Princess Leonor, Sofía & Rafa Nadal at Royal Reception in Marivent | The Royal Debut

Princess Leonor and Infanta Sophia took center stage on Monday evening at the annual reception hosted by the King and Queen, alongside Queen Sophia, for the authorities and representatives of Balearic civil society. The two sisters attended the event together for the very first time, an appearance that also coincided with a small stylistic revolution. For the first time ever, male guests were allowed to forego suits and ties in favor of more relaxed attire suitable for the At the express request of the King, himself a host subject to the rules, protocol was relaxed, and the invitation stated that gentlemen could wear guayabera shirts or light-colored collared shirts, no t-shirts or polos, paired with dark trousers. For female guests, little changed, as informal summer dresses were already acceptable. It was a tropical-themed evening marked by the royal family's warmth and accessibility. King Felipe wore dark trousers and a breezy white guayabera, a style he often dons at Ibero-American summits. Queen Letizia chose a white sleeveless Ibiza-style dress by designer Tony Bonet. Princess Leonor wore an off-the-shoulder blue-patterned dress on a white background from the brand Desigual, a piece her mother debuted in 2023. Infanta Sophia opted for a halterneck dress from Zara with pink-toned patterns. The Queen and her daughters all wore espadrilles. Queen Sophia, meanwhile, dressed in turquoise trousers and a matching printed blouse. This traditional reception, held annually during the royal family's stay in Mallorca, underwent its first transformation at the start of King Felipe VI's reign, when it was opened up to groups that had never been invited before. Another change came three years ago, when the usual venue, Almudena Palace, was replaced by the Gardens of Marevent Palace, the family's summer residence. The event not only welcomed a wide representation of Balearic society, but also did so in the royal family's informal home setting. In addition to Balearic and local authorities, tennis champion Rafa Nadal stood out among the guests. Recently granted the title of Marquess of Levant de Mallorca, Nadal attended solo, accompanied by former basketball player Rudy Fernandez and his wife, Helen Lindes. Also in attendance were representatives of social, business, labor, academic, artistic, and sports organizations, professional associations, tourism sector groups, and recipients of community medals of honor. There were even representatives from regulatory councils and origin designation boards. All 600 guests enjoyed Balearic wines and tapas prepared by chef Andreo Ginestra. Princess Leonor and Infanta Sophia were the evening's big novelty, attending the royal reception together for the first time. It was their official debut at this event, with Mallorca chosen as the venue, following Sophia's recent milestone of turning 18 on April 29. Unlike Leonor, who has appeared in military uniform at National Day celebrations on October 12 in Madrid for the past two years, Sophia's previous public appearances were limited to her sister's coming-of-age luncheon and the 10th anniversary celebration of King Felipe VI's proclamation. On this more relaxed occasion, the two sisters, likely the youngest guests at the reception, joined their parents and Queen Sophia in greeting attendees and later became the most sought-after figures of the night. Queen Sophia had arrived in Palma the previous Sunday specifically to attend the reception and reconnect with longtime friends and acquaintances. However, she will return to Madrid this Tuesday to continue caring for her sister, Princess Irene, whose fragile health has prevented her from traveling. For the first time in more than 60 years, even before becoming queen, the king's mother will not spend the summer at Marevent.