Politics · Spain · 6 hrs ago
Princess Leonor urges young people to keep hope amid uncertainty
At the Princess of Asturias Awards in Oviedo, Spain’s Princess Leonor gave her eighth speech at the ceremony.
She said young people face deep social disillusionment, along with uncertainty, inequality, conflict and the high cost of living.
Leonor urged her generation to keep its enthusiasm and hope despite these pressures.
She pointed to the award winners’ work as a reason to believe that effort and achievement still matter.
She also recalled that her father, King Felipe VI, was 13 when the awards foundation began in 1981, and joked that he is now approaching 60.
Speaking about Studio Ghibli, she remembered watching *Ponyo* with her mother and younger sister, an experience she said helped shape her education.
The speech focused on the challenges young people face and the value of culture, achievement and hope.
Princess Leonor recalled her father’s youth in a speech at the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony in Oviedo.
She said King Felipe VI was approaching 60 and had been 13 when the awards foundation began in 1981.
Leonor also urged young people to sustain their enthusiasm amid social discouragement, inequality and uncertainty.
She shared a childhood memory of watching the Studio Ghibli film Ponyo with her mother and sister.
The ceremony was the 46th edition of the awards.
- Who
- Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish throne, spoke at the ceremony; King Felipe VI was in attendance.
- What
- Leonor recalled her father’s youth and encouraged young people to maintain hope and enthusiasm.
- When
- October 23, 2026, according to El País.
- Where
- Oviedo, Spain.
- Why
- She addressed the challenges facing young people and reflected on the awards and their laureates.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Leonor held her first solo audiences with all the award winners.
Leonor delivered a speech at the 46th Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony in Oviedo.
She referred to her father’s age and his presence at the foundation’s beginning in 1981.
- Speaker
- Princess Leonor
- Location
- Oviedo, Spain
- Awards edition
- 46th
- Foundation began
- 1981
- Father’s age then
- 13
- Film recalled
- Ponyo on the Cliff by the Sea
2 sources
What people are saying
How to maintain enthusiasm in these times of profound social discouragement, of disbelief and inequalities, conflicts, extremisms, populisms, technological and hybrid wars, liquid realities, realpolitik, threats, uncertainty, all amplified on social media...
My father is now approaching 60, but that afternoon he was 13... He spoke of hope.
No AI [artificial intelligence] will be able to replicate the emotion his work provokes.
My mother takes us to see Ponyo. I am hypnotized by the story.
Posts on X
Fragmento de las palabras de la Princesa de Asturias durante la ceremonia de los #PremiosPrincesadeAsturias 2026.
📺TV en DIRECTO | “Los jóvenes nos hacemos preguntas. Cómo mantener el entusiasmo en estos tiempos de desencanto social profundo, de descreimiento y desigualdades, de conflictos, extremismos”, se pregunta la princesa Leonor. “ Cómo digerimos la velocidad y el desencanto, lo que