King Juan Carlos abdicates: Leonor, eight, will be Europe's youngest heir to the throne
Tuesday, June 3, 2014 @ 10:01 AM
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz has just become the youngest heir to the throne in Europe now that her father, Prince Felipe, is due to be crowned King between June 30 and July 3.
The little girl currently holds an Infanta title, which is the form of address for direct descendants of the reigning monarch where they are not the immediate heir to the throne, and of which the male version is 'Infante'.
But Leonor will get a new title very soon and be classed as Princess, as her ex-TV reporter mum Letizia has been for the past 10 years.
This said, she will not be able to be sworn in to her position of future Queen of Spain until she is 18 years old.
And if her father abdicates or dies before she reaches majority age, it is likely the throne will be handed to the closest adult male blood relative of the soon-to-be King Felipe VI.
Although the Spanish Constitution does not provide for the abdication of a reigning monarch, it does include a section on swearing in as King or Queen and states that the subject should pledge to carry out his or her Royal duties faithfully, adhere to and ensure others adhere to the Constitution and laws of the country, respect the fundamental rights of the people, and of the 17 autonomous regions in Spain.
Princess Leonor will be expected to pledge all this, as well as declaring her loyalty and faithfulness to the King, her father.
Read more at thinkSPAIN.com