In brief
On Friday, 23 October, Princess Leonor received the Princess of Asturias laureates alone at the Hotel Reconquista in Oviedo, ahead of her 21st birthday on 31 October.
Leo Messi is due to receive the Princess of Asturias Sports Award, alongside Patti Smith, Julian Barnes, Christina Koch and Studio Ghibli, at the Teatro Campoamor ceremony on Friday afternoon.
Real Oviedo president Martín Peláez said Queen Letizia asked the club to return to the top flight of Spanish football, and he spoke of pressure from the Queen.
- 22 OctRoyal family attends the XXXIV concert at the Auditorio Príncipe Felipe, dedicated to Felix Mendelssohn
- 23 October, around middayQueen Sofía arrives in Oviedo to applause and a bagpipe welcome
- 23 October, receptionPrincess Leonor receives the laureates alone at the Hotel Reconquista
- 23 October, afternoonPrincess of Asturias Awards ceremony at the Teatro Campoamor
Leonor's solo debut
Princess Leonor, who turns 21 on 31 October, made her first solo appearance at the reception for the Princess of Asturias Awards laureates on Friday, 23 October. Her parents were not present, and she greeted the winners in the Covadonga hall of the Hotel Reconquista in Oviedo. She appeared radiant and self-assured, smiling throughout and wearing a dusty pink suit. The reception took place before the ceremony that afternoon at the Teatro Campoamor. Leonor started her political science degree at the Universidad Carlos III de Madrid in September.
Laureates and the ceremony
The 46th edition of the awards honours Leo Messi, Patti Smith, Julian Barnes, Christina Koch and Studio Ghibli. Messi is due to receive the Princess of Asturias Sports Award, while the composer Patti Smith, the British writer Julian Barnes and the American astronaut Christina Koch are also among the laureates. Spain's national football coach, Luis de la Fuente, travelled to Oviedo for the ceremony and spoke to reporters at the Hotel de la Reconquista. He praised Messi's career and said it was an honour to attend the event.
“The legacy he is leaving in the history of sport and of football in particular is exceptional and fantastic.”
De la Fuente also said it would be a source of pride for Spanish football if a Spanish footballer won the sports prize again, recalling that Xavi Hernández and Iker Casillas shared it in 2012.
The concert and royal arrivals
On Thursday, 22 October, the royal family attended the XXXIV concert at the Auditorio Príncipe Felipe, dedicated this year to the German composer Felix Mendelssohn. Messi and Patti Smith were absent from the event. Afterwards the King left the auditorium arm in arm with the Infanta Sofía, while Queen Letizia stayed close to Leonor and touched her arm to signal that the greetings had to end. Leonor wore a black satin suit and the Infanta a dark blue dress with a fitted bodice and a ruffled skirt. On Friday, around midday, Queen Sofía arrived in Oviedo to applause and a bagpipe welcome, wearing a two-tone suit by her designer Alejandro de Miguel.
Real Oviedo and the football question
Real Oviedo president Martín Peláez spoke to reporters on arrival at the Hotel de La Reconquista on Friday. He said Queen Letizia had asked the club to return to the top flight of Spanish football.
“She already told me we have to improve, we have to return, they have already put pressure on us.”
Peláez called Messi the greatest player football has produced, both inside and outside the pitch, and described the award as more than deserved. He joked that he hoped to persuade the Argentine to join the club, since Messi has not retired yet. The awards ceremony takes place on the afternoon of Friday, 23 October, at the Teatro Campoamor, where Messi is due to collect his prize.