Flag swearing by Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias Leonor de Borbón
Leonor de Borbón participates in the event held at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza
Princess Leonor, who began her military training on August 17, swears in the flag this Saturday in an event presided over by the King and Queen at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, and which is broadcast live. On September 19, the Princess of Asturias had received the saber that symbolizes her status as a future officer, along with the 560 cadets of the first course of the General Military Academy.
The King's House describes this Saturday's event as the most important in the military career of Leonor de Borbón, as it will publicly ratify the commitment to fulfill its obligations in the defense of Spain. The oath or promise before the flag is a prior requirement to acquiring professional military status, according to the Ministry of Defense. Her father, Felipe VI, swore the flag on October 11, 1985 in the parade ground of the same institution where the heir to the Crown will do so.
Princess Leonor kisses the flag during her swearing-in in Zaragoza
Princess Leonor swears the flag this Saturday at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, an act presided over by her parents, Kings Felipe and Letizia.
Some 2,500 people, including family members and authorities, attend the ceremony, in which the chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, and the acting Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, will be present.
Unlike her father, Felipe VI, who swore the flag individually in 1985, Leonor will do so normally along with more than 400 training cadets. After almost two months of training at the Army academy, the flag oath is one of the relevant milestones in the military training of the heir to the throne of Spain.
Prior to the ceremony, Leonor participated on Friday with her companions in the offering to the Virgin of Pilar in the basilica dedicated to the patron saint of Zaragoza.
How important is the flag oath and the words that Leonor will say at today's event
Lady Cadet Leonor de Borbón Ortiz will swear in the flag at 12:00 p.m. at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza, in an event that will be presided over by the Kings of Spain. The Princess of Asturias, heir to the throne of Spain, participated yesterday in the Pilar offering, but today is the day when she will swear the flag, in an act presided over by her parents, the Kings.
The flag oath is a common act carried out by all cadets who enter the first training course in the Army, after finishing their initial training period and after carrying out their first military maneuvers.
La princesa Leonor comenzó su formación militar el pasado mes de agosto en unas condiciones muy severas de disciplina y entrenamiento, que ha sabido superar con esfuerzo y dedicación y que culminan hoy la tradicional jura de bandera.
The flag oath that Princess Leonor de Borbón will take this Saturday in Zaragoza is one of the most important acts in the life of a soldier and the official beginning of his military career.
The gentlemen and ladies cadets take their oath once they have passed the first military maneuvers and with it their military career officially begins. They do it on a banner made by order of Queen María Cristina of Habsburg, widow of Alfonso XII. «More than 29,000 officers have kissed his cloth, thus sealing their commitment to Spain,» reveals the Ministry of Defense.
The military celebration that Leonor de Borbón will hold in Zaragoza is divided into two parts:
First he will make the promise and pass under the flag bowing his head as a sign of respect. She will be the first in her class to do so.
Afterwards, the soldiers will pass three by three through the arch formed by the flag and the authority saber.
The words that Leonor de Borbón will pronounce in her swearing in of the flag
Article 3 of Law 17/1999, of May 18, on the Regime of the Personnel of the Armed Forces, defines the flag oath as a «prerequisite and indispensable requirement for acquiring the status of career military officer, complementary military officer and as a professional soldier of troops and sailors. This rule also specifies that the act “will be public and will be covered with the greatest solemnity.
The soldiers will respond to the head of the military unit who will ask this question: „Soldiers! Do you swear by God or do you promise by your conscience and honor to faithfully fulfill your military obligations, to keep and ensure that the Constitution is kept as a fundamental norm of the State, to obey and respect the King and your leaders, to never abandon them and, if necessary, to give your life? in defense of Spain?
Princess Leonor together with her companions must answer “Yes, we do!”
The one taking the oath will reply: „If you fulfill your oath or promise, the Country will thank you and reward you, and if not, you will deserve its contempt and punishment, as unworthy children of it“, and will add: „Soldiers, Long live Spain! “and “Long live the King!”, which will be answered with the corresponding “Long live!”
Afterwards, it will be the turn of the flag walk led by the Princess of Asturias.
What does the flag oath mean in Spain?
The Flag Oath is one of the most solemn acts that exist and is not reserved exclusively for military personnel. Any citizen who wishes can participate in a civil oath that is held annually in different locations in Spain. In this case, citizens take the oath or promise and salute or kiss the flag.
This oath is “the civic, public and individual expression of loyalty to Spain”, according to the Ministry of Defense. It is a commitment to defend collective interests and commit to this by being a good citizen.
The oath can also entail, within these ethical values, support for the security and defense of Spain. For this reason, some civilians decide to join the Armed Forces as voluntary reservists.
How can I swear the flag in Spain
Those over 18 years of age, with Spanish nationality and who have not been declared incapable (through a final ruling) can swear a civil flag. To do this, you must fill out an oath or promise application and send the request to the Ministry of Defense through the Government delegation or subdelegation.
Origin of the flag oath
The flag oath is of Roman origin and in Spain there are testimonies of these acts from the Middle Ages, during the Reconquista. Through the oath, a relationship was created that did not exist between the King and any subject, since the soldier began to receive a salary and weapons from the monarch and was legitimized to use violence, within certain limits.
Over the centuries, the ceremony has adapted to the times and, since the 19th century, the Army has been defender of the interests of the 'sovereign people'.
The Kings preside over the solemn ceremony in which the Princess of Asturias swears in the flag along with her colleagues from the General Military Academy of Zaragoza. Around 2,500 people attend, including family members and authorities, including the Chief of the Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, and the acting Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles.
After almost two months since she began her military career, the Princess of Asturias swears the flag along with her colleagues from the General Military Academy of Zaragoza. The event is chaired by King Felipe VI and Letizia and is attended by around 2,500 people, including family members and authorities, including the acting Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles. With this act, the future officers publicly ratify the commitment to fulfill their military obligations regarding the defense of Spain and its constitutional order.
After the Flag Oath, Leonor will have to say goodbye to her first-year classmates to make way for the second stage of training in the Army. A year of course that she will finish in spring with the title of lieutenant. After her, it will be time to move to the town of Marín (Pontevedra) to debut with the Navy.
The heir to the throne has started a month of October that is extremely important for her. Next Friday the 20th she will chair, once again this year at the Campoamor Theater in Oviedo, the Princess of Asturias Awards. On the 31st, coinciding with her 18th birthday, she will swear in the Constitution. And before these important dates, we have also learned that the princess will make her debut next Thursday at the reception on October 12 at the Royal Palace.
Death is not the end
Very moving tribute to the fallen at the Leonor Flag swearing ceremony at the Military Academy of Zaragoza. An hour and a half of the event, presided over by King Felipe VI. After the kiss and the promise of the Borbón soldier, the speeches began. The head of state had words for his daughter: „38 years have passed, and I think about what I felt then and what it means to me to preside alongside the Queen and with pride over the swearing-in of our daughter, the Princess of Asturias. It's very exciting».
«Leonor, remember that the commitment you have assumed entails the greatest responsibility towards Spain,» said the head of state. «You know well, as Crown Princess, that the Crown symbolizes its unity and its permanence»; and he added: «I know that you will always keep in mind that your responsibility, in any circumstance and at all times, is to serve Spain with all your energy and determination, with true passion.»
After these words, the tribute to the fallen has begun. Leonor, with the rest of her fellow cadets and her father, have sung in unison the solemn Death is not the end. At that time, two large laurel wreaths were laid as a sign of respect for her memory. The Princess, also like her father, has sung the anthem of the General Military Academy. And she has pronounced, from memory, an article from the cadet's decalogue. A very powerful photograph of the Borbón soldier that projects the modern image of the new times in the Army.
