Princess of Asturias Awards 2025, live: last hour of the ceremony, with King Felipe VI in tears when mentioning Princess Leonor

King Felipe VI recognizes during his speech that “it is up to him to give space” to Princess Leonor, his daughter, through tears.

During Princess Leonor’s speech, in which she takes over from her father, King Felipe VI, she urges “returning to the essentials” with “respect for those who think differently” as her flag. Furthermore, he defined democracy “in the face of intolerance” and human rights.

In one of the most anticipated moments of the ceremony, Princess Leonor begins her speech by remembering the words of the economist Mario Draghiin 2012, during the rescue of Europe. Continues with recognition as an athlete and entrepreneur of the tennis player Serena Williamswho also values ​​her close bond with her sister, tennis player Venus Williams.

The princess, who is giving the Awards speech for the first time, goes on to mention the great discoveries in the scientific field of Mary-Claire Kingwho was unable to attend the ceremony. In the area of ​​harmony, it exalts the value of National Museum of Anthropology and the Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide. His words continue with the professor and sociologist Douglas Masseywho recognizes the work of humanizing migration with data. Finally, he mentions the linguistic wealth of the Barcelona chronicler par excellence, Eduardo Mendozaand the reflection of the philosopher Byung-Chul Han.

The speech of Princess Leonor begins, who takes the revelation from her father, King Felipe VI, in one of the most anticipated moments of the gala.

The economist Mario Draghi, who played a fundamental role in the rescue of Europe in 2012, urges the Member States of the European Union to unite to fight against the tensions to which the Union is subject. “The world has changed and Europe is struggling to respond,” she said in her speech at the Princess of Asturias Awards gala, adding that “almost all the principles on which the European Union was founded are under tension.”

During his appearance, he also recognized that “a new pragmatic federalism is the only way” for Europe. “This would allow us to act on the scale of other global powers,” he observes. Draghi ends his speech and mentions that “a Europe that refuses to be trampled” is where the Union must go.

Few people in Spain have not heard of Eduardo Mendoza. The writer, author of well-known works as The truth about the Savolta case either No news from Gurb received this Friday the Princess of Asturias Award for Literature 2025a recognition of a career that spans half a century of dedication to narrative.

The Mexican photographer Graciela Iturbide, Princess of Asturias Award in Arts, acknowledges that she does not feel like owner of her images, although her photographs “are already part of the Mexican imagination.” The most recognized part of his works portrays the indigenous world of Mexico, he recalls in his speech, which has allowed him to travel and get to know a large part of his country.

In his words, he has had space to remember the Spanish intellectuals exiled to Mexico due to the Spanish civil war, among them, the filmmaker Luis Buñuel. “Photography deals with time,” says Iturbide, since “life cannot be captured by realism, only by dreams or imagination.”

The sociologist Douglas Massey and the economist Mario Draghi receive the 2025 Princess of Asturias Awards in Social Sciences and International Cooperation, respectively.

American tennis player Serena Williams receives the Princess of Asturias Sports Award from Princess Leonor. In previous editions, King Felipe VI was in charge of awarding the prizes to the winners.

The winners begin to receive the Princess of Asturias Awards in the 45th edition. Eduardo Mendoza and Graciela Iturbide are the first to be presented.