After swearing in the Constitution of the Congress of Deputies, the royal delegation moved to the Royal Palace for the imposition of the Order of Charles III on Princess Leonor. In the living room of Carlos III, the former room of the Monarch that his grandson Fernando VII made into a tribute room of the Order, the installation ceremony was held in an event in which the acting president of the government, Pedro Sánchez, participated and then The current The Head of State imposes the Order of the Princess of Asturias.
In the presence of the powers of the State and the Government -except for the three ministers of Unidas Podemos-, Leonor gave her first speech at the age of 18, in which she asked for the confidence of the Spanish people. “From now on I owe myself to all Spaniards,” said Princess Leonor after the solemn swearing-in ceremony in the Lower House. Next, he assured that he will serve the Spaniards “at all times with respect and loyalty.” After emphasizing the importance of this day, Princess Leonor asked the Spanish to “trust me as I put all my trust in our future, in the future of Spain.”
Without hesitation in these first words, Princess Leonor once again expressed how much she knows what it takes to be the Heir to the Crown of Spain. He also mentioned this when he said “I swear loyalty to the King. Not only in his person but also in what the Crown symbolizes and represents: the unity and permanence of Spain.”
Under the portrait of Charles III, who founded the Order that bears his name in 1771, he emphasized that it was a distinction linked to the service of the State and that from now on he included the motto of the order in his life: virtue and merit. In addition, the Heiress said that she will take into account the words that her father dedicated to her when he gave her the Golden Fleece and that she will guide her actions always considering the interests of the country: “with the attitude that deserve the recognition and appreciation of citizens and fulfill their obligations with full dedication and dedication”.
Full speech
I want to thank the President of the Government and the ministers for offering me the Collar of the Order of Charles III, a distinction that is very closely linked to the service of the State and our parliamentary monarchy. From now on I attach its precious motto – virtue and merit – to my status as Princess of Asturias and heir to the Crown.
Thank you, Madam President of the Congress of Deputies and Mr. President of the Senate, to give me the medals of the rooms that unite me, since this extraordinary day, to the institutions that represent the Spanish, hold the national sovereignty. .
Majesties, authorities.
When I turned 18 today, and reached the age of majority, I took the oath stipulated in our Constitution. I swear to faithfully fulfill my duties, to support and ensure that the Constitution and the laws are upheld, to respect the rights of citizens and the autonomous communities, as well as loyalty to the King.
I solemnly, formally and publicly commit myself to our democratic principles and our constitutional values, which I fully believe. And I admit a great responsibility to Spain before the Cortes Generales, which I hope to repay with the greatest dignity and with the best example.
I also swore allegiance to the King. Not only in his person, but in what the Crown symbolizes and represents: the unity and permanence of Spain. I remember very well what my father, the King, told me when he gave me the Golden Fleece: “You are permanently guided by the Constitution, following it and observing it, you will serve Spain with humility and know your institutional position. .” They are words that I will keep in my mind at all times.
In that spirit and with a great sense of duty:
I will carry out my actions in all areas of my life, always thinking of the general interest of our Nation;
I will observe behavior worthy of the recognition and admiration of citizens;
And I will fulfill my obligations with full dedication and unconditional dedication, always trying to grow as a person with the love and support of my family.
From now on I owe myself to all Spaniards, whom I will serve at all times with respect and loyalty. There is no greater pride. On this very important day – which I will always remember with emotion – I ask you to trust me, as I put all my trust in our future, in the future of Spain.
Thank you very much.
This is the necklace
The necklace is made up of 41 pieces, of which 40 are links that make four different models. The main one has the number three in Roman numerals and refers to Charles III. It is surrounded by a palm and a green enamelled laurel branch. The next link is a rampant lion with the head and gaze directed towards the figure. Below is the tower of a castle, representing Castile and León. The last element is the military trophy: a knight’s helmet and two crossed flags, one red and the other green. The most important piece is the scallop, which consists of a cross with four equal arms, symmetrically two by two, topped by a golden globe. Each arm is enameled in the center with indigo blue and white around it, which are the colors of the Immaculate Conception. In her arms she carries the golden metal fleur-de-lys, which is the symbol of the House of Bourbon, and in the middle, in a vertical oval, the image of the Immaculate Conception also surrounded by a blue frame. On the reverse there is again the figure of Charles III surrounded by two palms and the motto of the work “Virtuti et merito”.
