Princess Leonor's beach day and embassy dinner in Montevideo is generating buzz
The Spanish Royal Family is finding itself in the eye of the storm as images of Princess Leonor enjoying a day at the beach in Montevideo surface. The photographs, published by the magazine Diez Minutos, are sparking debate and capturing the attention of the media, with many people curious about the princess's activities during her training voyage aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano training ship.
A break from naval training
According to Belén Domínguez Cebrián (2025), writing for El País, the events unfolded on a Thursday afternoon, March 6th, when Princess Leonor, along with about 30 fellow naval cadets, took a break from their training aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano, which has been sailing through America since January as part of her military training with the Navy. The group enjoyed a day at the beach, a moment of relaxation during their long journey. «The Princess Leonor se relaja en la playa», stated Diez Minutos (2025) magazine on their cover.
After their beach outing, the cadets went to a hotel in Montevideo to shower and change before attending a reception at the Spanish Embassy later that evening. This sequence of events, capturing a group of young people enjoying a day off, has generated significant interest.
The paparazzi's pursuit
Just a day after the beach outing, on Friday, March 7th, news reached Madrid about the possibility of a Spanish paparazzo having captured the images. Sources within the industry confirmed that the price being asked for the photographs was exorbitant, reflecting the high demand for images of the princess in a more relaxed setting. These photographs are the first ones in which the princess is seen in a bathing suit.
Rumors of romance dispelled
Amidst the speculation surrounding the photographs, El País consulted sources who clarified that the naval cadet with whom Princess Leonor is seen walking along the shore is not the same one with whom she is seen returning to the hotel. These sources emphasize differences in the color of the bathing suit and, more noticeably, in the haircut of the two individuals, thus dismissing any rumors of a possible romantic relationship involving the heir to the throne.
Past associations
This is not the first time Princess Leonor has been linked to fellow cadets. In 2023, after the October 12th reception at the Royal Palace, there was laughter between the King and Queen, the Princess, and a fellow cadet from the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, where she was training with the Army at the time. More recently, just over a week ago, an affectionate interaction between the Princess and a naval cadet during Carnival in Salvador de Bahía, Brazil, the Elcano's first stop in South America, was misinterpreted as a kiss on the lips. These rumors were quickly denied by reputable magazines.
The journey continues
Princess Leonor began her journey through America aboard the Juan Sebastián Elcano on February 14th, following stops in the Canary Islands and Cádiz, where the ship set sail on January 11th. After docking for a few days in Salvador de Bahía, the ship arrived in Montevideo. There, last Friday, the Princess was honored at a flag-swearing ceremony attended by the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, and the Chief Admiral of the Naval Staff, Antonio Piñeiro, among other authorities.
After Montevideo, the naval cadets of the 97th training cruise made their next stop in Punta Arenas, Chile, where they rounded Cape Horn, a challenging maneuver. Their journey includes Valparaíso (Chile), Callao (Peru), Panama, Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), and finally, New York (USA). From there, the Princess will transfer to a frigate in waters near Spain for a month to learn modern navigation. Traditionally, on July 16th, Carmen's Day, she will receive her commission in Marín (Pontevedra) along with the other naval cadets.
Following this, she will attend the General Air Force Academy in San Javier (Region of Murcia), where she will enter this summer, completing her time in the Armed Forces and beginning a new chapter. According to Ediciones EL PAÍS S.L. (1976), this training is integral to her preparation for her future role.
Controversy in Punta Arenas
On March 22nd, La Zarzuela announced that it would sue a shopping center in Punta Arenas (at the southern end of the country) for illegally leaking images of Princess Leonor and her fellow travelers to a local media outlet. This incident underscores the intense media scrutiny and the challenges of maintaining privacy during the Princess's training voyage.
The publication of these photographs and the subsequent reactions are highlighting the delicate balance between Princess Leonor's public role and her right to privacy, a topic that is sure to continue generating discussion in the coming weeks.
