Royal fans reminisce about moment King Felipe of Spain swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution on his 18th birthday – as daughter Princess Leonor takes the same oath

• Princess Leonor echoed the actions of her father, King Felipe VI, in Madrid today 
• READ MORE: Spain’s People’s Princess! How Leonor won her country’s heart – as royal fans descend on Madrid for her historic 18th birthday celebrations

Princess Leonor swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution this morning, 37 years after her father, King Felipe VI, marked the same milestone on his 18th birthday. 

Today’s ceremony at the House of Parliament in Madrid, means the future Queen  can officially act as regent in the absence of her father.

A royal fan has taken to X, formerly called Twitter, to draw a fascinating comparison between the royal father and daughter.

A side-by-side image comparison showed Felipe, 55, and his daughter both undergoing the same tradition on their respective 18th birthdays. 

Felipe, then the Prince of Asturias, repeated the historic oath on 30 January 1986, 37 years ago. 

King Felipe (right) then the Prince of Asturias, repeated the historic oath on 30 January 1986, 37 years ago. His parents Juan Carlos I (centre left) and Sofia of Spain (centre right), proudly watched by

Today, Princess Leonor of Spain (right) swore allegiance to the Constitution on her 18th birthday, as her parents King Felipe VI (centre right) and Queen Letizia (centre left) stood by 

He stood with pride as he uttered the words that brought joy to the nation, with his parents, Juan Carlos I and Sofia of Spain, proudly watching by.

Felipe swore allegiance to the King and Constitution to mark his coming of age, and consequently became the heir apparent.

The nation came to a standstill as national television broadcast the ceremony. showing the young prince speaking before parliament and the heads of regional governments inside the Palace of Deputies.

Felipe took part in a second ceremony at the Royal Palace, where the then Prime Minister, Felipe Gonzalez, awarded the prince the gold chain of the Order of Carlos III.

Reporting on the event in 1986, the New York Times wrote: ‘Prince Felipe repeated the oath in a firm voice and then stood with self-assurance as the applause filled the hall.

‘He had arrived at the Palace of Deputies from the Royal Palace in a cavalcade accompanied by lancers wearing shining armour and riding white horses.

‘Afterward, for the first time, he joined his father and mother, Queen Sofia, on a stand to review a short military parade.’

Princess Leonor addressed the crowd with similar spirit today, just as her father did 37 years ago. 

As she swore allegiance to the Spanish Constitution in parliament with her family and government representatives watching on, Leonor’s experience in public speaking was clear to see, with a proud and unwavering delivery.

The Princess and her father exchanged a sweet smile on her special day, which makes her eligible to be queen in the future 

The Princess once again stated her commitment to the Spanish people, and in turn asked Spaniards to trust in her as she steps up her role and becomes a Queen-in-training.

Leonor looked regal in a white suit, with her hair pulled back into a low, sleek ponytail, and her make up neutral and understated.

Following the ceremony, the 18-year-old Princess kissed her mother Queen Letizia, 51, and father Felipe on the cheek, as the proud parents held her arms in a supportive gesture.

Meanwhile, Princess Leonor also received the symbolic Collar of the Order of Charles III from her father today. 

The Collar is a historic gift, created by Carlos III in 1771, and represents the possibility that Princess Leonor will one day assume the crown.

As the Spanish princess and heir to the throne stepped up to address the nation following the ceremony, she asked Spaniards to put their trust in her

In a poignant moment, King Felipe adjusted the Collar of the Order of Charles III (Carlos III) on his daughter’s shoulders at the end of the ceremony

King Felipe VI received the Collar of the Order of Charles III on his 18th birthday in 1986.

Princess Leonor was awarded the honour today, marking the second honour the Princess of Asturias has received from her father King Felipe VI.

Newspaper El Espanol reported that the 18-year-old is Spain’s most popular royal, after a poll revealed she is even more highly regarded than her father King Felipe.

