Princess Leonor: Marriage Rules, Education & Future

Princess Leonor of Spain is preparing to lead a constitutional monarchy while also figuring out her next semester and career path like most 19-year-olds. Here’s a grounded look at her education, the legal rules that will govern her marriage, and what her life actually looks like in 2025.

Full name: Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz ·
Born: 31 October 2005 ·
Title: Princess of Asturias ·
Parents: King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia ·
Sibling: Infanta Sofia ·
Heir presumptive to: Spanish throne

Eight key facts about the heir to the Spanish throne, covering her personal details, education, and constitutional status.

Here is a structured overview of the princess’s core identifiers.

Who can marry Princess Leonor?

What does the Spanish Constitution say?

Article 57 of the Spanish Constitution governs the succession and explicitly regulates marriages of the heir. Any marriage contracted by the Princess of Asturias requires the consent of the King and the Cortes (parliament). Marriage without that consent results in forfeiture of succession rights — a provision that applies to anyone in line to the throne.

The Casa Real (Spanish royal household) notes that the same article gives the King veto power over the heir’s marriage. In practice, that means Leonor cannot marry without formal approval from her father, King Felipe VI, and the Spanish legislature.

Does the King have veto power?

Yes. The King, as head of state, must authorize the marriage under Article 57.4 of the Constitution. If he refuses, the heir either abandons the marriage or forfeits her place in the line of succession. No modern monarch has publicly exercised this veto, but the legal framework remains in place.

Can she marry a commoner?

Nothing in Spanish law prevents a future queen from marrying a commoner — King Felipe VI himself married Letizia Ortiz, a journalist from a non-royal background. Leonor would be free to do the same, provided she secures the required constitutional permissions. The key constraint is the consent requirement, not the partner’s social rank.

Are there historical precedents?

King Felipe VI married Queen Letizia in 2004 with the approval of his father, King Juan Carlos I, and the government. The marriage was unopposed and Letizia became queen consort in 2014. That example establishes a clear precedent that marriage to a commoner is legally and practically viable for a Spanish monarch or heir.

As Casa Real (Spanish royal household) confirms, Leonor is not betrothed as of 2025 and no marriage discussions have been publicly announced.

Is Princess Leonor married now?

What is her current relationship status?

Princess Leonor is not married. She is 19 years old as of 2025 and has never been engaged. No formal relationship has been acknowledged by the royal household. Her public focus remains on her military training and studies at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.

Has she ever been engaged?

No engagement has been announced. The royal family has not issued any statement regarding a partner or betrothal. By law, any engagement involving the heir to the throne would typically be communicated through an official Casa Real announcement before a formal request for parliamentary consent.

Who did Princess Leonor have a crush on?

Are the rumors about Gavi true?

Media speculation has linked Leonor to Pablo Gavira, known as Gavi, a professional footballer for FC Barcelona and the Spanish national team. The rumors originated on social media and were amplified by tabloid outlets, but no credible evidence or official confirmation has ever surfaced. The Casa Real (Spanish royal household) has not commented on the rumor, consistent with its policy of not addressing personal speculation about the princess.

What has the palace said?

No statement from the royal household addresses any romantic interest, real or rumored. Both the palace and the football star’s camp have remained silent. The rumor remains exactly that — a rumor — with no substantiating facts from trusted sources.

What does Princess Leonor do now?

What is her education?

Leonor completed her International Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales in 2023, as reported by Town & Country (royal lifestyle weekly). That two-year program, known for its diverse international student body, gave her fluency in English and exposure to global affairs. After Wales, she enrolled at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to begin the three-year military education mandated by the Spanish government in March 2023.

What military training is she undertaking?

The training, announced by the Council of Ministers, is structured across three branches: Army, Navy, and Air and Space. She completed her first year at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza (2024-2025) and is expected to move to the Marín Naval Military School for the naval phase. That stage includes a five-month voyage aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano and an additional month aboard the frigate Blas de Lezo, according to Town & Country (royal lifestyle weekly). The final phase — Air Force training — is scheduled for the 2025-2026 academic year at the General Air and Space Academy in San Javier, where she will learn to fly a fighter jet.

What official duties does she perform?

As Princess of Asturias, Leonor serves as honorary president of the Princess of Asturias Foundation, which awards the prestigious Princess of Asturias prizes. She attends state ceremonies and official events alongside her parents. At 18, she swore an oath to the Constitution before the Cortes, a formal step that recognized her as the designated heir. She represented Spain at the National Day military parade and has undertaken her first solo engagement — presenting awards at the Princess of Asturias ceremony.

The Casa Real (Spanish royal household) notes that her duties will expand after her military training concludes, expected in 2026. DW (German international broadcaster) reported that after military training she is expected to attend university in Spain and later complete a master’s degree abroad.

Can Princess Leonor speak English?

What languages does she speak?

Princess Leonor speaks Spanish natively and English fluently. She also has limited proficiency in Catalan and Galician, reflecting the multilingual makeup of Spain. Her fluency in English is well documented through public appearances where she has switched naturally between languages during speeches and conversations.

Where did she learn English?

English instruction began during her school years in Spain and was cemented during her two-year International Baccalaureate program at UWC Atlantic College in Wales (royal lifestyle weekly), where all instruction was conducted in English. Living in a residential college with students from over 90 countries gave her daily immersion in the language.

Her English ability was on display during a speech at the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony, where she addressed international guests in English without hesitation. The fact that she can move confidently between Spanish and English is critical for a monarch who will represent Spain on the world stage.

Timeline: Princess Leonor’s path to the throne

• 31 October 2005 – Born in Madrid, Spain
• 19 June 2014 – Father ascends throne; Leonor becomes heir presumptive
• 31 October 2023 – Turns 18, swears oath to constitution in parliament
• August 2024 – Begins military training at General Military Academy in Zaragoza
• 2025 – Continues military training; expected to join Navy school mid-year
• 2026 – Expected completion of all three service trainings; may take on more official duties

The timeline shows a clear institutional roadmap: birth, legal designation as heir, constitutional oath, military preparation, and then the gradual assumption of full royal responsibilities. Each milestone is controlled by law and government decision, not personal choice.

Frequently asked questions

Related reading

• Prince Jackson: Biography, Philanthropy & Name Change – A parallel profile of a royal heir navigating public life and personal identity.
• Sansa Stark: Character Biography, Relationships, and Fate – A fictional parallel exploring the pressures on a young woman in line to inherit power.

For Spain, the question is not whether Leonor will become queen — it is how prepared she will be when that day comes. The military academies, the language training, the constitutional oath, and the gradual assumption of duties all point to a deliberate, institutional grooming process. For a 19-year-old heir, the path is set. The only variables are time and the choices that will come when she finally holds the crown. The consequence of this article: Princess Leonor is being groomed for command, not coronation.