Palace of Zarzuela and was accompanied by the Royal Guard through Madrid.

• At the Spanish Parliament building, the royal family received formal honours.

• Leonor took her oath in front of the Spanish Parliament, which gave her a four-minute standing ovation.
  

  Leonor while taking the oath in front of the Spanish Parliament

• After the ceremony, the royal family went to the Royal Palace, where King Felipe gave Leonor the Collar of the Order of Charles III, the highest civil award in Spain.
  

  Leonor while receiving the Collar of the Order of Charles III (Carlos III), Spain’s highest civil honour

• Later, they held a private party at the Royal Palace of El Pardo. Many relatives attended the party, including family from both her mother’s and father’s sides.

• Guests also included members of other royal families, such as Queen Anne-Marie and Princess Alexia of Greece, Prince Pedro, Duke of Calabria (from the Bourbon-Two Sicilies family), representatives of the Bulgarian royal family, and Princess Miriam Ghazi.

• In 2023, Leonor started training to become Spain’s future commander-in-chief, like her father, King Felipe VI. She joined a 3-year military program that included the army, navy, and air force.

• Her training takes place at The General Military Academy in Zaragoza (army), The Naval Military Academy in Marín (navy), and The General Air Academy in Murcia (air force).
  

  Leonor at the General Military Academy

• In March 2023, Spain’s defence minister said that the government had officially approved her military training.

• Leonor used both her parents’ last names, Borbón Ortiz, during her military career.

• She chose not to take a salary or allowance while training as a cadet.

• She began her army training in Zaragoza on 17 August 2023.

• On 19 September 2023, she received her officer’s sword.
  

  Leonor posing with her sword

• On 7 October 2023, she took an oath of loyalty to the Spanish flag in front of her parents.

• On 6 January 2024, Leonor took part in the Pascua Militar for the first time, a traditional Spanish military event held for over 200 years. She attended the event both as the future queen and as a member of the Armed Forces.

• In the same month, she joined a military sports championship and competed in fencing and volleyball. Her team won a silver medal in mixed team fencing.
  

  Leonor posing with her fencing team

• In June 2024, she completed her army training with field exercises in the mountains of Soria province.

• She was trained by two officers named Colonel José Gonzálvez Vallés and Lieutenant Colonel Margarita Pardo de Santayana.

• On 2 July 2024, she was given the Grand Cross of Military Merit (White Decoration).

• On 3 July 2024, King Felipe VI promoted her to Cadet Ensign and awarded her the Grand Cross of Military Merit.

• On 12 July 2024, the President of Portugal gave her the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ.

• On the same day, Leonor made her first official trip to another country. She was invited to Portugal by President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
  

  Leonor with the President of Portugal during her first state visit (2024)

• On this visit, she was joined by the Portuguese president, Spain’s foreign minister José Manuel Albares, and the king’s private secretary, Camilo Villarino. She focused on environmental issues during this visit, especially protecting the oceans.

• She visited the Lisbon Oceanarium and attended a talk about ocean protection.

• Leonor also visited the Jerónimos Monastery and honoured the poet Luís de Camões.

• On 23 July 2024, she was named Midshipman, the first step to enter naval school.

• On 29 August 2024, she started her navy training in Marín.

• In September 2024, she and other students practised sailing in the Pontevedra Estuary.
  

  Leonor in naval uniform

• On 25 October 2024, Leonor went to the Princess of Asturias Awards as an adult for the first time. She gave a speech to the winners and closed the event. She also announced the next edition.

• On 8 January 2025, she boarded the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano.

• On 11 January 2025, she began a five-month sailing trip to visit Latin American countries and New York City.

• In her final month of naval training, she served aboard a modern Álvarez de Bazán-class ship.

• She likes travelling to distant places in her free time.
  

  Leonor during a trip to Wales with her parents and sister

• She is an animal lover and has a pet dog. She often shares pictures of her pet on social media.
  

  Leonor with her parents and pet dog

• She has been featured on the cover of many renowned magazines and tabloids.
  

  Leonor on the cover of a magazine