Princess Leonor of Spain says 'hola' to the Big Apple as her Navy training ship docks in New York
Princess Leonor of Spain looked every inch a poised naval cadet as she arrived in New York on board a Spanish Navy training ship today.
The 19-year-old Crown Princess of Spain, who began her military training two summers ago, blended in with her fellow cadets in a crisp white uniform complete with black insignia.
The royal took her hat off and saluted onlookers as she stood proudly aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano as it arrived in the US.
Standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her peers, the Princess appeared in great spirits as she beamed on arrival. With her long blonde hair neatly tucked back, Leonor blended seamlessly in.
According to EDATV News, Princess Leonor will not continue the return trip to Spain.
Instead, she will return by plane to board the Spanish Navy guided missile frigate Blas de Lezo, where she will complete an essential part of her naval training.
However, on July 7, she is scheduled to reunite with the ship and her classmates in Gijón, Spain.
After completing her stint at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, Leonor is now gaining naval experience before moving on to air force training later this year.
It follows heartwarming footage from last month that shows the Princess embracing her mother, Queen Letizia, after four months apart.
The Spanish royals were reunited at the Port of Fuerte Amador in Panama City, after Letizia flew more than 8,000 miles across the globe to see her daughter.
The pair had not seen each other since January, when the young royal set sail aboard the Juan Sebastian.
Moving video from the Spanish Royal Household captured the moment they were finally reunited, with Leonor running across the port to greet her mother.
She was soon embraced in an effusive hug that was so powerful that Leonor had to take her hat off, while the Queen had tears in her eyes.
They were then pictured excitedly catching up, as Leonor, who previously graduated from UWC Atlantic, her independent boarding school in South Wales, has been on a whirlwind adventure.
Letizia's visit to Panama was an unofficial trip, sources at Zarzuela Palace told Spain's Hola! Magazine.
The royal took her hat off and saluted onlookers as she stood proudly aboard the Juan Sebastián de Elcano as it arrived in the US today
After her arrival in New York, Princess Leonor will not continue the return trip to Spain with her classmates. Instead, she will return by plane to board the Spanish Navy guided missile frigate Blas de Lezo, where she will complete an essential part of her naval training
And their moving reunion was made all the more special - as it was Mother's Day in Spain.
While Leonor was smartly kitted out in her naval uniform, her mother had chosen to wear matching shades of white in casual jeans, T-shirt and white trainers.
For the Crown Princess's training cruise, she is sailing through two oceans, and visiting 10 ports and eight countries in America, according to La Vanguardia.
The Princess of Asturias, as she is also known, participated in a visit to Panama Viejo, took a short walk to the Cathedral Tower and visited several rooms of the Museum (of Panama Viejo), which has a commemorative plaque of the visit of His Majesty the King 2019.
Leonor is following in the footsteps of her father King Felipe as well as her grandfather Juan Carlos, who all attended military training with every of the three armed services in the country.
Navy Captain Pedro Cardona Suanzes, director-commandant of the Naval Military School in Marín, previously described the daily routine of the midshipmen to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia.
He said that their life is 'non-stop' adding that there are constant tasks for them to do, from the minute they wake up until they go to bed in the evening.
The captain said the day starts at 6.45am. They then shower, make their beds and go and get breakfast all before 7.30am - when their white uniforms are inspected to be 'spotless'.
During the week, all students must be in bed before 10.45pm to ensure they get their full eight hours of sleep.
On weekends, pupils are allowed to wake up two hours later than usual, at 8.45am and first-years are allowed to stay up until 1.30am in the morning.
Before she started her three-year training, Leonor revealed her enthusiasm for becoming a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona last year.
She said at the time: '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.'
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