Princess Leonor honours Llanes fishermen at Asturias 'Pueblo Ejemplar' award ceremony

A Saturday visit to Llanes

The Spanish royal family travelled to Llanes in Asturias on Saturday, 24 October, to present the 2026 Premio al Pueblo Ejemplar de Asturias to the Cofradía de Pescadores Santa Ana. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia came with Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, and the party was received near the Sablón beach by the Asturian president, Adrián Barbón. Reports put the arrival between 12:15 and 12:30, roughly half an hour behind schedule. The crowd is described differently: LaSexta wrote of hundreds of residents waiting, while EL MUNDO referred to thousands along the route. According to El Periódico, the family arrived split across two helicopters, only hours after the Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony in Oviedo on Friday, 23 October.

The award and Leonor's speech

According to EL MUNDO, the jury cited the brotherhood's work on sustainability, innovation and solidarity, its promotion of fishing culture and its study of maritime traditions. The brotherhood dates back to around 1350, according to the same outlet. In her speech, Leonor said the brotherhood contributes to economic, hospitality and tourism development while keeping small-scale fishing traditions alive. She also pointed to its responsible management of fish stocks, the care of fishing grounds and coastal cleaning.

It is a sector that demands a great deal of sacrifice, and not only because of the hardship of work at sea, but for the wellbeing of people.

Leonor also recalled the women who walked the district with more than 20 kilos of fresh fish, often soaked and exhausted, while mending nets and sails and raising children, according to El Periódico. She linked the town to Leonor de Austria, a sister of Charles I, who came to Llanes in 1517 alongside the future emperor. Finally, she expressed solidarity with fishing brotherhoods across Spain, which see generational renewal as one of their biggest challenges.

Folklore, bands and the harbour

Folk performances came early on the route. Seventy-five residents from Llanes's three traditional bands, La Magdalena, San Roque and La Guía, showed their banners and costumes in the Plaza de Cristo Rey, and the family watched a display of El Pericote, one of the town's best-known dances, according to La Razón. At the chapel of Santa Ana, patron saint of the town's sailors, a commemorative plaque was unveiled, and the royals went inside the church, the historic seat of the fishing brotherhood, according to LaSexta. Artisans demonstrated how they make the traditional aldeano and porruano costumes. Workers from the Ballota cannery showed how Cantabrian anchovies are prepared by hand, according to El Periódico.

Boat trip, auction and a stumble

The family boarded the fishing boat Nuevo Sandra María, which La Razón described as the first time the royal family had boarded a fishing vessel. As they stepped off after a photo call, the boat moved and Queen Letizia slipped and fell backwards on the deck. Infanta Sofía helped her up, and La Razón reported that she got up quickly. LaSexta described the incident as a stumble. The group then went to the harbour fish auction, known locally as the rula, where Felipe VI bought a sea bass (lubina) and Leonor bought a golondro. The day ended with lunch with residents at the harbour, according to LaSexta.