Spain's Crown Princess Leonor, heir to the throne, turns 18

The heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor, swore allegiance to her country's Constitution on her 18th birthday Tuesday, laying the groundwork for her eventual succession as queen when the time comes.

Leonor became crown princess when Felipe VI was proclaimed king on June 19, 2014. Her photo has appeared frequently in the media lately along with the term "Leonormania," underlining her growing popularity as the modern face of the future monarchy. The royal family — Leonor, younger sister Sofia, Felipe and Queen Letizia — arrived at the parliament building escorted by a mounted squadron of Spain's Royal Guard. Leonor and Sofia waived from inside a Rolls-Royce to the crowds lining the streets in the center of the capital.

But the parliamentary chamber was packed with lawmakers and dignitaries, including former prime ministers, and the royal family received a prolonged applause after Leonor took her oath. Neither Juan Carlos nor former Queen Sofía attended Tuesday's public events, but they were to be present at an evening family gathering in the Pardo Palace outside Madrid.

Felipe and Letizia, have recovered a lot of the institution's good image but for many in Spain the monarchy is still questioned, given that it was former dictator Gen. Francisco Franco who put Juan Carlos on the throne, bypassing his father and natural heir, Juan de Borbón.

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