On June 5, 2025, Princess Leonor of Spain, the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, will mark a key milestone in her military journey as she concludes the main phase of her naval training aboard the Spanish Navy’s iconic tall ship, the Juan Sebastián de Elcano. The Princess, who has spent the past five months at sea, is set to disembark in New York City, bringing to a close one of the most demanding and formative chapters of her royal and military education.
Princess Leonor began this remarkable voyage on January 8, 2025, when she boarded the vessel in Cádiz, Spain. The official departure followed on January 11, launching a training cruise that would span over 17,000 nautical miles and include 12 ports in eight countries across South, Central, and North America. From the vibrant coasts of Brazil, Uruguay, Chile, and Peru, to the historic harbors of Panama, Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and the United States, Leonor’s journey has been as diplomatic as it has been educational.
This voyage is part of Leonor’s second year of a comprehensive three-year military training program, designed to prepare her for her future constitutional role as Spain’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces. During her time on the Juan Sebastián de Elcano, Leonor received intensive instruction in navigation, astronomy, meteorology, seamanship, and participated in sail maneuvers, watch duties, and academic coursework.
The training has not only tested her physical endurance and intellectual stamina but has also symbolized her growing commitment to duty, service, and leadership—hallmarks of a modern monarch in the making. Leonor’s voyage wasn’t purely academic. She also carried out diplomatic duties, including an official luncheon with local dignitaries during the ship’s stopover in Las Palmas de Gran Canaria. One of the most heartwarming highlights of her journey was a reunion with Queen Letizia in Panama, marking the first time mother and daughter had seen each other in four months. The warm encounter was widely shared in Spanish media, a rare personal moment that resonated with the public.
Although her time aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano ends in New York, Princess Leonor’s military training continues. She will return to Spain later this week to begin the final portion of her naval instruction — a month-long practical assignment aboard an Álvaro de Bazán-class frigate, After spending a week with family. Leonor has not met her father King Felipe since January 2025 when he bid her off in Cadiz and her sister, Infanta Sofia since new year. Meanwhile, the training ship will continue its voyage, eventually returning to Spanish shores in July 2025, with planned stops in Gijón and Cádiz and Leonor will reunite with her batchmates in July.