Royal fashion fans, there’s a newcomer on the block: Princess Leonor. On her 18th birthday today, the future Queen of Spain attended a ceremony in Madrid where she pledged allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. For the occasion, she wore a striking white pantsuit, which is not only a royal favorite but also has a hidden meaning.
White symbolizes the women’s suffrage movement of the early 20th century. In the US, women first gained the right to vote in 1920, and Spain followed more than a decade later in 1931. Many prominent women have chosen to wear white during historical moments. For example, Vice President Kamala Harris wore a white pantsuit when she became the first female vice president, and the same goes for Hillary Clinton when she became America’s first female presidential candidate. Meanwhile, when Princess Leonor finally takes the throne, she will be the first queen of her country since Isabella II’s reign ended in 1868. Scroll down to see what she wore for the momentous occasion and revisit other royal white pantsuits.