Spain’s Infanta Sofia attended events marking the country’s National Day for the first time.
Sofia, 18, joined her parents, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, and her older sister, 19 year old Princess Leonor, for the military parade and official reception in Madrid.
They’re two of the most important engagements in the Spanish royal year and her attendance marks another chapter in Sofia’s progression as a full time member of the family.
That’s still some way off as she’s only just begun her university education and she flew back from Lisbon to join her family at these prestigious events.
Spain’s National Day falls on October 12 and it’s always marked with a military parade in the heart of the country’s capital city.
This year, thousands of personnel took part and the Spanish flag was brought to the event by parachute, landing in front of the royal box as King Felipe watched on.
The King of Spain was in naval uniform while the heir to the throne, Leonor, wore the uniform of Spain’s air force – she is at the start of a year’s training with them which will bring to an end her military formation which began in 2023.
Princess Leonor has attended the military parade and reception for several years but this was the first time she had her sister at her side.
However, as heir, she played a different role in the event and was with her father as he laid a wreath in memory of all those who have lost their lives for Spain.
Afterwards, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, along with their two daughters, greeted hundreds of guests inside the Royal Palace in Madrid ahead of a reception marking National Day.
Queen Letizia appeared to make a statement with her choice of outfit.
The Spanish queen wore an emerald green dress in a very on trend tweed. However, the colour has another significance.
The colour green has been seen as a sign of support for the monarchy for decades now. In Spanish, it is ‘verde’ which is taken to mean ”Viva el Rey de Espana’.
Wearing green was a symbol of backing the royals and the Spanish Monarchy which was restored under King Juan Carlos in 1975. Sometimes, green ties or accessories would be chosen as a tacit sign of support before the restoration.
Given that Spain is just weeks away from the 50th anniversary of the death of Franco and the accession of King Juan Carlos, it could well be a sign of support for the country’s monarchy.
A few weeks ago, Queen Sofia also chose an all green outfit as she launched one of the most important new ships in Spain’s fleet. She attended the ceremony in Ferrol in Galicia with Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, who is under increasing pressure at home as his policies and popularity unravel.
Furthermore, King Juan Carlos is about to publish his memoir which will hit shops at the start of December. The man who ruled Spain for almost four decades before his abdication in 2014 has said he wants to put his version of his story and his revelations are already much anticpiated.
So it would be no surprise if Queen Letizia had chosen to make a statement in support of her husband by wearing a bright green dress.
Her younger daughter, for her important debut, chose a black and white spotted dress. Infanta Sofia appeared to have borrowed one of Queen Letizia’s cape coats to wear for the military parade which took place outside in chilly autumn weather.
