Princess Leonor will take part in military ceremony alongside her parents for the first time this weekend – as Spain’s future queen embraces public duty after turning 18

Spain’s future queen, the daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia, will take part in the country’s annual military parade for the first time tomorrow. 

Princess Leonor, who turned 18 in October, will join her parents at the prestigious Pascua Militar ceremony at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Saturday, which also marks Epiphany, known as Day of the Kings, a national holiday in Spain.

This weekend also marks the sovereigns’ return to public duties after the two-week-long Christmas break. 

It’s the first time the teenage heir has attended the parade, which dates back to the 18th century, and her appearance is a sign of the young Princess embracing public duty in a more high profile way. 

The future queen of Spain, who turned 18 on October 31st, has been making solo appearances and training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza to ensure she’s ready for her future in the monarchy.

Both the royal and her sister Infanta Sophia, 16, have been taking a bigger role in the spotlight as they come of age – with Leonor giving yearly speeches at the Princess of Asturias awards and often taking centre stage on family outings. 

Unlike Prince Christian of Denmark – who is just two weeks older than her and also a future European monarch – Leonor’s 18th birthday celebrations were decidedly low-key.

The heir to the Spanish throne swore an oath to the country’s constitution before the Congress and Senate, with the Royal Mint of Spain creating a limited edition 40 Euro coin to mark her birthday. 

Up to one million of the coins were put into circulation by the Bank of Spain.

The coin weighs 18 grams and is made of a mixture of silver and copper with the effigy ‘Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias’ engraved on it.

The teen recently underwent military training at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza.

The school dubbed Spain’s equivalent to Sandhurst and follows a strict timetable, but the princess was able to return home at the weekends if she is not on manoeuvres.

Before starting at the academy, she took place in her first engagement without her parents as she headed to Gironda with sister Sofia.

She has also cut a professional figure at the Princess of Asturias Awards.

The UNESCO-approved awards reward scientific, technical, cultural, social and humanitarian work. She has delivered a speech at each one since the age of 13.

After the Princess’s year in Zaragoza, before moving to a naval school and will then spend her third and final year of training at the General Air Academy.

The heir to the Spanish throne will become commander-in-chief of the armed forces once she is monarch.

Snaps shared by the Royal Household last month suggested that this is a role Leonor will be comfortable in- despite saying she was feeling ‘a little nervous’ when she was dropped off at military school.

One of the snaps, taken during a training exercise, shows the princess smiling with her fellow cadets, while dressed in fatigues and holding what appears to be an automatic rifle.

Another of the photos shows her posing with fellow students, dressed in camo and protective gear.

The princess revealed her enthusiasm for being a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona, in 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.’

Meanwhile, to celebrate turning 18 Princess Leonor will also receive the symbolic Collar of the Order of Charles III from her father on her birthday.

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.

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

Princess Leonor will be given it in a ceremony attended by the royal family, senators and elected representatives. This will be the second honour the Princess of Asturias has received from her father King Felipe VI.

In 2015, on the day before her tenth birthday, he granted her the Order Of The Golden Fleece. The Order Of The Golden Fleece is a Catholic order of chivalry that was established in 1430 by the Duke of Burgundy.

Princess Leonor’s 18th birthday celebrations will mark the end of a busy month for the heir to the Spanish throne.

Before starting at the military academy, Princess Leonor was a pupil at the UWC Atlantic College in the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan.

The school is often referred to as ‘Hippie Hogwarts’ thanks to its progressive approach to education and picturesque castle setting.

Leonor’s sister, Infanta Sofía of Spain, 16, began her studies at UWC Atlantic this autumn.

In September last year the Spanish palace announced that Princess Leonor will go to university to study law once her three years of military training have been completed.

While Leonor’s choice of university is unknown, the Princess’s academic background already bears a resemblance to that of her father King Felipe.

After graduating from high school at Lakefield College in Canada, Felipe returned to Spain and attended the General Military Academy of Zaragozo, and went on to study at the Naval Military School in Marín.

He ended his training with a stint at the General Air Academy in San Javier.

His also completed his military training with a stint on the shop Juan Sebastián Elcano aged 18 in 1987, and went on to study law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.