• His first speech: Felipe VI 'protects' Princess Leonor in an institutional debut
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  • Profile.Lonor of Bourbon, the shy princess

Needles, but at least intense arm pain. Princess Leonor spent the entire morning of this Friday shaking hands in the protocol receptions prior to the ceremony of the Princess of Asturias Awards. The arm, always in tension. On alert, so as not to let any hand escape. Rigid. Los Reyes and his sister, the infant Sofia , relaxed him between greeting and greeting. She does not, perhaps, test her nervousness.

The heiress to the throne has starred in her institutional debut. His first speech, with a message already for History: "I commit to the dedication and effort to serve Spain and all Spaniards." It took Princess Leonor a few seconds to tame the cushion that camouflagedly awaited in her chair and in that of the infant Sofia, in order to grant them more height at the presidential table. Affectionate exchange of words with the King, who throughout the day struggled to whisper details to facilitate the premiere. Also his mother and Doña Sofía, with whom he talked during the blue carpet entrance to the Campoamor Theater.

The grandparents did not want to miss their granddaughter's debut. The maternal arrived at the theater more than half an hour in advance. Upon entering, Queen Letizia showed her surprise at seeing her sister Telma there . He showed his presence to his daughters.

Leonor, meanwhile, wanted to have a special recognition for Doña Sofía - a touch with her made her star in her first controversy. "I would like to thank my grandmother, Queen Sofia. She knows how important her presence in this ceremony is for me, which means both for Asturias and for all of Spain."

"Today is a very important day in my life"

Princess Leonor had confessed in the morning to be less nervous than she expected, but some of those who spoke with her pointed out that she was "shaking" or that her voice was "lazy." Peter Brook , Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts, had words and gestures of affection for her and her sister.

Be that as it may, he regained his tone for his institutional debut. "Today is a very important day in my life that I have looked forward to. I want to congratulate the winners, the protagonists of this act. We are here to pay tribute to you. Your works remind us that there are millions of people who think and act so that the world be better. "

Luis Fernández-Vega Sanz , president of the Princess of Asturias Foundation, said his figure "represents modernity and hope for Spain." Felipe VI reminded him of the "personal and institutional commitment you have with Spain as Crown Heiress." She followed all the speeches with her hands resting on her legs and without the need for a translator in the case of the winners who spoke in English.

The King's House has wanted to stage the continuity of the message and the position of Philip VI in the figure of his daughter. His intervention at the Princess of Asturias Awards raises the curtain of his leap into institutional life. Although in Zarzuela they try to keep the parking brake as much as possible. Proof of this is that, unlike his father 38 years ago, he neither opened nor closed the act and his was not the solemn speech of the ceremony. It corresponded to the King, in an attempt to relieve the pressure.

Those attending the event

Just 400 words and just over a minute to emulate his father: debut at the same age -13 years-, the same scenario -Teatro Campoamor- and full of symbolism rather than content. The 1,313 seats remained small. The excess demand would have filled several theaters.

The world of politics - Vice President Carmen Calvo; Meritxel Batet, president of the Congress; Pablo Casado, Santiago Abascal-, of Justice - Juan José González Rivas , president of the Constitutional Court; Carlos Lesmes , president of the Supreme Court of Spain and the General Council of the Judiciary - of the economy - a large representation of businessmen - and culture wanted to support its premiere.

"This moment will be unforgettable for me. As my father said at my age and right here, it will be a day that I will always carry in the depths of my heart," the heiress thanked the throne.

According to the criteria of The Trust Project

Know more

  • Spain
  • Philip VI
  • Princess of Asturias Awards
  • constitutional Court
  • Supreme Court
  • Queen Sofia
  • Queen Letizia
  • Princess Leonor
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