Leonor and her big definitive change: “I’m almost 18, about to start my military training… I’m happy”

Night of science, letters, music and centennial talent. Leonor has come on stage and has starred in a performance flawless. It was her big night: the first delivery of the Princess of Girona Awards in Girona. It took place at the Hotel Camiral, in Caldes de Malavella.

If last year we detected the great evolution of Leonor, this is the year of the definitive change. The princess has grown up in Wales. She has not only graduated, she has also matured. At the 2022 gala we saw the heiress with that royal bow, the light blue dress and that changing voice. Tonight we have seen an adult Leonor. A woman of the centennial generation awake, independent and with character. She has spoken of “challenges”, of young “references” and of “concerns – she has said – of our generation”. That, the centennial generation, is yours.

The King and Queen, accompanied by the Princess of Asturias and Girona and the Infanta Sofía, preside over the delivery ceremony of the #PrincessOfGironaAwards 2023, which revolves around young talent and the great global challenges.

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— House of HM the King (@CasaReal) July 5, 2023

“I am almost 18. I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.” It has been his first reaction to share with us this countdown to his coming of age. “I am happy (…) It is an important moment in my life, I feel very excited, and convinced to continue learning,” she added. Afterwards, she has valued “respect, effort, excellence, the search for knowledge, temperance, discipline, perseverance”. Eight words with a message of commitment.

He has kept his voice steady. With personality. She has gotten stuck on the word generation, but it has only been an anecdote. His speech lasted exactly 3:49 minutes. A multilingual speech in Catalan, Spanish and English with very careful accents. As it is.

María Dueñas, Arts Award: tribute to Granada

And the time for delivery has come. One of the most anticipated was the young violinist María Dueñas, winner of the Arts Award. The 20-year-old from Granada, ambassador of Marca España and author of the album Beethoven and Beyond, enlivened the gala by performing Recuerdos de la Alhambra, by Francisco Tàrrega i Eixea, in homage to her land. Also highly applauded, the co-founder of the Kidogo childcare platform, Sabrina Habib. Leonor has dedicated a few words to him in English. Later, the engineer and founder of Open Cosmos, Rafael Jordá; and the doctor in Biomedicine Marc Schneeberger, to whom the heiress has addressed in Catalan. Then it was the turn of the founder of the Palliative Art Foundation, Silvia Fernández.

The XXX meeting of the Board of Trustees of the @FPdGithe King and Queen, the Princess of Asturias and Girona and the Infanta Sofía have held a meeting with the attending patrons, before the delivery of the #PrincessOfGironaAwards 2023.

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— House of HM the King (@CasaReal) July 5, 2023

The gala was hosted by the founder of Change Dyslexia, Luz Rello, and the director of the Mar de Niebla Foundation, Héctor Colunga, both 2016 and 2015 Social Awards. For the eldest daughter of the Kings this was the fourth installment of these awards that bear his name and the first time that he celebrates them in Girona. It is also the first time that she has spoken on Girona soil, thus giving way to the pressure for independence and giving visibility to these awards that recognize the talent of the youngest. The Princesses of Girona distinguish the enthusiasm and commitment of the youth that act as a lever of change in their environment. Inspiring men and women of a more just, diverse and inclusive society. In this context, Leonor has shone.