Spanish princess backs monarchy on 18th birthday

The ceremony in the Spanish Parliament marked her coming of age, meaning she will now become queen directly after her father King Felipe VI, provided he does not have any more sons. Leonor will soon succeed her father King Felipe VI to the throne, becoming Europe's youngest future queen.

Princess Leonor, who studied in Wales and began three years of military training in Spain in August, vowed to obey the law, respect the rights of citizens and the region and be loyal to the king.

Princess Leonor of Spain arrives to take the constitutional oath at the parliament in Madrid, Spain, October 31, 2023. Photo: REUTERS

Most cabinet ministers and regional leaders watched as she marched into the Spanish parliament and was sworn in in a ceremony broadcast live on television.

A 2022 Sinaptica poll found that 51.6% of Spaniards wanted the country to become a republic while 34.6% preferred a monarchy, although another poll a year earlier found 55.3% favored the monarchy.

The state-run Center for Sociological Research stopped asking citizens to rate the monarch in 2015, a year after Felipe VI ascended the throne following the abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos I.

Former King Juan Carlos also did not attend Tuesday’s ceremony. He left Spain in 2020 amid an investigation into alleged financial irregularities related to business dealings in Saudi Arabia and now lives in Abu Dhabi. The investigation was later dropped due to insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations.

Mai Anh (according to Reuters)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/cong-chua-tay-ban-nha-ung-ho-che-do-quan-chu-trong-sinh-nhat-thu-18-post270715.html