Princess Leonor, after the oath of the Constitution: "I ask the Spaniards to trust me, as I have placed my trust in Spain"

Under the portrait of Charles III, dynastic continuity offered another gesture of stability on the day of the coming of age of the Princess of Asturias. Because after the swearing in of the Constitution in the Congress of Deputies, the events were moved to the Royal Palace.

There, the Princess received the Collar of the Order of Charles III awarded to her by the Government. After her father imposed it on her, Leonor thanked her for the decoration and assured that “from today” she incorporates her motto “virtue and merit” to her status as “Princess of Asturias and Heir to the Crown.”

The young woman recalled that with the oath of the Constitution she has committed herself to democratic principles and constitutional ardor: “I have assumed a great responsibility with Spain before the Cortes Generales, which I hope to reciprocate with the greatest dignity and the best example,” she assured.

The heiress reflected that from today it is owed to all Spaniards: “I will serve at all times with respect and loyalty,” she promised.. Finally, on such an “important” day, she made a request: “I ask you to trust me, as I have placed all my trust in our future, the future of Spain,” said the Princess, in an act that ended with a new applause.

Leonor swears to “comply and enforce the Constitution” and renews the validity of the parliamentary monarchy

Already in the Gala dining room, Don Felipe wanted to remind his daughter in his words of the importance of the act they had just performed.. The Monarch recalled that it is a day “relevant for our history and full of meaning for Spain.”

“Dear Leonor, you will not be alone on your path,” said the King, who told her that in her family she will find “the most personal support” and in the Spaniards they will know how to recognize her “delivery and dedication with their encouragement and affection.”

The King has recalled that the obligation of citizens towards the youngest is to “bequeath the best of Spain that we have received from previous generations” and to Leonor's generation he has reminded that “democracy and freedom are not built in one day after day, but day after day”. The King reminded them that they will have a responsibility in the future: “That of continuing to build Spain, adapting it to a world in full transformation.”. And to this end, the King has asked them not to stop keeping in mind “the principles and values that unite us and that have united us throughout our recent history.”

The King to his daughter: “Dear Leonor, you will not be alone on your path”

Regarding Leonor, he recalled: “Her duty, as it is also mine, is to comply with and respect the Constitution and that duty prevails at all times over any other consideration.”

A solemn oath

The day started several hours earlier. At nine in the morning there were already some fans gathered behind the fences placed on the sidewalk in front of the Puerta de los Leones, in the Congress of Deputies.. It was cold, but the wait had to be worth it.. Because this October 31, the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón Ortiz, has reached the age of majority and has celebrated it, as established by the Constitution, swearing allegiance to the Magna Carta.

It was just a few minutes before eleven when the hooves of the horses of the Royal Guard could be heard escorting the two Rolls Royce Phantom IVs in which the Kings and their daughters arrived at Congress.. The public outside broke into applause and cheers when the Princess descended from the vehicle.. Leonor, hair tied in a ponytail, white jacket suit, was the protagonist. She was escorted not only by the Royal Guard, but by her most faithful squire, her sister, Infanta Doña Sofía.. In front of her, but always pending, Kings Felipe and Letizia. They marked the path for him, at the time of entry into Congress and in life. Because today Leonor was not only the protagonist of her coming of age. In her role as Heiress she has embodied the girl who, at just 18 years old, has fulfilled the solemnity of swearing in the Constitution and on her back has voluntarily shouldered the great responsibility that awaits her from here until death.

It was 36 minutes past eleven when Leonor, at the request of Francina Armengol, President of the Congress, got up from her preferred place in the gallery and went to a table covered with navy blue velvet.. Above her, the Constitution where her father swore an oath 37 years before.

“I swear to faithfully carry out my duties, to uphold and ensure that the Constitution and the laws are upheld, to respect the rights of citizens and the autonomous communities, as well as loyalty to the King.”

