Royal House announces the historic decision by King Felipe and Queen Letizia: it's important

The Royal Household has announced a historic decision: King Felipe and Queen Letizia will not welcome Princess Leonor in New York after she completes her journey on the Juan Sebastián Elcano. The heiress will return to solid ground on the other side of the Atlantic without her parents' physical presence, a significant and symbolic choice. According to the institution, both monarchs' official schedules that day will prevent them from being with their eldest daughter at that moment.

This decision has caused anticipation among monarchy followers, who had hoped to witness the emotional family reunion on U.S. soil. What institutional reasons have led Felipe and Letizia to make this historic decision?

The Royal Household announces the historic decision Felipe and Letizia: they will not welcome Leonor in New York

Since she left Spain on January 11, Leonor has traveled halfway around the world as part of the training cruise of the Naval Military School. Her time aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano has been a physical and emotional challenge, but also an opportunity to strengthen her leadership as the future head of state.

During this time, we have witnessed her involvement in the ship's tasks: climbing the main masts, lowering sails, navigation maneuvers, and intense coexistence with her peers. Throughout this stage, some controversies also arose, such as the leak of Leonor's private images, which forced Casa Real to take legal action.

In Panama, there was a much-discussed reunion between mother and daughter, which momentarily broke with the distance of protocol. That gesture helped reinforce the more human image of the Royal Family, contrasting with the current decision not to welcome her in New York.

The royal couple's institutional calendar has taken precedence over family considerations on this historic occasion. Felipe VI has an official audience scheduled with King Abdullah II of Jordan at Zarzuela, precisely on the same day Princess Leonor will disembark in New York.

Meanwhile, Queen Letizia will simultaneously preside over the board meeting of the Residencia de Estudiantes, an institutional commitment that highlights her involvement in the cultural and educational fields.

The absence of the royal couple in New York stands in stark contrast to the precedent set by Felipe VI himself when he completed his naval training. However, current circumstances reflect the complexity of balancing family responsibilities with constitutional obligations in a modern monarchy committed to its official agenda.

The return of Princess Leonor to Spain

The princess will disembark this June 5 in New York City, the last stop of the training ship on this educational mission. She is expected to participate in official events related to the Navy and diplomacy. However, Leonor will not return to Spain with her peers, but will do so by plane, just as her father did during his time as a midshipman.

After returning to our country, Princess Leonor will reunite with her peers on July 7 in Gijón. From there, they will head to Ferrol, where they will stay from July 9 to 12, before heading to Marín, where they will arrive on the 14th. This itinerary will culminate on July 16 with the Day of Carmen, when King Felipe is expected to present the commissions to the new officers.

Leonor herself will be among them, in a ceremony that promises to be one of the most emotional moments of her recent career. It will be a symbolic milestone linking her father's past with the present and future of the heiress to the throne.

That same month, the Princess of Girona Awards 2025 will bring the royal family together again, with Leonor as the protagonist in her dual title as Princess of Asturias and of Girona. The ceremony, usually held in Lloret de Mar, marks one of the most prominent events on the royal calendar.

Although summer will allow the princess to rest and enjoy a well-deserved break, the truth is that her horizon is already marked by the next challenge. After her experience in the Navy, her military training will continue in the Air and Space Force.

She will enter as a cadet at the General Air Academy of San Javier, in Murcia. According to Telecinco, her time at this institution is part of an official academic plan published in the Official State Gazette (BOE). This training itinerary includes a university master's degree in Aerospace Military Engineering, endorsed by the Polytechnic University of Cartagena.

The decision by Felipe and Letizia not to travel to New York to welcome Princess Leonor reflects the institutional values that guide the monarchy. This choice shows how the Royal Household systematically prioritizes official commitments over family considerations, consolidating a model of the Crown committed to its responsibilities.