Princess Leonor Concluded Her Stay in Brazil With Discretion Before the Press.

Princess Leonor completed her stopover in Brazil during her journey as a midshipman aboard the ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. After six days in Salvador de Bahia, she departed for Montevideo, Uruguay, where she is expected to arrive on March 5.

In the images released by the Royal House, the princess was seen participating in a floral offering at the Fort of Santa Maria in Salvador, alongside members of the Spanish Navy and the Brazilian Navy. The event commemorated the 400th anniversary of the recovery of Salvador de Bahia from Dutch hands.

A discreet stopover away from leisure

Little has been revealed about the princess's activities on land during her stay in Salvador de Bahia. Images were released of her arrival aboard Elcano and her attendance at a women's percussion batucada before having lunch with the Spanish ambassador and other authorities. The Brazilian press captured her in a square enjoying a samba performance by Olodum, a band with projects against racism, but the Royal House did not provide details about it.

This secrecy contrasts with the media exposure her father, King Felipe VI, had when he made the same journey as a midshipman in 1987. On that occasion, his stay in Brazil included visits to the beaches of Rio de Janeiro, excursions to the Iguazu Falls, and  attendance at shows in nightclubs. His farewell to the country was marked by the presence of a young Brazilian woman who, along with other friends, acted as a guide for the then prince.

A change in communication strategy

The  Royal House decided to change the communication strategy after the publication of a report linking Felipe with a Brazilian dancer. Since then, an institutional approach has been prioritized, highlighting his military trainingand his meetings with international leaders instead of his recreational activities.  This same line is maintained with Princess Leonor, whose public appearances are limited to her training as a midshipman.

During her stopover in the Canary Islands, before crossing the Atlantic, it was leaked that she had visited Teide and a restaurant in Santa Cruz de Tenerife, but Zarzuela only reported on her lunch with local authorities and her maneuvers aboard.  It is expected that in Uruguay the princess will have a meeting with government authorities, thus reinforcing the institutional nature of her trip.

Elcano's journey will continue through Punta Arenas (Chile), Valparaíso, Callao (Peru), Panama, Cartagena de Indias (Colombia), and Santo Domingo (Dominican Republic), before concluding in New York on June 5.