Princess of Asturias Leonor Makes History as First Spanish Monarch to Become a Paratrooper

Princess Leonor of Asturias: A Historic Leap into Parachuting

According to Главком: Princess Leonor of Asturias has completed basic paratrooper training, becoming the first member of the Spanish royal family to master parachuting skills. Her two-week course took place at the Military Parachute School in Murcia, where she passed exams alongside approximately 50 classmates. She received an official diploma and a paratrooper badge certifying her new abilities.

Training Phases

The training program involved several key stages, including:

• Meeting physical standards, with the princess passing an intensive fitness test.
• Jumping from a high tower at the training range to simulate free fall.
• Lessons on landing techniques, focusing on proper body positioning upon ground contact.
• Actual parachute drops with automatic canopy deployment from 400 meters, including nighttime jumps.

Leonor began her military career at age 17, enrolling at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza. This September, she plans to start studying Political Science at the Carlos III University of Madrid's campus in Getafe. As the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, she is first in line to the throne and will become Supreme Commander of the Spanish Armed Forces upon her coronation.

This achievement highlights Leonor's active military engagement, a rarity among European royals. For comparison, Princess Amalia of the Netherlands also began reserve training with the armed forces at Defensity College last year, earning the ranks of third-class sailor in the Royal Navy and third-class soldier in the Royal Army and Royal Air Force.

Princess Leonor's participation in military training reflects a modern approach to the monarchy's role in contemporary society.

This move may signal a desire among royal families to connect more closely with the public and encourage youth to serve in the military. Such initiatives could also strengthen ties between the armed forces and society while boosting the prestige of military service among younger generations.