Princess Leonor of Spain is ready to set sail! The future Queen is continuing her naval training onboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano training ship. King Felipe and Queen Letizia's 19-year-old daughter arrived at the port of Cádiz on Wednesday to join the crew as a first-class midshipman.
During a reception on Jan. 8, the Princess of Asturias was greeted by several officers who are responsible for the operation and training on the ship, and after had a meeting with some of the officers in charge of her training.
The future Queen began the "acclimatization and training of the midshipmen" on Thursday morning "with various seamanship instruction and maneuvering activities, including mast climbing." Footage and photos of the Princess confidently climbing the mast were shared by Casa de S.M. El Rey.
Over on Instagram, one social media user commented, in part, (translated to English), "I love Leonor! She is a symbol of what women can do." Another commented on the video (translated to English): "Oh my God!!! What courage👏👏👏👏 A Great Princess, incredible 😍."
Leonor is currently in her second year of military training. Her naval training began last August at the Naval Military Academy of Marín and will now continue on the Juan Sebastián de Elcano training ship.
Two days before boarding the vessel, Leonor joined her parents at the celebration of the Pascua Militar in Madrid. In a speech that day, the King spoke about Leonor following in his footsteps. His Majesty said (translated to English), "This year, she is doing so as a 1st Class Midshipman of the Military Naval School, just a few days after embarking on the Training Ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, as I myself did 38 years ago, and beginning her 17th training cruise. An experience, dear Leonor, that will surely remain - as it happened to me (and also to your grandfather) - among your best memories of military training."
Following her naval training, Leonor will finish her three-year military training “in the Air and Space Army, joining the San Javier General Air Academy for the 2025-2026 academic year as Ensign Student.”