Princess Leonor quotes Cartagena band Arde Bogotá as she bids a farewell to San Javier

The Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, received the Gold Medal of the Region of Murcia, the highest honour awarded by the region. The Princess was welcomed on the morning of Wednesday, June 3, at a ceremony held in the Church of San Esteban, in the coastal city of Cartagena.

Princess Leonor of Asturias, the ‘Adoptive Daughter of San Javier’

In addition to this high honour, the Princess was also named the “Adoptive Daughter of San Javier,” the town near the Mar Menor where she received a municipal gold medal and where she carried out a large part of her training.

Princess Leonor references famed Cartagena rock band during her speech

During her speech, the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne made a reference to local Cartagena band Arde Bogotá: “Like a cowboy on the A-3, I will miss that route I have traveled so many times on my way to the sea,” she said, echoing the lyrics to one of their songs. She also mentioned that on that day, she “symbolically” bid farewell to the Region of Murcia.

“Although I still have a month left at the General Air and Space Academy, today I symbolically close a chapter that has been essential for me,” the Princess said during her acceptance speech. Princess Leonor affirmed that during her time at the General Air and Space Academy, located in the municipality of San Javier, she shared “more than just classes, flights, and maneuvers” with her peers at the academy.

Expressing deep gratitude for the Costa Calida municipality of San Javier

The Princess expressed deep appreciation for the municipality of San Javier, stating that it had “enhanced and broadened my understanding of camaraderie, because to fly in formation one must be very aware of the importance of having complete confidence in one’s own abilities and those of one’s wingman.”

The first of the Royal Family to mark these milestones

The Princess had recently completed a major milestone, a parachuting course, and had become the first of her family to do so.

Her parachuting course, however, was not her only milestone achieved recently. At the awarding ceremony, the Princess of Asturias also signed the Golden Book of the Region of Murcia, becoming the first member of the Royal Family to do so.

To close out her speech, the Princess thanked the people of Murcia “for opening the doors of this land to me and for teaching me so much.”

This July, the Princess will have completed her three years of military training. After officially completing her training, she is due to study Political Science at the Getafe campus of the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid.