Princess Leonor Enjoys Festivities with Companions in Salvador de Bahia

Princess Leonor's expedition on the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano is proving to be an unforgettable experience that will undoubtedly leave a lasting mark on her life. The eldest daughter of King Felipe and Queen Letizia is undertaking a six-month journey with her fellow Navy companions, visiting eight countries, including Brazil, the first international stop of the voyage. The midshipmen docked on February 14th at the port of Salvador de Bahia, where the presence of the heir has sparked much discussion, especially after being seen enjoying the Carnival.

The experience aboard the ship goes beyond military training, offering the heir the chance to share unique moments with her companions off the decks of the Elcano. Thus, the Princess of Asturias was photographed on Tuesday night attending the performance of Olodum at Praça das Artes, an event that is part of the prelude to Carnival, one of Brazil's most iconic festivals. At the concert, she appeared surrounded by some of her Navy companions, including a young man in a blue shirt with a good appearance, who quickly became the centre of attention, especially after statements from the photographer who took the snapshots, Fred Pontes.

The Brazilian reporter explained that he was unaware that King Felipe VI's daughter was among the audience and that the images were a result of chance. According to his account, the approach of the princess's escorts along with local authorities alerted him. In this regard, he has stated that he was forced to delete the photographs, although he managed to recover them later. In any case, his words go beyond what the snapshots show, as he claims that "Leonor and her companion kissed at one point during the night." However, this affectionate behaviour has not been verified.

The outing coincided with the last night of Leonor and her companions in Brazil. The event attended by the heir, Terça da Benção, is a popular festival that gathers hundreds of people. In fact, the group Olodum, one of the most renowned in the country, was responsible for providing the soundtrack to the 2014 Brazil World Cup. For the occasion, the princess set aside her uniform and opted for a white lace-style top with straps, tied at the chest and with a baby doll cut.

During the five days the midshipmen spent in Salvador de Bahia, they balanced official activities, such as the floral tribute to the fallen at the Santa Maria fort, with tourist visits and leisure moments, like the concert where the daughter of the kings was photographed. Leonor's visit to Brazil has been much more discreet than her father's 38 years ago in the same country, when he received his military training in the Navy aboard the same training ship. Back then, the Prince of Asturias stopped in Rio de Janeiro, and chronicles recounted his excursion to the Iguazu Falls, his visits to trendy clubs, and he was even photographed in swimwear on the city's beaches.

The heir princess and her companions are now en route to Montevideo (Uruguay), where they are expected to arrive on March 5th, just a few days after King Felipe is scheduled to visit for the inauguration of the new president, Yamandú Orsi, on March 1st. However, the monarch will not be able to coincide with his daughter, as he must be present at the inaugural events of the Mobile World Congress in Barcelona, which will take place on March 2nd and 3rd.