A person in a navy blue uniform with Spanish flag patches is standing in front of a seascape with a sailboat in the background. — Princess Leonor before disembarking in Peru, aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano | Redacción

Camara — Princess Leonor before disembarking in Peru, aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano | Redacción

The emotional gesture of Princess Leonor in Peru that moved the world

Days after Mario Vargas Llosa's death, the Spanish heiress had an intimate meeting with her family

23/04/2025 10:02:00h

Editorial Team

Princess Leonor made an emotional stop in Peru on April 18, aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. Her arrival coincided with a week marked by mourning in the literary world: the recent death of Nobel Prize winner Mario Vargas Llosa.

Although her disembarkation at the port of El Callao caused certain media tensions, the heir to the Spanish throne managed to shift the focus of attention with a gesture full of sensitivity. She organized a private meeting with the family of the Hispanic-Peruvian author, whose image was later shared by the Royal House.

A person in a naval uniform is reading a document aboard a ship, while another person works in the background.

The Princess of Asturias and her intense training for the navy | Redacción

A tribute to Vargas Llosa from the heart of the sea

Mario Vargas Llosa passed away on April 13 at the age of 89. His departure prompted a wave of tributes and heartfelt messages from multiple fields. Among the most notable were the Kings of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia, who sent their condolences to Álvaro Vargas Llosa.

A group of four people poses for a photo, one of them wearing a white naval officer's uniform, while the other three are dressed in dark formal clothing, and they are in a setting that appears to be a ship.

The meeting of the future Queen of Spain with Patricia Llosa and the children of Mario Vargas Llosa, Gonzalo and Morgana, during the stopover in El Callao (Peru) | Redacción

"The Olympus of universal letters has opened its doors to Mario Vargas Llosa," the monarchs expressed, thanking his legacy for Hispanic-American literature. In that same spirit, Leonor wanted to give her own tribute, one that combined institutional sobriety and emotional closeness.

Aboard the ship, the princess received Patricia Llosa —the writer's wife—, along with two of his children, Gonzalo and Morgana. The meeting, which was held in private, was immortalized in a photo that quickly spread through official channels.

A group of people in naval uniforms smiles while sitting on a boat with white sails and ropes.

Princess Leonor's training as a midshipman | Redacción

A formative journey with a symbolic stop

The princess's gesture was celebrated as a show of respect toward one of the great cultural figures of the Hispanic world. It also made clear that Leonor, despite her youth, has understood the value of protocol and the sense of diplomacy at key moments.

This stop is part of her current military training, which takes place at sea aboard the ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. After her stop in Peru, the vessel departed for Panama and will continue its route to Colombia, the Dominican Republic, and the United States.

Leonor is expected to return to Spain in July. By then, she will not only have added nautical miles but also experiences that consolidate her preparation as a future queen.

➡️ Argentina