Felipe VI of Spain

6/24/2014 Felipe VI of Spain - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felipe_VI_of_Spain 1/9
Felipe VI
Felipe in 2012
King of Spain (more)
Reign 19 June 2014 present
Enthronement 19 June 2014
Predecessor Juan Carlos I
Heir presumptive Leonor
Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy
Spouse Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (2004
present)
Issue Leonor, Princess of Asturias
Infanta Sofa
Full name
Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de
Borbn y Grecia
House
House of Bourbon
[1][2]
Father Juan Carlos I of Spain
Mother Sophia of Greece and Denmark
Born 30 January 1968
Madrid, Spain
Religion Roman Catholicism
Felipe VI of Spain
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Felipe VI (Spanish pronunciation: [felipe];
[a]
born 30 January
1968) is the King of Spain, having succeeded to the throne
on 19 June 2014 on the abdication of his father, King Juan
Carlos I.
[4][5][6]
As heir apparent to the throne, he previously
bore the title of Prince of Asturias, and worked to support
philanthropic causes and to promote international fellowship
among Spanish-speaking countries.
In accordance with the Spanish Constitution, as monarch, he
is head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish
Armed Forces,
[7][8]
and also plays a role in promoting
relations with Ibero-America, the "nations of its historical
community".
[7][8]
He is married to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano,
with whom he has two daughters, Leonor and Sofa. Leonor,
the elder, is his heir presumptive.
Contents
1 Birth and early life
2 Activities in Spain and abroad
3 Participation in the Olympics
4 Family
4.1 Marriage and children
5 Social work
6 Reign
7 Titles, styles, honours and arms
7.1 Arms
8 Ancestry
9 See also
10 Notes
11 References
12 External links
Birth and early life
Spanish Royal Family
HM The King
HM The Queen
HRH The Princess of Asturias
HRH Infanta Sofa
HM King Juan Carlos I
HM Queen Sofa
HRH The Duchess of Lugo
HE Don Felipe
HE Doa Victoria
HRH The Duchess of Palma de
Mallorca
HE The Duke of Palma de Mallorca
HE Don Juan
HE Don Pablo
HE Don Miguel
HE Doa Irene
HRH The Duchess of Badajoz
HE Doa Simoneta
HE The Viscount de la Torre
HE Don Bruno
HE Don Luis
HE Don Fernando
HRH The Duchess of Soria and Hernani
HE The Duke of Soria and Hernani
HE Don Alfonso
HE Doa Mara
Felipe was born in Madrid,
[9]
the third child and only son of
Infante Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sofia of Greece and
Denmark.
[10]
His full baptismal name, Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso
de Todos los Santos, consists of the names of the first Bourbon
King of Spain (Philip V), his grandfathers (Infante Juan of Spain
and King Paul of Greece), his great-grandfather King Alfonso
XIII of Spain, and of All the Saints (de Todos los Santos) as is
customary among the Bourbons.
[11]
His godparents were his
paternal grandfather Juan and his paternal great-grandmother,
Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain.
[9][11]
Shortly after his birth he
was styled infante, although his father was not yet king. A couple
of months before his eighth birthday, the ruling dictator General
Francisco Franco died, and his father ascended the throne. In his
first official appearance, Felipe attended his father's proclamation
as king on 22 November 1975.
[10]
Felipe was formally created Prince of Asturias, along with the
subsidiary titles of Prince of Girona and Prince of Viana, on 22
January 1977. On 1 November the same year, he was
ceremonially installed as Prince of Asturias in Covadonga.
[11]
In
1981 Felipe received the Collar of the Order of the Golden
Fleece from his father, the Chief and Sovereign of the Order.
[11]
On 30 January 1986, at the age of 18, Felipe swore allegiance to
the Constitution and to the King in the Spanish Parliament, fully
accepting his constitutional role as successor to the Crown.
[10]
Activities in Spain and abroad
Felipe attended school at Santa Maria de los Rosales,
[10]
a
modern school where he could fit in without special treatment,
which his daughters currently attend. Felipe attended high school
at Lakefield College School in Ontario, Canada, and studied at
the Autonomous University of Madrid, where he graduated with a
degree in Law; he also completed several courses in
Economics.
[11]
He completed his academic studies by obtaining a
Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from the Edmund A.
Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University,
where he was the roommate of his cousin, Crown Prince Pavlos
of Greece.
[12]
Felipe undertook his constitutional duties assiduously as heir to the
throne, hosting many official events in Spain and participating in all
