“He will remain in your best memories, like me and your grandfather as well.”

First act on the Kings’ agenda this 2025: Military Easter. Felipe VI and Mrs. Letizia have inaugurated the work calendar with their daughter, the Princess of Asturias this Monday, January 6 at 12:00 in the morning, Three Kings’ Day. The second part of the ceremony has begun in the Throne Room. The accredited media followed the event from the Goya room of the Palace.

The protocol established a type A gala uniform for the military, a morning suit and a long dress for civilian guests. The JEMAD, the chief of the Defense Staff, Teodoro López Calderón, has begun to complement Felipe VI, Doña Letizia and the Princess of Asturias. The Brotherhood of Veterans of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard has followed. This greeting took place in Gasparini’s anteroom.

Afterwards, the head of State has presided over the imposition of the Grand Cross of Military Merit decorations on civilians and members of the Armed Forces who have earned them for their actions in the past year.

“The princess, an example for all young people,” according to Robles

After the presentation of distinctions, the speeches began. Robles has taken the floor as head of the Defense portfolio. While he spoke, the Kings and Leonor listened to his speech sitting in seats. They have changed the order they maintained in the greeting, so that the monarch has placed himself in the middle, to his left, the Queen; and to his right, his daughter. Robles had a few words for Leonor as a “midshipman” who is about to embark at Elcano in Cádiz. “An example for all young people (…) The princess will raise the flag of Spain very high like all the midshipmen,” Robles stressed.

“An experience, dear Leonor”

Then the King intervened, beginning with a “tribute” to the men and women who make up the Armed Forces, “and who do not spare an iota of effort or commitment in our defense and security, in the service of Spain.” In his speech, a tribute to his daughter and a mention of his father, Juan Carlos I. Also, a new memory of the victims of the DANA of Valencia.

The Princess of Asturias “accompanies us for the second time at Military Easter. She does so, this year, as a 1st Midshipman of the Naval Military School and a few days after embarking on the Juan Sebastián de Elcano Training Ship, as I myself did 38 years ago.” years – he stressed – and begin his XCVII training cruise”. And looking towards his daughter he expressed: “An experience, dear Leonor, that will most likely remain – as it happened to me (and also your grandfather) – among your best memories of military training.” A mention of the emeritus that has arrived just 24 hours after Don Juan Carlos celebrated his 87th birthday in Abu Dhabi with a drone and fireworks show.

To these words, and resorting to his own experiences in Elcano when he was 19 years old, the King added: “The sea is a permanent learning and challenge, sometimes intransigent and crude, with no room for excuses.; and the American continent – its countries, its coasts and cultures, which you will begin to know, with so much Spanish imprint – will teach you a lot about what we were and also are.” To conclude “So we wish you, that you make the most of it – you and your companions – the knowledge and seafaring and human experience that this trip offers; because it will continue to be worth it to you, as it has been worth to me, for a lifetime”.

The heiress sets sail on January 11 from Cádiz

For Leonor, this event marks her farewell to the agenda until her embarkation on the 8th in Cádiz, from where she will set sail aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano on January 11. The princess’s farewell will be presided over by her parents, who travel to Cádiz to say goodbye. From January 8 to 11, the princess will prepare for the journey. With it, 76 midshipmen belonging to the 427th promotion of the General Corps and 157th of the Marine Infantry embark. For the heir it will be 140 days at sea. It will be a long trip, 17,000 nautical miles. It will visit 8 countries and 6 Spanish cities. A new stage begins for Leonor in her formative life at the Marín Naval School. A stage that his father remembers very well and with great affection. It was January 9, 1987. Felipe was about to turn 19 years old. On deck was his family and his grandfather, Juan de Borbón, who said goodbye with a kiss.