I'm a little apprehensive about Princess Leonor's presence in Catalonia at this volatile time.

That's indeed a rather courageous act. It seems the king and queen don't shy away from controversy currently with both this visit and the one to Cuba coming up.

indeed, a bit of a strange time for the introduction of leonor to catalonia. but this is something she needs to learn to deal with, so better sooner than later. and, of course, security will be on hand to ensure that things are under control.

It's nothing new and rather civil in comparison, Felipe grew up during ETA terrorism and he once said in an interview that he always was aware that he could see his parents for the last time when they left for events in case their car got blown up.
So no, backing off is not an option.

I'm a little worried too but I agree that it would look worse if the family completely backed out of the event - because for the SRF it would show the rioting parties have won and that might give them a motive to become more violent or threatening to the family than they have been (and then something particularly bad could happen). I commend Leonor even more for being poised and confident during these events given that these are rather dangerous times for Catalonia.

I don't think Leonor has much choice in these matters. She will do as her parents tell her. We'll have to wait and see how it turns out tomorrow and on Tuesday.

Leonor never did these awards, so Felipe and Letizia could have continued doing them themselves but I guess they figured that would look bad given that Leonor did attend and speech at the Princess of Asturias Awards this year.

She's 14 now and needs to be seen in Spain, so far Spaniards know nothing about her.

It's about time, you can only trust somebody to lead the country someday you can identify with. Spanish monarchy has troubling sides as well Leonor needs to learn to cope with.

On the news I saw protesters in Catalonia in utter amazement: "What are they doing here? We do not want them here! Back off to Spain. This is our country!"


As if Catalonia is not Spain... In the brains of these separatists they have already said bye-bye to Spain.

Meeting with winners of the awards in the previous editions

https://twitter.com/CasaReal/status/1191321728905076736
https://twitter.com/CasaReal/status/1191323021803429894
https://twitter.com/CasaReal/status/1191326779102904321

https://twitter.com/OndaCero_es/stat...17418372669441
https://twitter.com/SERCatalunya/sta...12947353735173

https://www.hola.com/realeza/casa_es...cesa-girona/5/

Meeting of the Advisory Council of the Princess of Girona Foundation


https://twitter.com/FPdGi/status/1191358915826651136

Delivery of 10th Princess of Girona Awards

https://josepgegundez.photoshelter.c...00068aKG.mLQJ0

Princess Leonor's speech in Spanish, English, Catalan and Arabic.

https://twitter.com/rtve/status/1191436414631731200

:previous:

Here are some more photos:


** semana article 1 ** semana article 2 ** semana article 3 **


** gettyimages: ESP: Spanish Royals Meeting With 'Princesa De Girona' Laureates **

Grace under pressure. That is valor. Catalonia has always been one with Spain. I so admire the SRF for being there. A lesson for the young princesses, not everything will be easy.Excited to hear their speeches tomorrow. The princesses were also at the meeting!

How come the girls are not at school today? Is it some kind of holiday in Spain?

We can admire dresses but let us be fair: the Province of Girona has declared "their own" Princess of Girona as persona non grata (!). Reason to organize this Princess of Girona Award in Barcelona instead. This is not only an insult to Doña Leonor but also to the King, whom himself was a proud Pince of Asturias, of Girona, of Viana, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer, for decades.

Princess Leonor made a good speech and even spoke Catalan. It is being very well prepared.

Could you provide a video link to her speech, especially the part where she is speaking Catalan ?

Everybody is talking about Princess Leonor's perfect Catalan, that is how you make a statement, sure :tongue:

She's getting more comfortable with each intervention and it shows.

This is the Catalan part of her speech, without the translator heard on RTVE videos:

https://twitter.com/el_pais/status/1...227148801?s=09

I can't tell but it must have been good, there is a young man among the laureates who was sporting a yellow ribbon (the support to the independentist leaders in jail simbol) that didn't even applauded with the rest of the public when the RF entered the hall... But he is seen in the video applauding to Leo's Catalan :lol:

There were quite vocal anti monarchist protests in Barcelona

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCVFcBV6bZo

speech on twitter:
https://twitter.com/rtve/status/1191436414631731200


there are phrases in English, Arabic, Spanish & Catalan.

Spanish Royals Attend 'Princesa de Girona' Foundation Awards

https://www.gettyimages.es/fotos/pri...newest#license

Spanish Royals Attend 'Princesa de Girona' Foundation Awards - Zimbio

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EqzLHy8LO70

Leonor did another impeccable job - it must have been quite a tiring day for both the girls, given the fact they had to change and get ready for the awards ceremony in the evening, but they carried it out in a very dignified and adult-like manner. Leonor speaking in Catalan and Arabic was also very impressive (any reasons why she spoke in Arabic?) - one can tell that both she and her sister Sofia are going to be fantastic assets to the SRF when they'll eventually have to become full-time working members of the family.

I would think that making her debut in Catalonia as a princess/representing the country would be a perfectly fine excuse for missing a day off school! And their teachers can always watch the news if they didn't see the reason for Leonor and Sofia's absence :biggrin:
In all seriousness, though, the last holiday in Spain until Christmas on 23 December is All Saint's Day on November 1 where children got the day off. So it was a normal school day for Spanish children.