Princess Leonor has attended the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas (Armed Forces arade) for the first time alongside King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, appearing with her father during the national military parade held in Vigo on Saturday May 30.

The event, which brings together Spain’s armed forces each year in a different city, was presided over by King Felipe VI and marked a significant moment in the public military role of the Princess of Asturias, who is currently completing her military training.

Leonor joined the Royal Family on the tribune and took part in the official programme as the parade unfolded along the Galician city’s waterfront, where thousands of service personnel were deployed.

First participation in a major military ceremony

This was the first time Princess Leonor has attended the central Día de las Fuerzas Armadas parade alongside the King, making it her most prominent appearance to date in a national military ceremony of this scale. According to official reporting, she attended as part of her ongoing military instruction, which has included training across the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Her presence had been confirmed shortly before the event following an adjustment to the Royal Household’s schedule. The King and Queen were accompanied by their daughter during the tribune ceremony, where they observed the march-past of military units and equipment. Leonor is expected to continue participating in major institutional events as part of her preparation for her future role as Commander-in-Chief.

Large-scale military display in Vigo

The parade was part of a programme of defence activities held in Vigo over several days. More than 3,700 personnel took part, supported by units from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Guardia Civil and the Military Emergency Unit.

The display included infantry formations, cavalry units, military vehicles and coordinated marching groups. A naval and aerial programme had also been planned as part of the wider celebrations, reflecting the operational capabilities of the armed forces.

Large crowds gathered along the waterfront to watch the procession, which began in the morning under overcast conditions. The city had hosted several related demonstrations in the days leading up to the main parade, including naval and amphibious exercises.

Weather disruption and cancellation of aerial display

The event was affected by adverse weather conditions, which led to the cancellation of the scheduled aerial display. The decision was taken shortly before the parade began due to safety concerns linked to cloud cover and wind conditions.

As a result, the planned flypast by aircraft formations and parachute units did not take place. The cancellation was communicated during the event, with the ground parade continuing as scheduled.

Despite the disruption, the ground procession proceeded without alteration, with military units maintaining the planned route and timings.

Incident during flag ceremony

A separate incident occurred during the flag-raising ceremony at the start of the event when the national flag fell to the ground after a technical failure in the hoisting mechanism. Reports from the scene indicate that the malfunction was caused by a mechanical issue with the mast system.

The incident prompted an immediate response from organisers, and the King later instructed that the ceremony continue with an alternative flag display from the Guardia Real in order to maintain the formal sequence of the event.

The moment drew attention from attendees and was visible during the live broadcast of the ceremony.

Significance of Leonor’s role

Princess Leonor’s presence at the parade is seen as part of her gradual integration into official military duties. As heir to the throne, she is expected to assume the role of Supreme Commander of the Spanish Armed Forces in the future, following the constitutional role held by the monarch.

Her participation in Vigo follows previous appearances at other national military events, including the National Day parade in Madrid. However, the Vigo ceremony represents her first attendance at the Día de las Fuerzas Armadas alongside King Felipe VI during a full-scale national parade outside the capital.

Officials present included the Minister of Defence, Margarita Robles, and senior military commanders responsible for coordinating the event.

Final take 

The Día de las Fuerzas Armadas in Vigo combined large-scale military participation with ceremonial significance for the Royal Family. While the event was disrupted by weather conditions and a technical failure during the flag ceremony, it also marked a notable step in Princess Leonor’s public military role, as she appeared for the first time alongside King Felipe VI at the national parade in this context.

A British father faces a holiday nightmare after being barred from boarding a Jet2 flight home from Kefalonia, Greece, due to recently updated border controls. Kyle Harris, a 39-year-old dual national from Wheatley in South Yorkshire, was separated from his family when airport staff enforced strict electronic travel rules. Born in Maryland, United States, Harris moved to Britain as an infant, before celebrating his first birthday, in fact, and has contributed to the UK system for 24 years through taxes, national insurance and even being schooled in the UK.

New rules catch holidaymakers unaware – More to come?

