Has whistle-stop four-hour tour; decorated with military honour
One of Europe’s most photographed royals, Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, heiress to the Spanish crown, has been in Lisbon today, on a whistle-stop tour at the invitation of President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa.
This was the first official engagement of the princess who turned 18 last year. Lasting just four hours, it began with a visit to the tomb of Camões in the Jerónimos Monastry, where the crown princess laid a wreath.
She was then received, with full military honours, at Belém Palace, by president Marcelo, who decorated her with the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ, before hosting a lunch in her honour.
After the lunch, the pair, along with the princess’ entourage – which includes Spain’s minister for foreign affairs José Manuel Albares – were due to visit the Oceanarium, with no doubt a lot of photographs to come.
Marcelo referred to the Grand Cross of the Military Order of Christ as “a tribute to your Highness, to the Kingdom of Spain, to our friendship forever”.
As many reports have stressed, Princess Leonor is seen as a young royal with the freshness of presence to encourage Spain’s younger citizens to find relevance in their country’s monarchy, which has otherwise taken a battering in recent years following a number of ‘scandals’.
