King Felipe and Princess Leonor complete historic joint training flight in Murcia

In a display of both royal commitment and military dedication, Spain’s King Felipe and his daughter, the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne, 20-year-old Princess Leonor, have completed their first joint training flight. The event marks another significant milestone for the military career of the princess, who recently finished her three-year training in the Region of Murcia and received the region’s highest honour, the Gold Medal. 

A royal bond in the skies

The royals each piloted a two-seater Pilatus PC-21 turboprop aircraft from the San Javier airbase, located on the Costa Calida, which also happens to be home to the Spanish Air Force Officers’ Academy. Princess Leonor, during her flight, was accompanied by Captain Elena Gutiérrez, her instructor.

The event marked not only a strict professional dedication from the royals, but a supportive bond between father and daughter during the historic moment.

Princess Leonor’s comprehensive military preparation

This exercise is an important part of Princess Leonor’s comprehensive military training, preparing the heiress for her role as commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces. Her journey officially began in August 2023 at the Army Academy in Zaragoza, where she adapted quickly to the demands of military life among her peers. Afterwards, Princess Leonor completed a months-long training voyage aboard the Navy’s historic tall ship, the Juan Sebastián de Elcano.

Honours and next academic steps for the heir presumptive

The Princess has also spent a considerable amount of her training period in the Region of Murcia, and earlier this month in Cartagena received the region’s prestigious Gold Medal, expressing deep appreciation for the municipality of San Javier during her acceptance speech, and even making a reference to famed Cartagena-born band, Arde Bogotá.

The future queen is due to begin her studies in Political Science at the Getafe campus of the Carlos III State University in Madrid.