Princess of Asturias, Leonor, visited the Headquarter of the Cervantes Institute in Madrid to paricipate in an event marking the 30th anniversary of the institute. The visit also marked the biggest milestone of Leonor’s 15-year old life – It was her first solo engagement. The Institute works for the promotion and teaching of the Spanish language
When she arrived at the headquarters of the Cervantes Institute, Leonor was greeted by the First Vice President of the Government and Minister of the Presidency.
Yes she is a Princess, Yes she will be a Queen one day – but let’s not forget that Leonor is just a 15 year old teenager. The prospect of going out on her own without her parents shadowing her and meeting Government officials, when camers will be snapping all around her – It could be a daunting experience.
But we saw how flawlessly, Princess finished her first solo job. Leonor was elegant, graceful, aware of her surroundings and showed she is on the right path when it comes to her Royal trainng. While it is a big milestone – Leonor will not be having any heavy busy schedule for another few years.
I can imagine the pride, King Felipe and Queen Letizia must be feeling when they saw their first-born doing the job she is supposed to do with such royal dignity and confidence.
The Heiress, who is set to study at the UWC Atlantic College of Wales from August 2021, presented the Institute with the copy of the Spanish Constitution from which she read during her first public speech in 2018 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of its approval by the Congress of Deputies.
Leonor also handed over the version of ‘Don Quixote’ by Cervantes which she and her sister, Infanta Sofia, read from lasr year in their video message at the start of the first wave of the coronavirus pandemic. The books will be part of the Institute’s “Letters’ Vault” which contains works celebrating Spanish culture and heritage.
The following inscription is engraved on the box: “Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, on the occasion of her visit to the Cervantes Institute on the occasion of its 30th anniversary, placed two copies of the Spanish Constitution and Don Quixote de la Mancha in the Box Of letters. March 24, 2021 ”.
The Caja de la Letras is the old safe of the Banco Español del Río de la Plata that, after its transformation as the headquarters of the Instituto Cervantes in 2007, houses in its safe boxes more than 60 legacies that have been depsoited by the famous personalities of The spanish culture. The box reserved for the deposit of Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, is between the boxes of Don Miguel Delibes and Don Severo Ochoa.
Once Leonor deposited the books, the Director of the Cervantes Institute handed her the key of the box.
A video of the day.
During the visit, the Royal Princess learned about the activities that the Instituto Cervantes is preparing for the 30th anniversary, and had the opportunity to learn about the digitization projects, as well as the new technological and digital tools of the Instituto Cervantes.
A moment from the visit.
She recieved a guided tour of the institute from the Director and learnt about the various facilities and programs.
Before leaving, Leonor was presented with a gift set that consists of three books: “Joana” by Joan Margarit in a bilingual Castilian-Catalan edition, published by the Forum of Economic Culture of Mexico, on the occasion of the awarding of the Cervantes Prize to Joan Margarit; “I would like to have all the voices”, a book of poetry in the different languages of Spain edited by the Cervantes Institute under the direction of Víctor García de la Concha, and “Poetic Anthology” by Luis García Montero translated into Catalan with a foreword by Joan Margarit.
A group photograph marking the visit.
Today’s visit was not just a milestone in Leonor’s Royal journey, but it also reflected the future of the Spanish Monarchy. In the last decade, the Spain Royal Family has been under huge pressure as one after the another scandel was being exposed. First Felipe’s sister and brother-in-law’s tax scam and now the current investigations going on against Leonor’s grandfather King Juan Carlos. Currently, the Spain has only two senior working Royals King Felipe and Queen Letizia, occassionaly supported by Felipe’s mother Queen Sofia and sister Elena once in a while. Today, the Monarchy has a new face who will lead the nation one day in the future – The Future Queen of the Country.
Following her mother, Queen Letizia, who loves to rewear her wardrobe, Princess Leonor chose her Poete ‘Mirta’ dress that she wore at 2020 Princess of Asturias Awards in October 2020.
Leonore paired the outfit with Pretty Ballerinas’ Holly pumps also debuted on the same day in 2020.
Leonor is set to move abroad later this year in August when she will attend the UWC Atlantic College in Wales, United Kingdom to study the International Baccalaureate program of the UWC. The academic program is developed in two courses (2021-2022 and 2022-2023) and includes both science and literature subjects.
Princess Leonor will reside, like the rest of the students, in accordance with the boarding school that the UWC Atlantic College has established within its campus. She will be joined by another European Princess – Alexia Juliana Marcela Laurentien, Princess of the Netherlands, Princess of Orange-Nassau.