events of different sectors and aspects of Spanish public life as
required. Since October 1995, Felipe has represented Spain on a
series of official visits to the Spanish Autonomous Communities,
HRH The Dowager Duchess of Calabria
HRH The Duke of Calabria
HRH The Duchess of Calabria
starting with Valencia,
[10]
during which he made contact with
Spaniards from all walks of life. Felipe has held regular meetings
with constitutional bodies and state institutions keeping up-to-date
with their activities.
[11]
He also attends meetings of the various
bodies of the Central Administration and of the Autonomous
Communities as required by his national and international
constitutional obligations. Felipe has welcomed as many public
and private audiences as possible to maintain Crown interaction in national and international affairs. In particular, he
has held meetings with people of his generation who have built successful careers in political, economic, cultural and
media circles. As part of his military training, Felipe trained as a military helicopter pilot.
[11]
On occasions when
King Juan Carlos was unable to attend, Felipe presided over the annual presentation of dispatches to officers and
non-commissioned officers in the Armed Forces as well as participating in military exercises held by the three
Armed Services.
[11]
Felipe has made many official visits to Europe and Latin America, as well as to countries in the Arab World, the
Far East, and Australia, maintaining a special interest in all matters relating to the European Union, Latin America,
the Middle East and North Africa. Since January 1996, Felipe has represented the Spanish State at many Latin
American presidents' inauguration ceremonies.
[11]
As Prince, he visited every country in Latin America except
Cuba, and made over 200 foreign trips in total.
[13]
Felipe has also played a very active role in promoting Spain's
economic, commercial and cultural interests and the Spanish language abroad. He frequently represents Spain at
world economic and trade events (e.g. Expotecnia, Expoconsumo, and Expohabitat), and is especially interested in
promoting the creation of Centres and University Chairs to advance the study of Spain both historically and in the
present-day at major foreign universities.
Following the 11 March 2004 Madrid bombings, Felipe, along with his sisters Elena and Cristina, took part in a
public demonstration.
[10]
Felipe speaks Spanish, Catalan, French, English and some Greek.
[14]
Participation in the Olympics
Felipe was a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team at the Barcelona Games in 1992. Both his mother and
uncle were on the Greek sailing team at the 1960 Olympics (his mother being selected as a substitute), and Felipe's
father and sister were also Olympic sailors for Spain.
[15]
Felipe took part in the opening ceremony as the Spanish
team's flag bearer. The Spanish crew finished in sixth place in the Soling class and obtained an Olympic
Diploma.
[16]
Family
Marriage and children
Felipe's bachelor years were a source of interest to the Spanish press for several years. His name was linked with
several eligible women, but only two notable girlfriends: Spanish noblewoman Isabel Sartorius, around 1989 to
1991, daughter of Vicente Sartorius y Cabeza de Vaca, who was viewed unfavourably by the Royal Family due to
Felipe and Letizia at the wedding of
Victoria, Crown Princess of Sweden,
and Daniel Westling, in Stockholm,
2010
Felipe VI is sworn in at the Cortes
Generales, 19 June 2014
her mother's cocaine addiction,
[17]
and Norwegian model Eva Sannum, who modelled underwear.
[18]
When Felipe
finally began a serious relationship, nothing was suspected before the official announcement of the Prince's
engagement on 1 November 2003 to Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, an award-winning television journalist formerly with
CNN who had been married previously. The couple were married on the
morning of 22 May 2004 in the Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, with
members of several European royal families present.
[10]
The wedding
was broadcast globally with over 25 million watching on television in
Spain alone.
Felipe and Letizia have two daughters: Leonor, Princess of Asturias,
born on 31 October 2005, and Infanta Sofa, born on 29 April 2007.
[10]
Social work
In addition to his official activities, Felipe serves as Honorary President of
several associations and foundations, such as the Imperial Munitions
Board, which finances economic and social development in Ibero-
America and other countries,
[11]
and the Spanish branch of the
Association of European Journalists, comprising outstanding
communications professionals. Most noteworthy is the Prncipe de
Asturias Foundation, where he presides annually at the international
