Princess Leonor, the 17-year-old heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, will begin a three-year military training program starting in August, according to Defense Minister Margarita Robles.
The move is part of efforts to rebuild the image of the Spanish monarchy, which has been marred by a series of scandals in recent years, mainly linked to former king Juan Carlos.
Robles stated that the heir to the Spanish throne should have a military background and career, as is customary in parliamentary monarchies.
Princess Leonor, who will turn 18 in October, is first in line to succeed her father, King Felipe, unless a male heir is born, followed by her younger sister Sofia.
The princess will begin her training at the Army Military Academy in Zaragoza, followed by a naval school that includes sailing the Juan Sebastian Elcano training tall ship, and will finish her studies at the General Air Academy. The training will be intensive and will precede her university studies, similar to her father’s path in the 1980s.
Robles emphasized the importance of incorporating women into the armed forces and expressed confidence that a woman will eventually become commander-in-chief of the Spanish armed forces.
Juan Carlos abdicated in 2014 in favor of his son amid a tax fraud case and a scandal over his elephant-hunting trip in Africa during a recession. He has since been living in Abu Dhabi after investigations were opened into alleged fraud.
»Princess Leonor of Spain to Follow Father’s Footsteps with Intensive Military Training«
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