Princess Leonor of Spain took a significant step into her future role as queen on her 18th birthday when she swore allegiance to the constitution. The ceremony, held in parliament, was a grand affair and broadcast live on television. However, not everyone was there to witness this momentous occasion.
Leftist and separatist politicians decided to boycott the ceremony, shedding light on the divisions within Spain regarding the monarchy. Acting ministers from the left-wing junior coalition partner Unidas Podemos declined to attend, arguing that having an hereditary and unelected head of state goes against democratic principles.
Lawmakers from movements advocating for the independence of Catalonia, the Basque Country, and Galicia also chose not to participate. This divisive boycott reflects the ongoing tensions between those who support the monarchy and those who prefer a republic.
Interestingly, public opinion in Spain has shown a decline in support for the monarchy over the years. A poll conducted in 2022 revealed that 51.6% of Spaniards preferred a republic, while only 34.6% still favored the monarchy. However, it is worth noting that a poll from the previous year indicated that 55.3% of respondents supported the crown.
Princess Leonor herself has been preparing for her future role, having received military training in Spain and previously attending school in Wales. Her father, King Felipe VI, was present for the ceremony. However, his own father, Juan Carlos, did not attend. Juan Carlos left Spain in 2020 amid investigations into alleged financial irregularities and currently resides in Abu Dhabi.
Opponents of the monarchy argue that Juan Carlos’ coronation in 1975 was illegitimate, claiming that he was groomed by dictator Francisco Franco. On the other hand, supporters of the monarchy assert that the choice of a parliamentary monarchy was made by the Spanish people when they voted for the 1978 constitution.
It is worth mentioning that Spain’s Centre for Sociological Studies stopped polling citizens on the monarchy in 2015. Nonetheless, the last survey conducted gave King Felipe VI an average score of 4.34 out of ten, indicating a middling public perception of the monarchy.
Princess Leonor’s allegiance ceremony marks a significant milestone in her path to become queen of Spain. As tensions persist between supporters and opponents of the monarchy, the future of Spain’s royal family remains uncertain.