Spain's King and Princess Leonor take to the air as the country burns
King Felipe VI and Princess Leonor share a training flight at Spain's Air Force Academy as the country faces multiple crises, fuelling debate over the monarchy.
English · Original discussion in Spanish · Published
Royal flight in a Pilatus PC-21: the image that reignites the debate over the Crown
As Spain weathers a string of economic, institutional and social crises, the Royal Household has released an image of King Felipe VI and the Princess of Asturias sharing a training flight at the Academia General del Aire (Spain's Air Force Academy). The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-21, is the same one used by cadets for their training.
Reactions were swift. Republican-leaning critics have dismissed the gesture as frivolous, while others argue it is simply part of the heir to the throne's military training. At a time when inflation, unemployment and the housing crisis dominate the public agenda, these images open a gap between the institution and the reality of the country.
How far do these images distance the Crown from the reality of ordinary citizens? The question hangs in the air, like the Pilatus in flight.
As Spain weathers a string of economic, institutional and social crises, the Royal Household has released an image of King Felipe VI and the Princess of Asturias sharing a training flight at the Academia General del Aire (Spain's Air Force Academy). The aircraft, a Pilatus PC-21, is the same one used by cadets for their training.
Reactions were swift. Republican-leaning critics have dismissed the gesture as frivolous, while others argue it is simply part of the heir to the throne's military training. At a time when inflation, unemployment and the housing crisis dominate the public agenda, these images open a gap between the institution and the reality of the country.
How far do these images distance the Crown from the reality of ordinary citizens? The question hangs in the air, like the Pilatus in flight.
Summary of a discussion on Burbuja.info - Foro de economía, actualidad y política., translated from Spanish and reviewed before publication. Read the full discussion (24 replies).
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