Who is Princess Leonor? Spain’s 20-year-old heir poised to become its first queen in 150 years

Princess Leonor, 20, is set to become Spain’s first reigning queen since 1868, marking a historic milestone. Educated in global affairs and undergoing military training, she represents a new generation and will ascend the throne when King Felipe VI abdicates or dies.

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Spain is edging toward a rare royal milestone. For the first time in almost 150 years, the country could see a woman ascend the throne in her own right. At the centre of this moment is Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old heir presumptive and the face of a new, Gen Z generation of monarchy.

Leonor will become queen only when her father, King Felipe VI, abdicates or dies. There is no timeline for that transition yet. But when it happens, Leonor will be Spain’s first reigning queen since Queen Isabella II, whose rule ended in 1868.

A monarchy shaped by history

Spain’s monarchy is rooted in the Bourbon dynasty, which has ruled since the early 1700s after defeating the Habsburgs in the War of the Spanish Succession. The institution was restored in 1975 after the death of dictator General Francisco Franco, with King Juan Carlos I playing a key role in Spain’s transition to democracy. Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014, passing the crown to Felipe VI and placing Leonor next in line.

Early life and education

Born in Madrid in 2005, Leonor is the elder daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, a former journalist. She holds the title Princess of Asturias, traditionally given to the heir to the throne, and has a younger sister, Infanta Sofía.

Leonor completed her schooling in Spain before earning an International Baccalaureate from UWC Atlantic College in Wales, often described as a school that educates future global leaders and royals. According to reports by Reuters and Tatler, her education focused heavily on constitutional values, diplomacy and global affairs. She is fluent in Spanish, Catalan, English and French, and also has working knowledge of Arabic and Mandarin.

She was formally declared the heir apparent on her 18th birthday, the same day she took the oath in Spain’s parliament.

Military training and public duties

Spanish law requires the future monarch to undergo training across all branches of the armed forces. Leonor began a three year military programme in 2023 with the army in Zaragoza, before moving on to naval training in Galicia.

As part of her naval instruction, she completed a 140 day, 17,000 mile voyage aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano, sailing across the Atlantic, around South America and as far as New York, according to NDTV. She later spent time aboard the warship Blas de Lezo.

In December 2025, Leonor reached another milestone by completing her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC 21 aircraft, becoming the first woman in the Spanish royal family to do so. After finishing her air force training at the Air and Space Academy in San Javier, she is set to receive the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia, the region’s highest civilian honour.

Alongside her training, Leonor has gradually taken on solo public engagements. Tatler reported that she made her first independent appearance at the age of 15, visiting the Cervantes Institute during its 30th anniversary celebrations.

A modern royal in the spotlight

Leonor’s life has not been free of public curiosity. In 2022, rumours linked her to Spanish footballer Gavi after reports that King Felipe VI had requested a signed jersey from the player. The stories remained unconfirmed, and both Leonor and Gavi have continued to focus on their respective paths.

Carefully educated, rigorously trained and increasingly visible, Princess Leonor represents a generational shift for Spain’s monarchy. Whenever she eventually takes the throne, her reign is expected to symbolise both continuity and change in a country that has not seen a queen regnant for nearly a century and a half.