awards ceremony of the highly prestigious Prince of Asturias Awards
bearing his name.
[19][20]
Felipe was appointed a "UN-Eminent Person" by UN Secretary General Kofi Annan in 2001, during its
International Year of Volunteers,
[21]
and continues to make contributions internationally towards enhancing the
importance of voluntary work.
Reign
On 2 June 2014, Juan Carlos announced his intent to abdicate in Felipe's
favour. Since the Constitution of Spain did not provide a specific
mechanism for abdication and royal succession, the Spanish Cabinet
began deliberations on an organic law to regulate Felipe's succession on
3 June. The law had to be passed by a majority of all members of the
Congress of Deputies, the lower house of the Cortes Generales
(Parliament). According to Jesus Posada, the President of the Congress
of Deputies, Felipe could have been proclaimed king as early as 18
June.
[22]
On 4 June, El Pais of Madrid reported that Felipe would
indeed be proclaimed king on 18 June.
[6]
Felipe ascended the throne at the stroke of midnight on 19 June; his
father had signed the formal instrument of abdication just hours earlier.
[4]
The next morning, after receiving the royal
sash from his father, he was formally enthroned in a low-key ceremony held in the Cortes. He swore to uphold the
Constitution before formally being proclaimed king by Posada.
[23]
Upon his accession, he became the youngest
monarch in Europe, being nine months younger than King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
As king, Felipe has fairly extensive reserve powers on paper. He is the guardian of the Constitution, responsible for
ensuring it is obeyed. While he is nominally chief executive, it is expected that he will follow his father's practice of
taking a mostly ceremonial and representative role, acting largely on the advice of the government. He indicated as
much in a speech to the Cortes on the day of his enthronement, saying that he would be "a loyal head of state who
is ready to listen and understand, warn and advise as well as to defend the public interest at all times". He also
called for the people to join him in building "a new Spain".
[23]
Titles, styles, honours and arms
30 January 1968 22 January 1977: His Royal Highness The Infante Felipe of Spain
22 January 1977 18 June 2014: His Royal Highness The Prince of Asturias
in former Crown of Aragon territories: 22 January 1977 19 June 2014: His Royal Highness
The Prince of Girona
in former Kingdom of Navarre territories: 22 January 1977 19 June 2014: His Royal
Highness The Prince of Viana
19 June 2014 present: His Majesty The King
Though Juan Carlos held no official title or post in Spain, Felipe was registered in the Civil Registry as Infante when
he was born, with the style of Royal Highness. About a year later, General Franco recognised Juan Carlos as the
future successor to the headship of state and bestowed upon him the title of Prince of Spain. Thus, Felipe became
second-in-line in the line of succession to the vacant throne. Juan Carlos became king in 1975, but no title was
conferred on Felipe as heir apparent until 2 January 1977, when he was created Prince of Asturias, the title
normally held by the heir to the Spanish throne, by a Royal Decree which also entitled him to use "the other
historical titles corresponding to the heir of the Crown".
[24]
Legally granted in 1977, Felipe started using the
Aragonese-Catalan title of Prince of Girona publicly on 21 April 1990, during a trip around Aragon, Catalonia and
Valencia, becoming the first Bourbon to use this title.
[25]
Later, he did the same thing with the Princedom of Viana
in Navarre, and the titles of Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer in their respective places.
Upon ascending the throne, Felipe assumed the same titles held by his father.
Arms
Ancestry
See also
Line of succession to the Spanish throne
List of honours of the Spanish Royal Family by country
Notes
References
a. ^ Most English-language media refer to the king as Felipe VI, although a few sources have rendered his name as
Philip VI
[3]
. In the languages of Spain, his name is:
Aragonese, Asturian, Spanish: Felipe VI
Basque: Filipe VI.a
Catalan: Felip VI
Galician: Filipe VI
1. ^ "His Majesty the King Juan Carlos"
(http://web.archive.org/web/20110218175811/http://www.casareal.es/sm_rey/index-iden-idweb.html). The Royal
Household of His Majesty the King. Archived from the original (http://www.casareal.es/sm_rey/index-iden-
idweb.html) on 18 February 2011.
2. ^ The English-language version of the Official Royal Family website is rendered as Borbon while in Spanish it is
rendered as Borbn. In English, the house is traditionally called House of Bourbon.
3. ^ e.g. New Statesman (http://www.newstatesman.com/sport/2014/06/why-world-cup-not-reliable-political-football)
4. ^
a

