Spain's Princess Leonor, the heir presumptive to Spain's throne and anticipated future commander-in-chief of its armed forces, has embarked on a three-year military training program. The princess, who will turn 18 in October, arrived at the Army Military Academy in Zaragoza accompanied by her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and her sister, Sofia.

Expressing a mixture of excitement and nervousness, she told reporters that she was looking forward to the year with great enthusiasm but also admitted feeling a little nervous. Leonor's training will consist of a year at Zaragoza's military academy, followed by attendance at a naval school where she will have the opportunity to sail the Spanish navy's Juan Sebastian de Elcano, a four-masted schooner used for training purposes.

She will then conclude her studies at the General Air Academy. The decision to enroll Princess Leonor in military training is part of an ongoing effort by the Spanish government and the Royal House to promote gender equality within the armed forces. Spain's Defense Minister, Margarita Robles, highlighted that Leonor is one of many young women who have recently joined the armed forces, and she emphasized that in due course, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces will be a woman.

The Spanish monarchy is also working to repair its image following a series of scandals in recent years, primarily associated with former king Juan Carlos. Abdicating in 2014 in favor of his son, current King Felipe VI, Juan Carlos' actions had tarnished the monarchy's reputation. Therefore, Leonor's military training, mirroring her father's experience in the 1980s, is seen as a step towards the modernization and reform of the monarchy.

Speaking to the media outside the academy, King Felipe expressed his support for his daughter, saying, "It is Leonor's turn now, it is exciting, we support her a lot. The first days are going to be hard, but she will pass them with effort and patience."

Princess Leonor, who recently completed a two-year program at the private UWC Atlantic College in Wales, is first in line to the throne unless a male heir is born, followed by her sister Sofia. Her military training will precede her university studies, underscoring the significance of her role as a potential future leader of the armed forces.