Princess Leonor receives a new title

Add a new title to the long list attached to Princess Leonor’s name: she’s now the honorary mayor of Oviedo.

In a ceremony ahead of the annual Princess of Asturias Awards, the future queen of Spain received the title to highlight her connection to the city that hosts the awards.

Her official commendation for honorary mayor indicates that it’s because of “the special connection of the Royal House with Asturias and Oviedo, as well as Leonor’s position as honorary president of the Princess of Asturias Foundation.”

Princess Leonor received the baton and the insignia of honorary mayor before signing her name into the golden book in recognition of her title. King Felipe had received the title of honorary mayor 36 years ago, in connection with the Prince of Asturias Awards—as they were then named.

After the ceremony, Princess Leonor traveled to the University of Oviedo to receive the Asturias Medal, presented to her “by her own right” as heir to the throne.

The future queen then gave a speech, speaking about her love for Asturias, and her familial connection.

She said: “I must confess that I came to Asturias with my mother and father many times during my childhood. My Asturian family is very Asturian, you know what I mean, and from a very young age I was able to get to know the forests of the east and take long walks among those oak and chestnut trees that are already part of my childhood. Our great-grandmother told Sofia and me what Asturias was like where she lived and raised her family. We really enjoyed her stories on the radio from that time. I visited beautiful beaches, I saw incredible mountains, valleys and towns, I became fond of sea urchins, which my sister looked at with surprise… We have both been very happy here.”

Of receiving the honorary mayor title, Princess Leonor said: “I accept it with respect and with the certainty that, as my father felt almost 40 years ago, they mean something very important: the commitment that I have made, which guides me and will always guide me, to be worthy of these recognitions.”

In the evening, Princess Leonor was joined by her family for a concert in celebration of the Princess of Asturias Awards. The annual ceremony takes place on Friday, 25 October, with Princess Leonor presenting awards in several categories recognising the achievements in arts, sciences, and social issues.