Princess Leonor has been studying Political Science at the University Carlos III of Madrid in the Getafe campus since September 7. Students describe an atmosphere altered by security and cameras, although they insist that their academic routine remains the same.
The princess Leonor began her studies in Political Science at the University Carlos III of Madrid on September 7. Three days later, the atmosphere in the classrooms reflects a mix of normality and expectation. According to the students themselves, speaking to Mujerhoy, the presence of the heir has brought with it a display of security and media interest that does not go unnoticed.
In the cafeteria of the Humanities campus, a group of first-year students in History and Political Science comments that the arrival of the princess is met with curiosity. "They emphasise that she is just another student, but none of us have been received by the rector," one of them points out. Another adds: "It's strange, they want her to be treated like a normal person, but there’s something in the atmosphere that makes it not so."
They emphasise that she is just another student, but none of us have been received by the rector
Fourth-year students in Social and Legal Sciences recall that the first day of class was crowded: "There were a lot of people, cameras, media... Never before has a first day been so numerous." It coincided with the university's association fair, which helped to camouflage the commotion. The princess's classes are held in building 9 of the faculty, whose windows have been covered with vinyl to prevent visibility from the outside.
Security is another aspect that stands out. Students describe that the agents dress in plain clothes, with "casual clothes and folders from local academies," but their presence is evident. "If they see you taking your phone out to take pictures of Leonor, they come up to you and force you to delete it," a student recounts. Additionally, coffee machines have been removed from some buildings, where students used to gather between classes.
The princess's academic routine is limited to two in-person days a week, according to the students themselves. This has generated mixed opinions: "I feel really sorry because she is going to miss out on university life. We don't know if it was her own decision or if it was imposed on her, but the fact that she has to stay in the same building all the time and doesn't experience the change of classes, the usual movement of the campus, is a pity," reflects one young woman. Another criticises the publicity generated by her arrival: "She is being given a publicity that is not real: what’s the point of putting crowns at a bus stop if she doesn’t use public transport?"
In building 9, the atmosphere is calm, and students assure that, beyond the first day, life on campus continues as normal. Princess Leonor thus continues her university education in the Community of Madrid, balancing her studies with the institutional obligations of the Crown.
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