Princess Leonor received her officer's saber© Getty

Princess Leonor wears cadet uniform to receive special honour

Princess Leonor is in the first year of her military training

Online Royal CorrespondentLondon
September 20, 2023

Princess Leonor donned her cadet uniform as she marked a new milestone at military school on Tuesday.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain's daughter, 17, received her officer's saber at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, along with 560 newly admitted cadets, to mark her entrance into the Officer Scales of the General, Quartermaster, and Polytechnic Engineer Corps of the Army, as well as the Guardia Civil Corps.

It's a significant ceremony as it's the first one new students participate in and because it symbolises their attainment of the titles 'knight' or 'lady cadet.'

The Spanish palace shared new portraits of the future queen following the ceremony, showing Leonor standing to attention in her uniform and holding her newly-awarded saber.

Leonor enrolled at the military school last month, with her proud parents and younger sister, Infanta Sofia, 16, seeing her off on her first day. See the emotional moment in the clip below…

WATCH: Queen Letizia and King Felipe bid farewell to Princess Leonor as she starts military training

The princess will spend the first year of her training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, followed by a year in the navy. She will complete her third and final year at the General Air Academy.

Princess Leonor is in her first year of military training© Getty
Princess Leonor is in her first year of military training

On Wednesday, the palace also confirmed that Leonor has completed a period of basic military training, including shooting exercises and combat tracking.

Leonor graduated from UWC Atlantic College in May after completing a two-year International Baccalaureate programme.

Sofia has followed in her big sister's footsteps and is now studying at UWC Atlantic College, with the palace sharing photos of the princess leaving the family's home in Madrid to travel to the UK.

© Getty
The palace shared portraits of the princess after the ceremony

Meanwhile, King Felipe and Queen Letizia wowed at the opening of the 2023/2024 season of the Teatro Rea in Madrid.

The queen, 51, looked beautiful in a black taffeta A-line dress by The 2nd Skin Co, and slingback heels.

© Getty
King Felipe and Queen Letizia wowed on the red carpet

She accessorised with a simple black clutch and hooped earrings.

Meanwhile, the king, 55, looked smart in a dark suit with a lemon-hued tie. 

King Felipe and Queen Letizia, who married in 2004, returned to a full calendar of royal engagements in August after spending their annual family holiday in Palma de Mallorca.

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