Princess Leonor receives the Grand Cross of Naval Merit at the delivery of Royal Dispatches in Marín

The Escuela Naval Militar de Marín (Pontevedra) has been this Tuesday the scene of a historic and emotional day. Coinciding with the feast of the Virgen del Carmen, patron saint of the Navy, Their Majesties the King and Queen, accompanied by the Infanta Sofia and the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, presided over the ceremony of delivery of Royal Dispatches to the new officers of the Navy.

Recognition of training and merit

During the ceremony, King Felipe VI awarded the Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbón, with the Grand Cross of Naval Merit with White Distinctionas the culmination of her training at the Naval Military School. The heiress to the throne has been promoted to the rank of second midshipman (4th course)He has completed his naval training, including the training cruise aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano.

They were also recognized with the Cross of Naval Merit the students who won first place in their respective graduating classes.

New officers for the Navy's four corps

A total of 120 national students have received their Royal Dispatches as new officers, distributed in the different branches of the Navy:

• 66 of the General Corps
• 21 Marine Corps
• 11 of Engineers
• 19 of Quartermaster
• 3 complementary military

In addition, they have completed their training 10 students from Saudi ArabiaThe international spirit that characterizes this educational institution.

A school in constant modernization

During this academic year, the Naval School has trained 654 students (146 female)and has strengthened its international projectionThe company has participated in programs with naval schools in Italy, Greece, Portugal, Chile, France and India.

In his speech, the commandant director of the school, Captain Pedro CardonaHe congratulated the new officers and the first-year aspirants who that same day took their oath or pledge of allegiance: 84 ladies and gentlemen who begin their naval careers.

Distinguished attendees and solemn closing

Among the authorities in attendance were the President of the Xunta de Galicia, Alfonso Rueda; the Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón; and the Admiral Chief of the Naval General Staff, Antonio Piñeiro, among other civilian and military personalities.

The Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, closed the ceremony with a toast to His Majesty the King during the reception that followed, in an event that reinforced the institutional, academic and symbolic relevance of the Naval Military School.

Source: https://www.defensa.gob.es/gabinete/notasPrensa/2025/07/DGC-250716-entrega-despachos-enm.html