Overview
- The royal ceremony was held Friday at the Academia General del Aire in San Javier where King Felipe VI awarded Leonor the Gran Cruz del Mérito Aeronáutico to mark the end of her training.
- Her three‑year itinerary began in August 2023 and included army training in Zaragoza, a months‑long sailing stint aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano, and a final year of flight and paratrooper courses at San Javier.
- Academy officials praised her integration and performance, with the AGA director calling her a 'brilliant aviator' after she completed solo flights in a Pilatus PC‑21, an F‑5 instructional sortie and a basic paratrooper course.
- The Royal Household and Defence Ministry say Leonor will return with her promotion cohort to receive formal commissions as teniente and alférez de navío in July 2027, so she will not take those officer ranks this year.
- Coverage contrasted Spain’s mandatory, multi‑branch program with the Netherlands’ voluntary model, noting Princess Amalia has finished an air force placement and will join the Royal Netherlands Navy after the summer.