Princess Leonor of Spain, 17, will begin three-year military training in August

Leonor, the adolescent princess of Spain, embarks.

The future high school graduate will spend a year at the Army Military Academy in Zaragoza. He will then attend the naval school, where he will sail the famous training sailboat Juan Sebastián Elcanobefore joining the Air Force Academy.

“As in all parliamentary monarchies, (the heir) has to have a military background and a military career,” Defense Minister Margarita Robles said. “In time, the commander-in-chief of the armed forces will be a woman, and in recent years we have been making a very important effort to incorporate women into the armed forces.”

“It is an essential step in the life of His Royal Highness … towards the leadership of our country,” added Robles.

Leonor, known as Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, is the eldest daughter of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. She will become head of state when her father steps down or dies, unless a male heir is born.

King Felipe also spent a year at each of Spain’s military academies in the 1980s. He assumed the throne in 2014 after his father, Juan Carlos, abdicated amid various financial scandals.

Leonor, who turns 18 in October, will begin her training in August after graduating from UWC Atlantic College in Wales. At a press conference Tuesday, Robles said the princess could study for college degrees after completing his training.

“Princess Leonor knows the demands and sacrifices that military life entails and is well aware of the honor of training and serving alongside the men and women of our Armed Forces.” King Felipe said in a statement.

“Military education provides a very complete and adequate technical and human training to guarantee the commitment of permanent service to Spanish society,” he added.