This is the adorable moment Queen Letizia and Princess of Leonor threw royal protocol to the wind as they were reunited after months apart. 

The Spanish royals were reunited at the Port of Fuerte Amador in Panama City on Saturday morning, after Letizia flew more than 8,000 miles across the globe to see her beloved daughter. 

Princess Leonor, 19, who is heir to the Spanish throne, has been away from her family and friends as she embarks on a navy training course around the world. 

She and her mother Letizia had not seen each other since January, when she set sail aboard the Juan Sebastian de Elcano.

Moving video footage from the Spanish Royal Household captured the moment they were finally reunited, with Leonor running across the port to greet her mother. 

She was soon embraced in an effusive hug that was so powerful that Leonor had to take her hat off, while the Queen had tears in her eyes. 

They were then pictured excitedly catching up, as Leonor, who previously graduated from UWC Atlantic in South Wales, has been on a whirlwind adventure. 

Letizia’s visit to Panama was an unofficial trip, sources at Zarzuela Palace told Spain’s Hola! Magazine.

This is the adorable moment Queen Letizia and Princess of Leonor threw royal protocol to the wind as they were reunited after months apart

Leonor ran across the port in Panama City to greet her mother, who had flown more than 8,000km

And their moving reunion was made all the more special – as this weekend Mother’s Day is celebrated in Spain. 

While Leonor was smartly kitted out in her naval uniform, her mother had chosen to wear matching shades of white in casual jeans, T-shirt and white trainers. 

For the Crown Princess’s training cruise, she is sailing through two oceans, and visiting 10 ports and eight countries in America, according to La Vanguardia.

She will stay in her stopover in Panama until May 6, where she’s been enjoying exploring. 

The Princess of Asturias, as she is also known, participated in a visit to Panama Viejo, took a short walk to the Cathedral Tower and visited several rooms of the Museum (of Panama Viejo), which has a commemorative plaque of the visit of His Majesty the King 2019. 

Her Royal Highness and the Queen participated in the reception on board that traditionally takes place and had lunch at the El Nacional restaurant in the old town in Panama. 

Leonor has so far been to Peru, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. She is soon due to pass through Colombia and the Dominican Republic, before concluding her journey in New York. 

The 19-year-old has been serving on the ‘Juan Sebastián de Elcano’ as a first midshipman. 

The Queen of Spain appeared tearful when she finally saw her daughter again after spending months apart

The hug was so effusive that Leonor had to hold onto her hat 

Spanish Crown Princess Leonor is greeted by her mother Spain’s Queen Letizia after disembarking from the Spanish Navy training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano

The Princess of Asturias has been sailing around the world on a naval training cruise

Letizia’s visit to Panama was an unofficial trip, sources at Zarzuela Palace told Spain’s Hola! Magazine

Leonor is due to be docked in Panama until May 6, when she will resume her journey

And their moving reunion was made all the more special – as this weekend Mother’s Day is celebrated in Spain

Letizia’s welcome marked the first visit the heir to the throne has received from family and loved ones since she set sail on January 11, when she set sail in Cadiz. 

Meanwhile, her parents smiled and waved goodbye, while King Felipe documented the milestone by snapping photographs of Leonor. 

She is following in the footsteps of her father, Felipe, and her grandfather, King Juan Carlos, who also carried out a similar trip.

Leonor – who began three years of military training in 2023 – looked just the part in her navy uniform. 

As she is the heir to the throne, Leonor will one day take the title of Commander in Chief of the armed forces, alongside being the Queen of Spain.

She therefore has to spend three years in each section of defence and has already  spent a year at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza.

Last month, Leonor enjoyed a break from naval training as she took a dip in the sea at a sunny spot in Uruguay. 

The future queen was aboard the training ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano when she enjoyed well-earned time off with her fellow midshipmen.

The mother and daughter were seen laughing as they caught up after spending months apart

After disembarking the ship, Letizia put her arm around her daughter as they walked together at the Amador Terminal Cruise

Leonor was beaming as she caught sight of her mother after disembarking 

Spain’s Princess of Asturias, Leonor de Borbon (2-L) waves from the Spanish Navy training ship Juan Sebastian de Elcano in Panama City

Leonor is clearly following in her mother Queen Letizia ‘s footsteps, who is known for her style prowess

Leonor was joined by Letizia in bright red to attend a reception onboard during the stopover

Queen Letizia looked stunning in a bright red jumpsuit for the occasion

Leonor looked sensational in a bikini and sunglasses as she opted for a natural look with her hair tied up and no make-up.

Showing off her style, the Princess of Asturias later changed into flip flops, shorts and a white T-shirt as she slung a trendy tote bag over her shoulder as she was joined by a mystery man.

Alongside her fellow naval trainee, Leonor wondered through the beaches La Mulata near Montevideo, which was half an hour from the hotel where the royal was staying.

The royal then went for a swim before heading before heading to a shopping centre.

Leonor is clearly following in her mother Queen Letizia’s footsteps, who is known for her style prowess.

She spent a year with the Spanish army before training to be a marine and will then move onto her final rotation at the General Air Academy.