The Origin of Princess Leonor’s Name
Since Princess Leonor’s birth, there has been speculation about the origin of her name. According to journalist Jaime Peñafiel, King Felipe VI initially intended to name his firstborn Sofia, in honour of his mother and with the vision of having a future queen with the same name. However, Queen Letizia, influencing the final decision, opted to change her husband’s plans.
Letizia’s Decision
Queen Letizia was not in favor of the name Sofia for two reasons. First of all, she did not want her daughter to be named after her mother-in-law, with whom she did not have a good relationship. Secondly, she wanted to prevent there from being another Queen Sofia, thus showing her desire to differentiate her daughter from her ancestors.
The Change to Leonor
Therefore, Letizia pushed for her firstborn to be named Leonor, thus marking an act of rupture and distancing from the existing royal family. According to Peñafiel, this change reflected Letizia’s personal decision to mark her own identity and that of her eldest daughter.
Repercussions and Speculations
Peñafiel’s revelation about the original name planned for Princess Leonor and its subsequent change by Letizia has sparked debate about the dynamics within the Spanish royal family. Some see this action as an indication of the tensions between Letizia and Queen Sofia, while others interpret it as a strategy by Letizia to affirm her position within the monarchy, and also to distance her daughter from the past. Bourbon of it.
Possible Future Scenarios
There is a possibility that Leonor will renounce her position or abdicate in the future, which would change the course of the dynastic history planned by Felipe VI and Letizia, and would truncate the entire strategy set up by the consort. In addition, there has been speculation about possible names for a son of Felipe VI and Letizia, such as the name ‘Pelayo’, although this information was never officially confirmed.