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Palace releases throwback images of Princess Leonor ahead of her milestone birthday© Getty Images

Palace shares throwback photos of Princess Leonor ahead of her milestone birthday

The heir to the Spanish throne turns 18 on Oct. 31


OCTOBER 27, 2023 3:27 PM EDT

The Palace is taking a stroll down memory lane ahead of  Princess Leonor ’s milestone birthday next week. Casa de S.M. el Rey has shared images of  Queen Letizia  and  King Felipe  of Spain’s eldest daughter from over the years.

The Princess of Asturias, who started her military training in August, will celebrate her 18th birthday on Tuesday, Oct. 31. On her big day, the future Queen of Spain will swear the Spanish Constitution before the Cortes Generales in Madrid. Following the swearing-in ceremony, Leonor will receive el Collar de la Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III (The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III) at the Royal Palace of Madrid, where a lunch will be held. 

In celebration of her upcoming birthday, take a look at some of the palace’s adorable throwback pictures of Princess Leonor...

New parents Felipe and Letizia held their daughter Leonor, who was born on Oct. 31, 2005.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

November 2005

New parents Felipe and Letizia held their daughter Leonor, who was born on Oct. 31, 2005.

Big sister Leonor was pictured adorably sitting on the floor the day her newborn sister Infanta Sofia arrived at Zarzuela Palace.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

May 2007

Big sister Leonor was pictured adorably sitting on the floor the day her newborn sister Infanta Sofia arrived at Zarzuela Palace.

The Princess of Asturias attended her first day at the Royal Guard nursery in 2007.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

September 2007

The Princess of Asturias attended her first day at the Royal Guard nursery in 2007.

Sisters Leonor and Sofia were twinning in soccer jerseys during the 2012 UEFA Euro winners' visit to Zarzuela Palace.© Casa de S.M. el Rey

July 2012

Sisters Leonor and Sofia were twinning in soccer jerseys during the 2012 UEFA Euro winners’ visit to Zarzuela Palace.

The royals looked like any other family enjoying a train excursion during their visit to Majorca in 2012.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

August 2012

The royals looked like any other family enjoying a train excursion during their visit to Majorca in 2012.

Ready for takeoff! The future Queen jumped into the cockpit of an aircraft while at the Base Aerea de San Javier for a commemorative event in 2014.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

May 2014

Ready for takeoff! The future Queen jumped into the cockpit of an aircraft while at the Base Aérea de San Javier for a commemorative event in 2014.

Leonor was keeping a close watch on what her father was writing during the same event at the air base.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

May 2014

Leonor was keeping a close watch on what her father was writing during the same event at the air base.

Princess Leonor was presented with the Order of the Golden Fleece on her father's 50th birthday.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

January 2018

Princess Leonor was presented with the Order of the Golden Fleece on her father’s 50th birthday.

The King and his firstborn exchanged smiles during Spain's National Day celebration in 2019.© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

October 2019

The King and his firstborn exchanged smiles during Spain’s National Day celebration in 2019.

Leonor presided over the Princess of Asturias Awards for the first time in 2019. At the ceremony, the Spanish Princess said, "In my house, the words Spain and Asturias are always united with the same force with which history has united them. That's how I feel it in my heart and that today is a very important day in my life that I have looked forward to."© © Casa de S.M. el Rey

October 2019

Leonor presided over the Princess of Asturias Awards for the first time in 2019. At the ceremony, the Spanish Princess said, “In my house, the words Spain and Asturias are always united with the same force with which history has united them. That’s how I feel it in my heart and that today is a very important day in my life that I have looked forward to.”