The enthusiasm for the Spanish royal family and its younger generations is a far cry from discontent that spread around the nation following the abdication of Leonor’s grandfather, King Juan Carlos.

The former monarch 84, who currently lives in Abu Dhabi, stepped down after nearly 40 years on the throne in 2014 after his daughter’s husband became embroiled in a controversial elephant hunting scandal.

The Spanish royal family were in high spirits after the ceremony, with Queen Letizia beaming as she strolled along next to her husband and daughters

Crowds lined the streets to be present at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid on Leonor’s 18th birthday

Just this month, the former King won his bid to end a £126 million High Court battle in the UK with his Danish ex-lover who accused him of spying on and harassing her.

Businesswoman Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn, who is in her late 50s, claimed the former royal had caused her ‘great mental pain’.

Juan Carlos, 85, has denied wrongdoing and disputed the claims made against him, arguing they are not ‘viable’.

Despite several years of scandal at the heart of the Spanish monarchy, the royal family today appeared to enter a new era, with King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia welcomed in the centre of Madrid by roaring crowds.

Princess Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, was awarded the medals of Congress and the Senate before the Cortes Generales, in the Congress of Deputies

Princess Leonor, 18, shook her father’s hand after swearing allegiance to the constitution while her family and the government, including Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, watched on

The Magna Carta ceremony marks 37 years since Leonor’s father, King Felipe, swore the oath on 30 January 1986 in the same Palacio de las Cortes de la Carrera de San Jerónimo.

The oath taken by Leonor before the Cortes Generales preserves the Magna Carta as the successor of the Head of State.

In addition to Leonor swearing an oath to the Spanish Constitution, the mayor has invited residents to join in on the celebrations.

Volunteers have distributed more than 7,500 Spanish flags across the city for residents to wave in appreciation of Leonor.

Infanta Sofia wore her long tresses down and draped down her shoulder, while choosing a white dress with flowing sleeves

The 18-year-old Princess, who previously said she fully understands her duty, swore allegiance to the Constitution

Later on in the day, a guard of honour of the Municipal Police, chaired by the vice mayor of Madrid, which will include the Cavalry Squadron and the Municipal Police Music Band, will be deployed in the Plaza de la Villa.

José Luis Martínez-Almeida said: ‘As mayor of the capital of Spain, I invite you to actively participate so that Madrid is once again up to par and that this historic ceremony is an eloquent icon of the loyalty and affection that we Madrid residents feel for the Royal Family in general and for Leonor in particular on this special day of her life.

‘May our streets and balconies be decorated with the colours of the national flag, “a symbol that unites all Spaniards,” as the King recalled in the recent Flag oath of the Princess of Asturias in Zaragoza.’

Addressing an audience last week at the Princesa de Asturias Awards in Oviedo, the young royal assured guests she takes her responsibility very seriously.

Speaking to the crowd, with her parents, 16-year-old sister Infanta Sofia and other family members watching on, she said it will be an ‘honour’ to swear in the Spanish Constitution on her 18th birthday.

The queen-in-waiting added: ‘I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail.’

Elsewhere in her speech, the Spanish princess went on to praise the Princesa de Asturias Award winners, Hola! reported.

In particular, she noted the career achievements of three-time Oscar-winning actress Meryl Streep, who was honoured at the ceremony.

Who is the Princess of Asturias? And why is Spain gripped by ‘Leonormania’? This heir to the throne will be the first Queen for 150 years. And she’s handy with a rifle… 

Leonormania’ has taken hold as Spain prepares to mark the 18th birthday Princess Leonor, heir to the throne, with a major state ceremony.

Speculation has been mounting as to who has been invited on Tuesday when the Princess of Astorias, as she is formally titled, with swear allegiance to the Spanish constitution.

Despite sharp political divisions, reports from Spain suggest the country is largely united behind the young princess, who is currently undergoing military training as Cadet Borbon.

