At the 2024 Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony, Princess Leonor offered a speech marked by the message of hope and improvement in the face of “skepticism and discouragement.” With a nod to the poetry of Joan Manuel Serrat, the princess began her speech by quoting one of the Catalan singer-songwriter’s lyrics: “Around September, before the cold arrives, they buy their ticket for the train of hope.” With this phrase, he transmitted an inspiring message addressed to both the winners and the public present at the Campoamor Theater.
The singer-songwriter and composer Joan Manuel Serrat receives the Princess of Asturias Award for the Arts from Princess Leonor, during the ceremony. Photo:
Ballesteros/EFE.
With a firm voice, Leonor dedicated some personalized words to each awardee, and in her praise she highlighted the values of effort, dedication and resilience that they represent. One of the most emotional moments of the night was the delivery of the Princess of Asturias Sports Award to badminton player Carolina Marín. The Huelva native was recognized as “the best player in the history of badminton in Spain and one of the best in the world”, as well as “a source of inspiration and transmitter of values on and off the court”.
Carolina Marín has received the Princess of Asturias accompanied by her mother. Photo: RTVE.
In her first official speech highlighting the merits of the winners, the Princess concluded with a quote from Serrat that evokes optimism and perseverance: «Fight for what you want and do not despair if something is not right. Today can be a great day and tomorrow, too. With these words, she reaffirmed the importance of finding reasons for hope in difficult times, making it clear that, as she herself said, “there is always a crack through which the light enters.”
Princess Leonor’s speech was applauded by those present and valued for its friendly tone and its connection with the spirit of the Princess of Asturias Awards, which celebrate effort and excellence in multiple disciplines worldwide.
