Spain's Future Queen Starts College in Madrid
Spain's future queen has traded uniforms for textbooks.
Princess Leonor, 20, the elder of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia's two daughters and first in line to the Spanish throne, began a degree in political science at Carlos III University in Madrid this fall, according to Town & Country.
The Spanish Royal Household, known as Casa Real, recorded her start of classes at the university's campus in Getafe, just south of Madrid, on Sept. 7. The palace documented the arrival on its official activity page for the princess's university start. The king and queen had announced in April that their daughter would pursue the political science degree.
She arrived as a civilian student after three years of full-time military training. Leonor rotated through Spain's Army, Navy and Air Force academies before starting university. She was 20 when classes began, as noted by Hello! Magazine.
Her father described the family side of the transition in public remarks. Speaking at the Polytechnic University of Cartagena while presiding over the official ceremony opening Spain's 2026-2027 academic year, King Felipe VI said Leonor had started her civilian university life this year. He said her parents were experiencing it with excitement, pride and uncertainty.
Felipe has held the throne since 2014. He succeeded after the abdication of his father, former King Juan Carlos, who is Leonor's grandfather. As heir, Leonor carries the title Princess of Asturias, the traditional title for the successor to the Spanish crown.
Her path to Madrid ran through Wales. As a teenager, the heir was sent to study at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, a two-year international boarding school favored by several European royals, according to The Associated Press. She then completed her military courses before choosing a civilian major tied directly to government.
She is not the only student in the family. Her younger sister, Infanta Sofia, a Spanish title for a king's daughter who is not the heir, is in her second year at Forward College studying political science and international relations.
What makes this stand out for American readers is how familiar it sounds. A father talking about drop-off nerves. Two sisters in college at the same time. The difference is the job waiting after graduation. For Leonor, exams and lectures are preparation to one day serve as head of state.