b
"Felipe takes over as king of Spain" (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-27916036). BBC News. 18
June 2014.
5. ^ Govan, Fiona (13 June 2014). "Spain will have two kings and two queens"
(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10898873/Spain-will-have-two-kings-and-two-
queens.html). The Telegraph. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
6. ^
a

b
Garea, Fernando; Fabra, Mara (3 June 2014). "Coronation of Prince Felipe to take place on June 18"
(http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/03/inenglish/1401790263_581257.html). El Pais.
7. ^
a

b
(Spanish) Ttulo II. De la Corona
(http://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1978:_04). Es.wikisource.org. Retrieved
on 21 June 2014.
8. ^
a

b
Title II, Article 56, Subsection 1, Text:
The King is the Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence. He arbitrates and moderates the regular
functioning of the institutions, assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State in international relations,
especially with the nations of its historical community, and exercises the functions expressly conferred on him by
the Constitution and the laws
El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, smbolo de su unidad y permanencia, arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de
las instituciones, asume la ms alta representacin del Estado espaol en las relaciones internacionales,
especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histrica, y ejerce las funciones que le atribuyen expresamente la
Constitucin y las leyes
9. ^
a

b
"Don Felipe de Borbn, principe de Asturias"
(http://elpais.com/diario/1977/01/22/espana/222735634_850215.html) (in Spanish). El Pais. 22 January 1977.
Retrieved 20 June 2014.
10. ^
a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h
"Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de Espaa Actividades y Agenda Hitos ms importantes de Su
10. ^
a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h
"Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de Espaa Actividades y Agenda Hitos ms importantes de Su
Alteza Real el Prncipe de Asturias"
(http://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=12022) (in Spanish).
Casareal.es. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
11. ^
a

b

c

d

e

f

g

h

i

j
"Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de Espaa S.M. el Rey Don Felipe VI"
(http://www.casareal.es/ES/FamiliaReal/ReyFelipe/Paginas/principe_biografia.aspx) (in Spanish). Casareal.es.
12. ^ Eilers, Marlene (1997) Queen Victoria's Daughters. Rosvall Royal Books, Falkoping, Sweden. ISBN 91-630-
5964-9
13. ^ "King Felipe VI gets to work by holding first meeting with PM"
(http://elpais.com/elpais/2014/06/20/inenglish/1403271329_706340.html). El Pais. 20 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June
2014.
14. ^ "Barcelona A Viewer's Guid: The Sports; Felipe Hoists Flag for Spain
(http://www.nytimes.com/1992/07/19/sports/barcelona-a-viewers-guide-the-sports-felipe-hoists-flag-for-
spain.html)." The New York Times (19 July 1992). Retrieved on 21 June 2014.
15. ^ Felipe, Crown Prince de Borbn (http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/de/felipe-crown-prince-de-
borbon-1.html). Sports-reference.com. Retrieved on 21 June 2014.
16. ^ Cuys, Rom (1992). Official Report of the Games of the XXV Olympiad Barcelona 1992, Volume V The
Results (http://la84foundation.org/6oic/OfficialReports/1992/1992s5.pdf) (PDF). Plaa de la Font Mgica, s/n
08038 Barcelonal: COOB'92 S.A. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
17. ^ (Spanish) Isabel Sartorius se desnuda en un libro de memorias: Mi madre me mandaba a comprar cocana
(http://www.lavanguardia.com/gente/20120221/54258820340/isabel-sartorius-mi-madre-me-mandaba-comprar-
cocaina.html). www.lavanguardia.com (21 February 2012). Retrieved on 21 June 2014.
18. ^ (Spanish) Eva Sannum, as es su vida quince aos despus (http://www.diezminutos.es/famosos-
corazon/famosos-extranjeros/eva-sannumquince-anos-despues-de-su-amor-con-el-principe-felipe).
www.diezminutos.es (4 October 2012). Retrieved on 21 June 2014.
19. ^ Fundacin Prncipe de Asturias
(http://www.casareal.es/ES/FamiliaReal/ReyFelipe/Paginas/principe_fundacion_1.aspx). casareal.es
20. ^ Premios Prncipe de Asturias Fundacin Prncipe de Asturias (http://www.fpa.es/es/premios-principe-de-
asturias/). Fpa.es. Retrieved on 21 June 2014.
21. ^ "Marking End Of International Year Of Volunteers, General Assembly Encourages All People To Become More
Engaged In Voluntary Activities" (http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs/2001/GA9990.doc.htm). Un.org. 2001.
22. ^ "Spanish politicians lay out abdication timetable" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27672997). BBC
News. 3 June 2014.
23. ^
a