Less than half a minute to link your future to that of Spain. To revalidate the democratic system that citizens elected forty years ago. Leonor is dynastic continuity and monarchy, a symbol of unity and stability. And in the oath of a girl the alliance of monarchy and parliament have met again.

“Long live the Constitution, Long live Spain, Long live the King,” exclaimed Francina Armengol after adjourning the solemn session and ending the event.

And Congress forgot the absences, the deputies who decided not to be there, although they themselves swore an oath before the Constitution to take office.. And everything became emotion in a long applause where the parents could not hide their pride, nor could the Infanta Sofía, and where Leonor showed that she was aware of the relevance of her act.

The Princess looks at her father at the entrance to the Congress Sergio Pérez EFE

He has been preparing for this day for years.. In fact, since in the monarchy everything is symbols, the Golden Fleece decoration hung from the left lapel of his jacket.. This is a distinction that Felipe VI imposed on him on January 30, 2018, on the occasion of his 50th birthday.

The King, then, already began to show Doña Leonor the path she should follow.. «Receiving this Fleece implies for you some responsibilities that you will have to assume inspired by the deepest values and ideals; values that you must harbor and strengthen day by day in your heart. Because your actions – all – must be guided by the greatest sense of dignity and exemplarity, by honesty and integrity, by the capacity for renunciation and sacrifice, by the permanent spirit of improvement, and by your unreserved dedication to your country and your people,” the King explained. He then described: «You must respect others, their ideas and beliefs; and you will love culture, arts and sciences, because they give us the best human dimension to be better and help our society progress. You will be permanently guided by the Constitution, complying with it and observing it; you will serve Spain with humility and aware of your institutional position; and you will make yours all the worries and joys, all the desires and feelings of the Spanish people.

In the Royal Palace

While the events were taking place in Congress, the details were being finalized in the Royal Palace. The walls of the Gallery were decorated with tapestries of National Heritage. On the floor, the fluffy, mile-long carpet perfectly arranged. All the details of the second part of the ceremony to mark the coming of age of the Princess of Asturias were prepared an hour before the Royal Family and their guests arrived at the Palace.

After swearing in the Constitution in the Congress of Deputies and after attending a military parade, the Kings and their daughters took a tour of the Royal Palace. It was the first time that the Heiress and her sister, Infanta Sofía, participated in this type of event, in which they did not stop greeting the thousands of people gathered in the streets.

Princess Leonor greets the people who were waiting for her near the Royal Palace. REAL HOME

Twenty minutes before one o'clock, the Family arrived at the Royal Palace, whose Armory Square were formed by members of the Royal Guard to pay honors.. There were the Command and General Staff, the Spender Squad, the Music Unit, the Command and Staff of the Honors Group, the Monteros de Espinosa Company, the Royal Guard Flag and escort, the Ocean Sea Company, the Plus Squadron Ultra, the Command and Staff of the Escort Group, the Royal Battery and the Motorcycle Section

As the procession passed by, the Honors Section of the Royal Guard, located in the Plaza de la Almudena, fired a salute of twenty-one cannon shots (those corresponding to His Majesty the King), during the interpretation of the national anthem by the Music Unit of the Royal Guard.

Inside, they went to the Carlos III Hall, where the members of the three powers were waiting.. The acting Government was represented by Pedro Sánchez and the ministers who wanted to attend the meeting – all except Ione Belarra, Irene Montero and Alberto Garzón; in addition to the president of the Supreme Court and the General Council of the Judiciary.

There was one of the most emotional moments of the day.. Felipe VI and the Princess of Asturias stood up and stood under the painting of Carlos III painted by Mariano Salvador Maella. Behind them, on a table with light blue velvet, rested the Collar of the Order of Charles III and the resolution of its granting to the Heiress.

After the placement of the necklace by the King, and the words of the Heir, all the guests moved to the Throne room.. There, the Royal Family received the lunch guests in a final, shorter hand kiss, with just over a hundred people.