- Princess Leonor has just turned 18
- She will taking on more official duties now
- Pundits wonder if she can save the royal family's image
Spain’s royal family has been beset by corruption claims and alleged marital scandals in recent years. But in the wake of "Leonormania", an outpouring of adoration for the teen heir. In Spain today, there’s renewed hope for the future reign of Princess Leonor. The streets of Madrid were filled with flag-waving crowds and the royal guards donned their purple plumes.
The spectacle was nothing short of a coronation. This was the scene that marked the 18th birthday of Princess Leonor, a day that sealed her place as Spain's future queen.
Leonor is already causing a royal stir
The pageantry in Spain was reminiscent of a coronation. Mounted royal guards wore purple plumes, a color often associated with royalty. The scene was a testament to the popularity of the young princess, who has been in the public eye since her birth. As millions watched on television, Princess Leonor took a significant step towards her future role. On her 18th birthday, she swore loyalty to the constitution, a symbolic gesture that marked her readiness to ascend the throne when the time comes.
The celebration was not confined to the royal palace. The entire nation joined in the festivities. Madrid was filled with flag-waving crowds, a clear sign of the popularity and love the public holds for their future queen. The anticipation for a new kind of monarchy begins to brew, and it seems to be the tendency all across Europe now.
Princess Leonor's 18th birthday was more than just a celebration. It was a defining moment that marked her place as the country's future queen. As she steps into adulthood, the nation looks forward to her reign with anticipation and excitement.
As the cameras rolled, one of the cadets said to the princess: "How beautiful you look, Borbón", a compliment that brought laughter from King Felipe and Queen Letizia and a smile of complicity from Leonor. In that natural and human moment, she could have been any teenager, but Leonor de Borbón has rarely been seen to break protocol.
The whole of Spain has been paying more attention to the ever move of a princess destined to become the first queen of Spain in the modern era. On her 18th birthday on Tuesday, she swore allegiance to the Constitution, and her popularity has soared.
The crown can be tricky
But the surge in her popularity has some people asking whether the princess is simply blessed with natural charm, or whether her behaviour is all part of a plan to create the perfect queen.
"From today I owe myself to all Spanish people, whom I will serve at all times with respect and loyalty. There is no greater pride," she said. "On this important day, which I will always remember with emotion, I ask you to trust me, as I have placed all my trust in our future, in the future of Spain."
She truly is a breath of fresh air in the palace. With her innocent face, blue eyes and permanent smile, Princess Leonor has managed to win over the Spanish people. She has even succeeded in renewing the image of the royal house and silencing some of the voices critical of the actions of her controversial grandfather, former King Juan Carlos.
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The retired king's elephant hunting expedition, his secret stache of cash in Switzerland, and the harassment lawsuit filed by his former lover Corinna Larsen caused his popularity to plummet, dragging the crown down with it...go figure!
However, Leonor has been able to reconcile the Spanish with the crown. While it's difficult to know the level of support for the princess, as the Spanish Sociological Research Centre hasn't asked about the royal family since 2015, there are other private barometers that take an interest in the question.
The latest of these, published this week in 'El Español' newspaper, ranks the young princess as the most popular member of the royal family, surpassing even her father Felipe VI, the current King of Spain.
And so, the royal future in Spain looks promising!