b
"King Felipe VI calls for 'new Spain' as he is sworn in" (http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-27918094).
BBC News. 19 June 2014.
24. ^ Boletn Oficial del Estado: no. 19, p. 1542 (http://www.boe.es/aeboe/consultas/bases_datos/doc.php?id=BOE-
A-1977-1909), 22 January 1977. (Spanish)
25. ^ Bada, Juan Ferrano. Dictamen sobre el ttulo de Prncipe de Gerona (http://cvc.gva.es/archivos/17.pdf) (PDF),
Cultural Council of the Autonomous Community of Valencia, 1990. (Spanish)
26. ^ (Spanish) Royal Cadency of Spain-Standards (http://blogdeheraldica.blogspot.com.es/2010/11/aportacion-en-
External links
Profile on the official website of the Spanish Monarchy
(http://www.casareal.es/ES/FamiliaReal/ReyFelipe/Paginas/subhome.aspx) (Spanish)
Prince of Asturias Foundation (http://www.fundacionprincipedeasturias.org/esp/index.html)
Biography of Felipe VI of Spain by CIDOB
(http://www.cidob.org/es/documentacion/biografias_lideres_politicos/europa/espana/felipe_vi_de_espana)
Felipe VI of Spain
House of Bourbon
Cadet branch of the Capetian dynasty
Born: 30 January 1968
Regnal titles
Preceded by
Juan Carlos
King of Spain
2014present
Incumbent
Heiress presumptive:
Leonor, Princess of Asturias
Spanish royalty
Vacant
Title last held by
Alfonso of Bourbon
Prince of Asturias
Prince of Viana
19772014
Succeeded by
Leonor of Bourbon
Vacant
Title last held by
Charles of Austria
Prince of Girona, Duke of
Montblanc,
Count of Cervera, Lord of Balaguer
19902014
Olympic Games
Preceded by
Infanta Cristina
Flagbearer for Spain
Barcelona 1992
Succeeded by
Luis Doreste
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Felipe_VI_of_Spain&oldid=614216672"
Categories: Spanish monarchs Roman Catholic monarchs Counts of Cervera Dukes of Montblanc
Georgetown University alumni House of Bourbon (Spain) Royal Olympic participants
Sailors at the 1992 Summer Olympics Soling Olympic sailors of Spain Lords of Balaguer
Princes of Asturias Princes of Girona Princes of Viana Spanish infantes Spanish people of Danish descent
Spanish people of German descent Spanish people of Greek descent Spanish people of Russian descent
Lakefield College School alumni Autonomous University of Madrid alumni
26. ^ (Spanish) Royal Cadency of Spain-Standards (http://blogdeheraldica.blogspot.com.es/2010/11/aportacion-en-
torno-las-armas-de-la.html). Blog de Herldica 1 November 2010. (Retrieved 10 October 2012)
27. ^ "Felipe VI ya cuenta con escudo y guin propios" [Felipe VI has his own coat of arms and guindon]
(http://www.heraldo.es/noticias/nacional/2014/06/19/felipe_cuenta_con_escudo_guion_propios_294797_305.html).
www.heraldo.es (in Spanish). 19 June 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2014.
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service alumni 20th-century Roman Catholics
20th-century Spanish people 21st-century Roman Catholics 21st-century Spanish people
Nobility from Madrid 1968 births Living people
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