Brazil Carnival Photo Sparks Global Attention
According to multiple media reports, rumors of a romance involving Spain’s future queen, Princess Leonor, peaked in early 2025. The tipping point occurred in February of that year when Leonor was participating in an event in Salvador, Brazil, with her training ship. Photographer Fred Pontes captured her in an intimate moment with a young man.
The photographer described capturing a picture of the princess kissing the back of the man’s neck. Although Leonor’s security detail reportedly asked him to delete the photos, some images were still released by the Portuguese media outlet Metrópoles, quickly igniting global media attention. The man in the photo was identified as Gabriel Giacomelli, who had been previously linked to the princess.
The Rumored Beau: Gabriel, Son of a Finance Magnate
Gabriel Giacomelli is not from traditional European aristocracy, but his family background is equally distinguished. He was born in São Paulo, Brazil, to a wealthy, international family. His father, Drausio Giacomelli, is a veteran investment banker who held a senior position at Deutsche Bank. His mother, Fernanda Giacomelli, has a long career in advertising and communications.
Gabriel himself is an excellent student. After moving to Spain, he attended a top private school in Madrid before heading to the United States. He is studying International Development at New York University (NYU) and writes for the student newspaper, the Washington Square News. The media has described him as the ‘son of a banker’ and a ‘new-generation international elite’.
From UWC Atlantic College to Divergent Paths
Princess Leonor and Gabriel’s paths first crossed at UWC Atlantic College in Wales, UK. This international school, located in a historic castle and often called the ‘Hogwarts for hippies,’ brings together elite students from around the world. Between 2021 and 2023, they were classmates, completing the International Baccalaureate program together.
After graduation, their paths diverged. Princess Leonor returned to Spain to begin her three-year military training as heir to the throne, enrolling first at the General Military Academy in Zaragoza and then at the Air and Space Force General Academy in San Javier. Meanwhile, Gabriel headed to New York to start his university life in the United States. As early as the spring of 2024, Leonor was reported to have traveled to New York alone, a trip that fueled media speculation about her relationship with Gabriel at the time.
Royal Silence and Public Interpretation
In the face of widespread rumors, the Spanish Royal Household has yet to issue any public denial or official statement, vaguely defining their interaction as a ‘friendship between classmates.’ However, this customary low-key approach is widely interpreted as a form of ‘tacit approval.’
Meanwhile, Gabriel Giacomelli has maintained an extremely low profile since the story broke, not using the situation to gain attention. His social media profiles contain little personal information beyond his public resume. Analysts believe that for someone associated with the heir to the throne, this composure and discretion are significant assets. Combined with King Felipe VI’s previously demonstrated open-mindedness regarding his daughter’s social circle, the general consensus is that the Royal Family holds a liberal stance on Princess Leonor’s personal choices.
