The ceremony was held in the lower house of parliament and televised nationally.
This significant event signifies the continuation of Spain’s parliamentary monarchy and the institution’s commitment to the legislative body.
In a recitation of the same oath taken by her father when he reached the age of 18 in 1986, Leonor de Borbón Ortiz pledged to faithfully fulfil her duties, uphold the Constitution and laws, respect citizens’ rights, autonomous communities, and show loyalty to the king. This ceremony is a crucial step in her path to eventually succeeding to the throne and becoming queen.
Princess Leonor assumed the role of crown princess on June 19, 2014, when Felipe VI was declared king. Her increasing visibility in the media, often accompanied by the term “Leonormania,” underscores her growing popularity as the contemporary face of the future monarchy.
Spain Celebrates
Well-wishers lined the streets of the Spanish capital Madrid to catch a glimpse of Spain‘s royals and others watched on large screens as Princess Leonor marked her 18th birthday swearing her allegiance to the country’s constitution on Tuesday (October 27) at parliament.
The ceremony in parliament marked her coming of age, meaning she will now directly become queen after her father King Felipe VI, assuming he does not go on to have any male children.
The event in parliament showed the divisions in the country over the monarchy as leftist and separatist politicians boycotted the event.
“I ask that you trust me as I have placed all my trust in the future of our nation, the future of Spain,” Leonor said after the ceremony in parliament as she addressed politicians in the Royal Palace where she was bestowed the Collar of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III.