Recent changes to primogeniture rules mean we can also expect queens on the throne in a number of European countries, including Sweden, Belgium, the Netherlands and Norway. Queen Margrethe is currently sovereign of Denmark.

The law hasn’t changed in Spain, where the monarchy still favours the first-born boy. But it seems unlikely that Leonor will get a little brother at this stage.

Princess Leonor of Spain turns 18 this week. She will be one of half a dozen European queens in the coming decades 

Princess Leonor participates in the offering of cadets to the Virgin of Pilar in the basilica of the patron saint of Hispanity at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza in October 2023

If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will make history as Spain’s first queen regnant since Isabella II

Princess Leonor smiles over at Meryl Streep at the Princess of Asturias Awards this year

Queen Letizia of Spain and Crown Princess Leonor of Spain attend a concert ahead of the “Princesa De Asturias” Awards 2023

Speaking last week, the princess described the oaths swearing as an honour: ‘I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail,’ she told the Spanish public.

Born on October 31, 2005, in the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid, Leonor is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain and is formally titled  Princess of Asturias. 

If Leonor ascends to the throne, she will make history as Spain’s first queen regnant since her fourth great-grandmother Isabella II, who reigned from 1833 to 1868. She will be only the second Queen in the history of unified Spain.

Princess Leonor was born in the in the Ruber International Hospital in Madrid in 2005

King Felipe with his daughter Princess Leonor during their summer holidays in 2006

Felipe and Letizia with their daughter on her first day at school in 2008

Following Leonor in the line of succession is her sister, Princess Sofía, two years her junior.

The princess gave her first public speech in 2018 when she was just 13 years old to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution.

In 2019, she delivered an impressive speech at the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards in Barcelona in four languages – Spanish, Catalan, English and Arabic.

As well as inheriting her mother’s polished sense of style, she has reportedly learned how to play tennis, sail, perform gymnastics, and play the cello.

The royal made her first solo appearance without her mother and father aged 15 as she presided over the Cervantes Institute’s 30th anniversary in Madrid in 2021.

She was welcomed by the then Deputy Prime Minister, Carmen Calvo and the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero, sitting front row at the event.

Princess Leonor pledging allegiance to the flag as she officially begins three years of military training to prepare for her future as the country’s head of state

King Felipe and his daughter Crown Princess Leonor salute the flag during the Spanish National Day military parade in Madrid, October 2023

Six months later, the princess headed to Wales to study at the private Atlantic College.

Leonor enrolled on a £67,000, two-year course to study for her International Baccalaureate diploma at the school, which she has now completed.

Meanwhile, Leonor has recently been at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza as she embarks upon three years of training. 

In preparation for her role as Spain’s head of state and commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Leonor must complete the three years in line with tradition as she follows the path of her father, King Felipe. 

After training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, which is Spain’s equivalent to Sandhurst, she will go to naval school and will complete her three years at the General Air Academy.

The composed princess gave her first public speech in 2018 when she was 13 years old to mark the 40th anniversary of the Spanish constitution

Following Leonor in the line of succession is her sister, Infanta Sofía, (right) who is two years her junior

As well as inheriting her mother’s polished sense of style, she has reportedly learned how to play tennis, sail, perform gymnastics, and play the cello

Spanish King Felipe VI and his daughter Princess Leonor pictured as they pose in the gardens at the Marivent palace on the island of Majorca in August 2019

Princess Leonor at UWC Atlantic College in the Vale of Glamorgan,  where she studied for two years

Leonor has recently been at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza as she embarks upon three years of training

She’s set to become commander-in-chief of the armed forces once she is the Spanish monarch

The princess revealed her enthusiasm for soon being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, Catalonia, on July 5.

She said: ‘I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training.

‘I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces… it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.’It was also revealed that the young Princess would go on to study law at university once her training with the military is complete, although her choice of university has not yet been revealed.

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