Princess Leonor to make history as Spain’s youngest queen in 150 years

After the end of General Franco’s dictatorship, the monarchy was restored in 1975 with King Juan Carlos I, who played a crucial role in leading Spain towards democracy. He abdicated in 2014, handing the throne to his son Felipe. Now, his daughter Leonor is the next in line to the throne.

Post Published By: Sujata Biswal

Updated : 14 January 2026, 2:14 PM IST

Princess Leonor

New Delhi: For the first time in 150 years, a queen is set to rule in Spain. Princess Leonor, the 20-year-old daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, is now ready to ascend to the throne.

She will be the country's first female monarch since Isabella II in the 1800s. The Spanish throne has been held by the Bourbon dynasty since the early 1700s, after they defeated the Habsburg dynasty in the War of the Spanish Succession.

Leonor to become Queen of Spain
After the end of General Franco's dictatorship, the monarchy was restored in 1975 with King Juan Carlos I, who played a crucial role in leading Spain towards democracy. He abdicated in 2014, handing the throne to his son Felipe. Now, his daughter Leonor is the next in line to the throne.

Leonor's father, Felipe, married former journalist Letizia in 2004, and she became queen at the age of 42. The royal couple has two daughters: Princess Leonor, born in 2005, who is currently the heir to the throne, and Infanta Sofia, born in 2007.

Completed training at the age of 20
According to Spanish law, the heir to the throne must receive military training in the army, navy, and air force before ascending to the throne. Leonor began her higher education at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, where she earned an International Baccalaureate Diploma.

The future Queen of Spain has since begun her military training as the country's Commander-in-Chief.

Leonor began her military journey in August 2023 with army training in Zaragoza, where she joined a group of 560 cadets. In 2024, Leonor began her naval training in Galicia and embarked on a 140-day, 17,000-mile sea voyage aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano.

During this voyage, she traveled as a crew member across the Atlantic Ocean, around South America, and to New York.

In December 2025, Leonor completed her first solo flight in a Pilatus PC-21 aircraft, becoming the first female member of the Spanish royal family to do so.

Spain's future queen, Leonor, has completed all the necessary training to assume the throne and is prepared to take power at the young age of 20.