Watch Princess Leonor Speak Catalan

Members of the Spanish Royal Family were in Barcelona earlier this month to hand out the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards to leaders in different fields, like science and business.

The heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor, is not only princess of Asturias but also of Girona. The Principality of Asturias historically belong to the heir to the Castilian throne while the Principality of Girona belonged to the heir of the Aragonese throne. Modern Spain includes both kingdoms.

The princess, who is 15 and still preparing for official duties, delivered remarks in Catalan because of her presence in the capital of the Autonomous Community of Catalonia. Girona is also an important Catalan city.

Catalan nationalist leaders have avoided members of the Royal Family since forming a coalition government earlier this year. They also skipped King Felipe’s visit for the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, including a lunch at Albéniz Palace.

Also in recent days, King Felipe and Queen Letizia held a ceremony at the Madrid Royal Palace for United Nations Secretary General António Guterres. His Majesty offered some words in Portuguese.

Royals Celebrate National Day

King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia presided over the annual Fiesta Nacional commemoration in Madrid today.

However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Day celebration was scaled down significantly. Instead of a parade through Madrid’s main avenues, the Royal Family reviewed Spanish forces at the Royal Palace.

Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was on hand for the celebrations, which included military jets flying over the palace and the city.

Note Princess Leonor, to the left above, wearing a pin for the Order of the Golden Fleece. She joined the order in preparation to assume the duties of heir to the throne.

Other recent activity

The King in recent days made a much anticipated visit to Barcelona with the prime minister for an economic awards ceremony.

His Majesty opened the academic year for the Royal Academies during a visit to the Royal Spanish Academy on Oct. 7.

A day earlier, on Oct. 6, the King and Queen led a meeting of the Cervantes Institute leadership at the Royal Palace of El Pardo.

Earlier in the month, King Felipe met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa during an event in Galicia on trans-Atlantic dialogue.

Royals Under Scrutiny During Vacations

King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters made the rounds in Mallorca today as they started the public phase of their summer vacation.

Locals and media outlets are paying special attention this year because of the scandal surrounding King Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos.

Don Felipe today met with Balearic Island leaders at Almudaina Palace in Palma as is tradition.

felipe_mallorca — King Felipe with Balearic Islands Francina Armengol

King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia then visited Junipero Serra’s childhood home. Serra was a Catholic missionary in what is now California.

Serra has a become figuere of controversy in the U.S. because of his treatment of Native Americans.

Queen Sofia, who favors vacationing in Mallorca, arrived at Marivent Palace in recent weeks. The Royal Household has been working to shield her from the controversy surrunding her husbad, King Juan Carlos.

Royals Hold Palace Ceremony For Victims

The Spanish Royal Family held a ceremony at the Madrid Royal Palace grounds to honor victims of the coronavirus pandemic.

Attending last week in the shadow of Almudena Cathedral were King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Letizia and Infanta Sofia.

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The ceremony of state was one of several from Spain’s royals to honor the pandemic’s victims.

Spanish Princesses Thank COVID-19 Workers

Spain’s Princess Leonor, the heir to the throne, and Infanta Sofia took to social media last month to thank medical workers and other professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.

The princesses recorded a video posted on YouTube and on Twitter, part of the Royal Household’s effort to be visible and active during the ongoing lockdown.

Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, and her sister also recorded themselves reading a section of Spanish literary masterpiece Don Quixote. Several personalities participated to mark World Book Day.

Spanish Princess’ School Affected By Coronavirus

Spanish authorities have confirmed a case of coronavirus at the elite Santa Maria de los Rosales private school in Madrid.

That’s where Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, and her younger sister, Infanta Sofia, both attend classes.

oficial2 — Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia. Spanish Royal Household

Several media outlets reported the case of the disease and said the princess and infanta would continue attending classes as normal.

Royals Defy Barcelona Protests

Spain’s Royal Family was in Barcelona this week for public events despite strong protests from Catalan separatists.

King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia were in the city to hand out the Princess of Girona Awards.

The King suggested his very presence in the city would send a message. He said intolerance and violence had no place in Catalonia.

The King’s daughter, Princess Leonor, who is Princess of Girona, said she was proud to hold the title. She spoke at length in Catalan.

Pro-independence leaders tried to convince electoral authorities to keep the Royal Family away because of the upcoming national voting. They accuse the King of not being an impartial broker.

Several police forces have converged in Barcelona for the royal visit and the upcoming elections.

As heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor holds several titles, including Princess of Asturias and of Girona.

Princess Delivers First Major Address

Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, delivered her first major public address last week as heir to the Spanish throne.

The princess recently read parts of the Spanish Constitution during an event, but last week’s remarks at the Princess of Asturias Awards were more notable.

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princesa2 — TOP: Queen Sofia, Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia arrive at the awards ceremony. BOTTOM: Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia at the head table.

Her Royal Highness said she was honored to hold the title of Princess of Asturias and spoke of her Asturian blood. Her mother, Queen Letizia, is from Asturias.

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King Felipe had tender words for his daughter, who will soon turn 13. He told her to have courage and valor.

His words came amid violent protests in Barcelona and Madrid by Catalan pro-independence activists.

princesa4 — Princess Leonor hugging her sister Infanta Sofia.

The Princess of Asturias awards are given to artists, scholars and leaders around the world.

As heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor has been going through a grooming process to prepare her for public life. Last week’s speech was a key part of that effort.

Royals Visible In Mallorca

Members of the Spanish Royal Family have been extremely visible during their vacations in Mallorca.

The goal is to defuse all the talk of controversy surrounding King Juan Carlos, and also move past the recent public tension between Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia.

Earlier this week, King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met at Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca, and later Queen Letizia and Sánchez’s wife María Begoña joined in for lunch.

The King also participated in the King’s Cup Regatta and awards ceremony, and held an evening gathering for local leaders at Almudaina Palace with Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia.

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Videos

Earlier this month, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters — Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia — posed for pictures at Almudaina Palace and greeted reporters.

Queen Sofia, Queen Letizia, the princess and the infanta visited walked around a market.

More family members, including Infanta Elena and Princess Irene, Queen Sofia’s sister, joined the royals for a concert.

Members of the Royal Family and other close relatives also had dinner out together, as has become tradition.

King Juan Carlos, meanwhile, remains away from official activities. He missed the inauguration of Colombia’s new president because of health reasons, outlets reported.

Princess Leonor Celebrates First Communion

Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish Crown, celebrated her first communion at school last week along with family.

Pictures of the actual ceremony have yet to emerge, but members of the Royal Family posed for the waiting press outside.

Present were King Felipe and Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Infanta Sofia, among others.

Separately, members of the Royal Family this weekend celebrated the first communion for the children of King Felipe’s cousin, the son of Infanta Pilar, King Juan Carlos’ sister.