The story does not bode well for the upcoming summer holiday peak, and it is a reminder of what may come starting from a month’s time. Changes implemented in February 2026 mandate that all British citizens enter the country using a British passport. Dual citizens cannot rely solely on foreign documentation anymore. The recently introduced Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system monitors this policy, bringing UK border controls in line with rules seen in Canada, Australia, and the US.

Jet2 staff told the stranded father to apply for a British passport from the British Consulate in Greece or buy a Certificate of Entitlement, which carries a hefty £589 price tag and takes up to eight weeks to arrive. However, because Harris is a British citizen, he remains entirely ineligible to fill out a standard ETA form.

Health fears cause holiday panic

Medical worries have complicated the family’s unexpected extension abroad. Harris suffers from a pituitary tumour and only packed a one-week supply of essential medication for the trip. His wife, Ruth, refused suggestions from airline operators to fly back to South Yorkshire alone with their two young sons, pick up more medication and return to Greece, opting instead to wait out the emergency documentation process at the British consulate.

Jet2 stated its staff followed government rules and consulted the Home Office before making the final decision. Home Office officials maintained that awareness campaigns regarding the Electronic Travel Authorisation protocols have run publicly since 2023. Mixed-nationality families across Britain are tracking the situation closely, or at least, should be as frustration grows over the clarity of public border announcements.

Still, there are worse places one could be stranded.

Malaga-Costa del Sol Airport has plans to double its number of jet bridges as part of the massive €1.5 billion expansion. Growing from 26 to 48 boarding bridges, changing the experience of how millions of passengers travel through one of Europe’s busiest holiday gateways.

Airport director Pedro Bendala announced the details this week at a CIT Marbella event,  one of his last public engagements before stepping down next month.

What will be changing at Malaga Airport

Aena, Spain’s national airport operator, has confirmed the huge infrastructure overhaul as part of its national DORA III plan.

Key changes and dates are –

An increase from 26 to 48 (22 new bridges), meaning far fewer bus transfers to planes.
The old Terminal 1 and piers B and C will be completely demolished.
A state-of-the-art non-Schengen (A European nation that does not belong to the open-border agreement, meaning you must show your passport and pass through formal immigration checks) pier with a centralised border control will replace the old structures.
Total terminal space will grow from 80,000 to 140,000 square metres.
Construction contracts are expected to be awarded later this year, with groundworks beginning in 2027 and completion by 2031.

For those living in or travelling to the Costa Del Sol

The practical improvements will be a game-changer

1. The End of post-brexit bottlenecks

The UK is Malaga’s largest market, bringing in 5.69 million passengers to Malaga last year alone. To directly tackle notorious post-Brexit passport queues, the new non-Schengen facilities will see an impressive 515% increase in passport control capacity and a 381% increase in non-Schengen boarding zones

2. Goodbye old dark space and hello lighter and more accessible zones

Currently, international travellers pass through passport control in what Bendala described as “a dark space because it does not have natural light.” The new design will introduce a bright, naturally lit terminal. Also ramps will replace escalators throughout, ensuring passengers with mobility needs, prams, or heavy luggage can follow the exact same routes as everyone else.

3. Global Connectivity

Malaga is already Spain’s third-busiest airport, handling 7.7 million passengers in the first four months of 2026 alone. Bendala predicted that once complete, Malaga could become one of the best-connected non-capital airports in the world, opening up the flexibility for direct routes to North America, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific.

If you are using Malaga what you should keep in mind

While the airport will remain fully operational throughout the works, regular flyers should remember a few things.

Expect future disruption. From 2027 onwards, expect changing walking routes and minor disruptions around the old Terminal 1 and piers B and C as demolition begins.

Double-check gates. Especially important if you are a frequent flyer and go into autopilot. Ensure you check departure screens carefully when travelling during the construction window, as gate arrangements will shift.

No Immediate Impact. Flights today are completely unaffected. Construction will not begin until next year, and the airport is aiming for a smooth transition toward its final goal of handling 36 million passengers annually by 2031.