Two people dressed in white naval uniforms embrace at an official outdoor event while several people watch in the background. — The emotional reunion of King Felipe VI and his daughter, Princess Leonor | Redacción

Camara — The emotional reunion of King Felipe VI and his daughter, Princess Leonor | Redacción

Excitement in Marín: Leonor said goodbye to Elcano alongside her family

The princess completed a stage of her training and received the Grand Cross of Naval Merit

17/07/2025 13:26:00h

Editorial Team

Princess Leonorstarred in a moment full of symbolism and emotion at the Marín Naval School, where she swore allegiance to the flag and closed a key stage of her military training. In this solemn ceremony, she appeared again alongside her parents, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, and her sister, Infanta Sofía, in the first family gathering of the year.

During the ceremony, which took placein front of the training ship Juan Sebastián Elcano, Leonor bid farewell to her fellowmidshipmen, with whom she shared an unforgettable journey of almost six months. Elcano remained anchored at the dock as a witness to this decisive step, attended by the King and Sofía, who presided over the official event.

Young woman in a white naval uniform and officer’s cap sitting on a wooden chair during an official ceremony

Princess Leonor at the Marín Naval Military School (Pontevedra) | Redacción

Felipe awarded Leonor the Grand Cross of Naval Merit

King Felipe, dressed in the Navy's full dress uniform, presented his daughter with the Grand Cross of Naval Merit with a white badge. Proud, he embraced her before the princess, visibly moved, approached to greet her mother and sister tenderly.

Two people dressed in white military uniforms with red and yellow sashes look at each other and smile at an official event surrounded by other uniformed individuals.

The Princess of Asturias and her father at the Marín Naval Military School during the Royal Commissions delivery ceremony | Redacción

The event included the flag oath of 86 first-year students and the presentation of Royal Commissions to 130 new Navy officers, including 20 women. It was a key day for Leonor, not only because of its institutional significance but also for the family meaning of the reunion.

Military ceremony with uniformed officers carrying flags in front of a staircase decorated with the colors of the Spanish flag and a coat of arms in the center

The solemn flag oath ceremony. | Redacción

Sofía had seen her sister in Gijón, and Letizia visited her in May during a stopover of the ship in Panama. However, this was the first official event in which all four members of the royal family appeared together since October 2023, during the Princess of Asturias Awards.

Sober style and naval touches in Letizia and Sofía's looks

Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofía chose discreet outfits, with tones matching the naval uniform. Letizia wore a navy blue midi dress by the Seville-based brand Vogana, with a V-neckline and white details. She paired it with white low-heeled sandals by Hugo Boss, a Metropolis bag by Furla, and her classic hoop earrings and Coreterno ring.

Four people pose at an official event surrounded by military personnel in dress uniforms.

The Royal Family at the ceremony for the presentation of Royal Commissions and appointments to the new officers | Redacción

Meanwhile, Sofía debuted a white blouse by Rivera, with a boat neckline and side ruching, which she wore with black palazzo pants and matching ballet flats. Her look, youthful and sophisticated, provided an elegant contrast to her older sister's uniform.

This family reunion not only closed a chapter in Leonor's training but also reaffirmed the symbolic bond between the princess and her future role as head of the Armed Forces. The final scene, with crossed embraces and gestures of pride, encapsulated the emotional weight of a historic day for the Spanish Crown.

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