Princess Leonor was rejected by football star Gavi, or so say rumors swirling around the royal grapevine, as new reports suggest the young heir is still pining after the knockback in the middle of the royal mayhem.
The scandal, which comes in the wake of Spain’s victory, has cast Leonor as a lovesick princess, with critics bitterly complaining that such antics are not up to royal standards.
The saga kicked off in 2022, when King Felipe VI allegedly asked Gavi for a signed jersey for Leonor, and rumors started circulating about her crush.
Gavi, 20, has reportedly repeatedly rebuffed any attempts to woo her, staying true to his girlfriend, Ana Pelayo, according to sources.
“Leonor was heartbroken, but she’s still obsessed,” one insider claimed, adding that the princess has reportedly been spotted showing off Gavi’s pictures at school.
The princess, who is destined to become Spain’s queen, was forced to agree to a public handshake with Gavi at a palace event in an indication that her feelings might not have faded.
Social media went into meltdown, with #LeonorLovesGavi trending on X. Cynics slammed her perseverance as unreal, with one user raging, “A princess chasing a footballer?
It’s undignified!” sponsors, but partisans on her side defend her age, insisting, “She’s 19—cut her some slack!” The scandal has dinged Leonor’s poised profile, as detractors have criticized the actions she has taken to undermine the dignity of the royal house.
Insiders say Leonor, privately traumatized by the scandal, is now under pressure to concentrate on her military training and royal duties. And Gavi, meanwhile, stays quiet, keeps it to himself, and sticks to his career.
The Spanish royal family has declined to comment, but the drama threatens to overshadow Leonor’s rise. Will she gracefully weather this public humiliation or stoke the royal soap opera?
For now, this love that was not returned is gripping Spain, mixing in passion, spurned love, and regal obligations.
