Princess Leonor of Spain, 17, and Infanta Sofia, 16, wear pink Barbie dresses

Princess Leonor of Spain and her sister, Infanta Sofía, took advantage of the summer trend when they left for Madrid today with their parents.

The 17-year-old heiress to the throne and her younger sister, 16, chose to wear Barbie pink when they attended the Bardo of Directors of the Spanish Committee of the United World Schools Foundation, Scholarship Sponsors and Students at the Zarzuela Palace.

Leonor looked elegant in a white wrap dress with large purple and pink flowers, while Sofia wore a bright pink mini dress for the occasion.

The sisters have made several public appearances recently, in what appears to be a step up from their royal duties, as they prepare to step into the spotlight.

The appearance comes as Eleanor, who has just graduated from UWC Atlantic College in Wales, known as ‘Hippy Hogwarts,’ prepares to begin her military training in August.

The heir to the throne, 17, and her younger sister, 16, chose to wear Barbie pink when they attended the Bardo of Directors of the Spanish Committee of the United World Schools Foundation, Scholarship and Student Sponsors at the Palacio de la Operetta.

The sisters were accompanied by their parents at the event, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, who beamed with pride as they stood with their daughters.

Queen Letizia, a former journalist, today opted for an elegant white belted dress for the occasion, which showed off her summer tan to perfection.

It comes after Princess Eleanor was seen visiting the military academy she will be attending for the first time.

The 17-year-old heir to the throne styled her mother in a simple monochrome dress when she stepped out at the ‘Academia General Militar’ military academy in Zaragoza last week.

Standing proudly alongside her mother Queen Letizia and father King Felipe, Leonor dazzled in a white sundress with black polka dots and a sash.

Leonor is ready to begin her military training before the end of the summer in August.

While many of her classmates will go off to university, the eldest daughter of kings Felipe and Letizia will return to Spain to begin her education.

Spanish Defense Minister Margarita Robles confirmed Princess Leonor of Asturias’ next move earlier this year to the Tatler society bible.

The training will include stays in the Armed Forces, the Spanish Navy and the Air Force.

Leonor looked elegant in a white wrap dress with large purple and pink flowers, while Sofia wore a bright pink mini dress for the occasion.

The sisters have made several public appearances recently, in what appears to be a step up from their royal duties, as they prepare to step into the spotlight.

Speaking in March, Ms. Robles confirmed: “In time, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces will be a woman, and in recent years we have been making a very significant effort to recruit women into the armed forces.”

The Princess will begin her training at the Army Military Academy in Zaragoza before going on to the naval school, and will complete her three years at the General Air Academy.

In September last year, the Spanish palace announced that Princess Leonor will go to university to study law once she has completed her three years of military training.

While Leonor’s choice of university is unknown, the princess’s educational background already resembles that of her father, King Felipe.

After graduating from high school at Lakefield College in Canada, Felipe returned to Spain and attended the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, and later studied at the Naval Military School in Marin.

He finished his training with a stay at the San Javier General Air Academy.

He also completed his military training with a visit to the Juan Sebastián Elcano workshop at the age of 18 in 1987, and went on to study Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

The two teens were beaming when they attended the event with their parents this morning in Madrid.

The family was in high spirits when they attended the event of the Board of Directors of the Spanish Committee of the United World Schools Foundation.

Leonor’s appearance comes as she begins to be in the spotlight ahead of her three years of military training, which will begin in September.

In recent weeks, she has appeared with her younger sister, the 16-year-old Infanta Sofía, when the sisters accompanied their parents to attend the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards at the Hotel Camiral Caldes in Malavella.

Leonor, who is first in line to the Spanish throne, delivered a speech at the event and took center stage as she prepares for a life in the spotlight.

Leonor was mature royalty when she dated her family.

In what appeared to be a show of unity between the current and soon-to-be monarch, the teen’s elegant puff-sleeved teal dress matched perfectly with her father’s King Philip tie.

King Felipe is the honorary president of the organization on behalf of Princess Leonor.

Although Infanta Sofía is still a member of royalty, she does not hold the title of princess, since she is the second to be born and, therefore, is not the heir to the throne.

Before yesterday’s awards ceremony, the royals listened to the presentation of the AmplificARTE project, which is an initiative of the Princess of Girona Foundation.

The family seemed together as they all wore the color blue while concentrating intently on what was being said.

Earlier this month, Leonor and Sofía made a rare joint appearance without their parents while attending a workshop on innovation and creativity, suggesting they’re one step closer to becoming Spanish royalty.