The Spanish royal family is currently facing a severe test. During his lifetime, the former king of Carlos amassed huge wealth through corrupt means and indulged in pleasures, which seriously damaged the image of the royal family. After his abdication in 2014, his son, King Felipe, succeeded to the throne and managed to restore the royal family's reputation. At the same time, Felipe's eldest daughter, Princess Leonor, the heir to the Bourbon dynasty, gradually entered the public eye and became the hope of the royal family and the country.
Princess Leonor, whose full name is Leonor de Bourbon, has a long royal lineage. She is the oldest member of the Bourbon dynasty in Spain, with a family dating back to the Visigothic kingdom of the 5th century, 300 years older than the British royal family. It is not easy for the Bourbon dynasty to survive to this day.
Leonore received a strict education from the Spanish royal family since he was a child, learning Xi language, mathematics, literature, ** and other courses, while receiving royal etiquette and artistic training. She excelled academically and was fluent in 4 languages by the age of 8. Thanks to popular support, her portrait was printed on coins very early, and at the age of 13 she was also awarded the Order of the Order of the Golden Fleece, Spain's highest honour.
However, King Felipe's father, King Carlos, Leonor's grandfather, seriously tarnished the royal family's image during his lifetime. Carlos had gained popularity for his staunch defense of the throne in the 1980 coup, but after middle age he became lazy and corrupt. Carlos no longer cares about government politics, enjoys all day long, and has been exposed to huge ** scandals many times.
During the 2008 financial crisis, when the Spanish people were generally in trouble, Carlos continued to go his own way and spend money, which caused public resentment to boil. Carlos had to abdicate in 2014, and his successor, King Felipe, faced a crisis of confidence in the royal family.
After Carlos abdicated, Felipe managed to win back the hearts and minds of the people and strengthen the royal family's influence by cultivating an heir, Leonor. Leonor was in the spotlight and the people had high expectations, and she was considered to represent the royal family in a break with the past.
In order to create a good image, she received a strict education from an early age and gave speeches in various public occasions to enhance her proximity to the people. In 2018, at the age of 13, Leonor was officially established as the heir to the Spanish throne with the title of "Knight of the Golden Fleece".
At present, the 17-year-old Leonor has decided to serve in the army, navy and air force for one year, which is relatively rare in the European royal family. Not only did this show her loyalty to her country, but it also led women to join the army, alleviating Spain's severe fertility decline and labor shortage.
As Leonor matures, her role in the country's development will become increasingly important. She will further enhance the prestige of the royal family, set an example of gender equality, and make a significant contribution to Spain's modern transformation.