Leonor has ended her summer vacation to begin a new and demanding stage in her training as the future head of state. This past Monday, September 1, the heir to the throne arrived at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, Murcia. There, Leonor will stay for the next few months to complete her military career.
This will be the final phase of her military training after previously completing her time at the academies of the three branches of the armed forces. For Leonor, this stage represents not only a personal challenge but also an institutional one.
Entering as a fourth-year cadet, Leonor is joining an intensive routine, with classes, physical training, and flight practice aboard the modern Pilatus PC-21. In addition to university-level preparation linked to the master's in aerospace military engineering, in collaboration with the Polytechnic University of Cartagena.
Leonor has a very strict routine in Murcia
According to María José Gómez y Verdú, a protocol expert interviewed by Semana: "Leonor's arrival at the academy represents an exercise in balancing normalization and exceptionality." The specialist points out that a protocol has been designed to ensure that the heir meets the same academic and disciplinary requirements as her peers. At the same time, discreet security and privacy measures are guaranteed, inherent to her institutional status.
Leonor will follow a strict routine, starting her day at 6:30 a.m. (06:30) with reveille and ending at 10:00 p.m. (22:00) with lights out. She will do so after a full day of training activities. The leave policy will be equally strict, with authorized outings only on weekends or holidays.
Leonor will have a private bathroom in Murcia
However, amid this normalization, the only privilege Leonor has during her stay at the academy has come to light. The assignment of a private bathroom in her room.
While the rest of the students share common facilities, Leonor will share a dormitory with three classmates, but with the difference of having an exclusive bathroom. According to the expert, this detail is due more to privacy and security reasons than to preferential treatment.
This fact doesn't change the fact that Leonor will experience an intense period, with challenges similar to those of her peers. This stage highlights her commitment to her future responsibility as queen of Spain.