Princess Leonor begins her studies in Political Science at the Carlos III University of Madrid

When Felipe VI was proclaimed King in 2014, the only thing that changed in the office of the Zarzuela palace that Juan Carlos I had used for 39 years was the painting that presides over the room, located behind the desk: he ordered the portrait of Felipe I of Parma, the work of the French painter Jean Ranc, to be replaced by that of Carlos III painted by Antón Rafael Mengs in 1761. Twelve years later, Princess Leonor will begin her degree in Political Science tomorrow. And he will do so, precisely, at the Madrid university that bears the name of that same enlightened king, whose lineage leads, centuries later, to the Heiress herself.

Princess Leonor will be one of the nearly 4,000 students who join Carlos III this year, where about 16,000 young people study. She arrives at the classroom at the age of 20 and after having completed her military training in the academies of the three armies, so her arrival at the university represents a new stage in her preparation as the future head of state and also marks a difference with respect to the itinerary of Felipe VI, since her father studied Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid and she has chosen Political Science. The study plan will bring you closer to the functioning of parties, social movements, political communication, the economy or electoral behavior.

The premise of the King's House, however, will be the same that has accompanied Leonor throughout her training: that she be just another student. He was at the Santa María de los Rosales school, at the UWC Atlantic College boarding school in Wales and, with the particularities of his condition, also during his time at the military academies. Zarzuela intends for this normality to be maintained now at Carlos III, both in the classrooms and in the relationship with his classmates and teachers.

The university's own policy will contribute to preserving that normality. For some time now, teachers have had the power to restrict the use of mobile phones and other devices during classes, a general rule that will prevent photographs or videos of the Princess in the classroom without the need to establish a specific regime for her. Thus, tomorrow, at nine in the morning, Leonor will return to the civilian classrooms, where she will try to be another student.