Princess Leonor had just taken her oath before the Cortes Generales to the Spanish Constitution and to loyalty to the King and the laws, as prescribed by the Magna Carta on the heirs to the Spanish Crown, on the very day of their coming of age. . Leonor celebrated her 18th birthday this Tuesday, October 31.

With this formulaic act, the Princess of Asturias prepares her way to automatically assume the role of Queen in the event that Felipe VI, her father, is absent.

Crown Princess Leonor of Asturias poses for photos with Spain’s King Felipe VI, Spain’s Queen Letizia and Spain’s Princess Sofia as she leaves after the oath of allegiance to the Constitution ceremony, on her 18th birthday, at the Congress of Deputies, in Madrid, on October 31, 2023 ( Photo by Pierre-Philippe MARCOU / AFP) Photo: AFP

“I swear to faithfully carry out my duties, to preserve and ensure that the Constitution and laws are respected, to respect the rights of citizens and autonomous communities and to be faithful to the King”, were the words spoken by the young daughter of Felipe de Borbón and the queen, wife Letizia. It is the same text that his father followed in 1986, also when he turned 18.

The protocol ceremony was held in the Congress of Deputies that meets in the Palace of the Cortes, located in the Plaza de las Cortes in Madrid, in front of the parliamentarians standing and the eyes of the kings and the Infanta Sofia, the Acting President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, and she from the Congress, Francina Armengol, standing in front as the Cortes Generales is the recipient of the oath.

Princess Leonor of Asturias, right, attends with the President of the Congress, Francina Armengol, the ceremony of swearing loyalty to the Constitution on her 18th birthday, at the Congress of Representatives in Madrid, October 31, 2023. (Photo: Andres BALLESTEROS / POOL / AFP) Photo: AFP

“Your Highness, 37 years ago Gregorio Peces Barba accompanied your father in this crucial act. Today I am the one who has the privilege of accompanying you and in your honor I will repeat the words spoken by the President that day: The Cortes Generales have just received the oath which your Highness has taken, in accordance with the constitution as heir to the crown. Long live the Constitution, long live Spain, long live the King!” answered the President of the Congress. After Leonor de Borbón took the oath, the participants of the solemn session gave her an extensive round of applause, which lasted at least four minutes.

MADRID, 31/10/2023.- The President of the Senate, Pedro Rollán, awards the Medal of the Senate to Princess Leonor (c) at the Congress table after she took the oath to the Constitution before the Cortes Generales on her 18th birthday, this Tuesday, in a ceremony that represents the most important milestone in her institutional career and paves the way for her to one day become queen. EFE/Ballesteros POOL Photo: EFE

Leonor attended the event in a white suit wearing the Golden Fleece that her father gave her when he turned 50 and the princess was ten years old, while Infanta Sofía wore a blue chiffon dress.

Strong security with almost 900 agents of the National Police is deployed throughout the city, and above all at this neuralgic point where the ceremony begins.