Leonor in the spotlight: a complicated date and a lackluster coming of age

Princess Leonor is back in the spotlight. He will reach the desired age of majority on October 31 next year; a date that should take an oath as heir to the Crown before the Cortes Generalesfulfilling the constitutional mandate and and thereby accepts her role as heir to the throne in democracy. “I swear to perform my duties faithfully, to uphold and enforce the Constitution and the laws, to respect the rights of citizens and autonomous communities and to remain faithful to the King,” were the words of his predecessor, Prince Felipe at the time. , said afterwards. Turning 18 on January 30, 1986.

As planned, October 31, 2023 should be the date chosen for Princess Leonor to take the same oath as her father before the Cortes Generales solemnly read now over 35 years ago. However, the end of the current socialist legislature under the leadership of Pedro Sánchez will coincide in time with the 18th birthday of the Princess of Asturias, who It will be for Leonor . making it difficult for this traditional family act to take place on this special date. As published by the newspaper The world, the current prime minister intends to exhaust his term to the end. If his prediction comes true and Pedro Sánchez manages to meet all the deadlines; the legislature would not end until November 10, 2023, so elections would be convened from October 16, and the chambers would have already been dissolved by the date the heir to the throne turns 18.

The fact that the Cortes are being dissolved due to the calling of new general elections, would force Princess Leonor to swear the constitution for the permanent congressional delegation, a detail that would detract from the solemnity of this important act. Therefore, Moncloa does not want the heir to the throne to take this oath on the day she comes of age, and Pedro Sánchez thinks the Royal House will agree with his initiative to change the date; Therefore, the government and Zarzuela will negotiate on this matter to try to fix the most appropriate date for this important act in the life of Princess Leonor.

In Title II of the Spanish Constitution of 1978, it collects the oath that the king and his heir or heiress must take through two articles. In the 61.1 it is certain that “the king, having been proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, shall take an oath to perform his functions faithfully, to uphold the Constitution and the laws, and to see to it that he respects the rights of the citizens and the autonomous communities”. For his part, in the article 61.2 It can be read that “the crown prince, on reaching the age of majority, and the regent or regents on assuming their functions, shall swear the same oath, as well as that of allegiance to the king”. From the aforementioned newspaper they assure that: Pedro Sánchez would have confirmed a few days ago, in an informal conversation during his tour of the Balkans, he said “it doesn’t have to be the same day”.

The President of the Government believes it is inappropriate for Leonor to take this important oath before the Permanent Council; so that, in his opinion it should be postponed for a few months. The elections are scheduled for December, so Princess Eleanor would have to wait until the beginning of the year 2024 to swear the Constitution, at which time the new Cortes Generales would already be formed. And it is that, the law states that this will not happen until 25 days have passed since the general election was held.

For now, Princess Leonor stays in Palma de Mallorca not aware of all this information; enjoy his first hours on the famous Balearic island with his parents and the infanta Sofía. The heiress to the throne is expected to go to the Cartuja de Valldemossa this Monday around 7:30 pm in the company of the King and Queen and her sister, to start a tour of one of the most touristic spots on the island. Felipe and Letizia have chosen this emblematic place to host the first family inn of their new summer season in Mallorca.