Felipe, Prince of Asturias
Encyclopedia
Felipe, Prince of Asturias (feˈlipe, baptised as Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos (et omnes sancti) de Borbón y de Grecia; born 30 January 1968), is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía of Spain.
As heir apparent
to the Spanish throne
he bears the official titles of Prince of Asturias
, Prince of Girona
, Prince of Viana
, Duke of Montblanc
, Count of Cervera
and Lord of Balaguer
.
. His birth, after that of his two sisters, the infantas Elena and Cristina, ensured a male successor to the Spanish throne. His full name is Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y de Grecia. The symbolic names given at his christening
, by the Archbishop of Madrid
Casimiro Morcillo González included the names of the first Bourbon to reign in Spain; his grandfathers (Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Paul of Greece
); his great-grandfather King Alfonso XIII of Spain
; and All Saints (Todos los Santos or et omnes sancti) as is customary among the Bourbons. At the time of his birth he was titled as Infante of Spain, as his father was not yet King and Felipe was not yet heir apparent. His godparents were his grandfather Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and his great-grandmother Queen Victoria Eugenia.
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 institutional role as successor to the Crown
.
in Ontario, Canada, and studied in the Autonomous University of Madrid
, where he earned a degree in Law. He also completed several courses on economics. 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
. Felipe has fulfilled his institutional commitments in his capacity as Heir to the Crown, chaired many official events in Spain, and participated in key events in different sectors and aspects of Spanish public life. Since October 1995, Felipe has made a series of official visits to the Spanish Autonomous Communities with a view to gaining in-depth knowledge of Spain and making contact with other Spaniards. Felipe holds regular meetings with constitutional bodies and the main state institutions in order to keep in touch with their activities. He also attends meetings of the various bodies of the Central Administration and of the Autonomous Communities as required by his national and international institutional activities. Felipe grants public and private audiences to a large number of people with a view to receiving up-to-date information on national and international affairs. In particular, he holds meetings with people close to his own generation with outstanding careers in political, economic, cultural and media circles. When King Juan Carlos is unable to attend, Felipe presides over the annual presentation of dispatches to Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces and participates in military exercises held by the three services.
He has made many official visits to European countries and to Latin America, as well as to countries in the Arab world
, the Far East, and Australia. He shows special interest in all matters related to the European Union
, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. Since January 1996, Felipe has represented the Spanish State at the swearing-in ceremonies for several Latin American Presidents. Felipe has also played a very active role in the promotion of Spain's economic and commercial interests and of Spanish language and culture in foreign countries. He frequently presides at economic and trade fairs held by Spain abroad (Expotecnia, Expoconsumo, and Expohabitat), and is especially interested in promoting the creation of Centres and University Chairs to disseminate the history and current situation of Spain in major foreign universities.
Gregarious and outgoing, Felipe speaks Spanish, Catalan
, French, English and some Greek
.
Felipe was a member of the Olympic sailing team at the Barcelona Games
in 1992, which recalled his mother's and uncle's position on the Greek sailing team in 1960. He also took part in the opening ceremony as the Spanish team's flag bearer. He finished in sixth position in the Soling class
and obtained an Olympic Diploma.
, an award-winning television journalist formerly with CNN
, was proclaimed. Despite the fact she had been civilly married and then divorced, the public generally approved of Letizia since she represented the modern woman—independent, cultured, and accomplished in her profession. The couple married on the morning of 22 May 2004 in the Almudena Cathedral
in Madrid, with members of several European royal families
attending. Ortiz had previously been married to Alonso Guerrero, a teacher and author; they were divorced in 1999. The wedding was watched by more than 25 million television viewers in Spain alone, and was broadcast throughout the world. Letizia Ortiz then gained the title HRH The Princess of Asturias, but is often referred to as Princess Letizia. On 8 May 2005, the Spanish Royal House announced that the couple were expecting their first child in November.
On 25 September 2006, the Royal House announced that the couple were expecting their second baby in May 2007. On 28 November 2006, it was revealed that the child would be a girl.
Felipe is godfather to at least seven children: prince Konstantinos-Alexios of Greece, son of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
; prince Ernst August of Hannover, son of prince Ernst August of Hannover; Luis Felipe Gómez-Acebo y Ponte, the son of his cousin, Beltrán (son of Infanta Pilar); Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón
, son of his sister infanta Cristina; Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
, daughter of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
; Prince Vincent of Denmark
, second son of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
, and Princess Sofia of Bulgaria, daughter of Prince Konstantin of Bulgaria
. In turn, Konstantin is godfather to Felipe's daughter, Sofía.
Within the framework of these institutions which work towards aims of general interest, Felipe focuses his interest on activities in the fields of development projects, voluntary work, the environment
, universities, the integration of young people in the workplace and business, relations between business circles and society and social communication.
On the occasion of the United Nations declaration of 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers, the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan
, named Felipe an "Eminent Person" so that he could contribute on an international level towards enhancing the importance of voluntary workers.
When Felipe was born, his father did not have any official title or post in Spain, but he was registered in the Civil Registry
as Infante, with the style of Royal Highness. About a year after his birth, General Franco
recognized Juan Carlos as successor to the Headship of State and bestowed 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 to 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".
Rarely used, the Prince's style and title in full is: His Royal Highness the Most Serene Infante Don Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia, Prince of Asturias, Girona and Viana, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer. Although legally warranted since 1977, Felipe started to use in public the Aragonese-Catalan title of Prince of Girona
on 21 April 1990, during a trip around Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia, becoming the first Bourbon to use this title. 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 appropriate places. If Prince Felipe succeeds to the throne and uses his first given name as his regnal name
, he would be known as Philip VI.
Foreign Honours Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Merit of Chile
Knight Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Grand Officer of the Order of the Cedar Knight of the Band of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Lakandula
Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz
Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
Grand Officer (1996) later Grand Cross (2006) of the Order of the Tower and Sword
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Knight of the Order of the Seraphim
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As heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
to the Spanish throne
Spanish monarchy
The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as The Crown and commonly referred to as the Spanish monarchy or Hispanic Monarchy, is a constitutional institution and an historic office of Spain...
he bears the official titles of Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
, Prince of Girona
Prince of Girona
The title of Prince of Girona is one of the titles given to the heir apparent to the Crown of Aragon. It originated in 1351 when King Peter IV of Aragon named his successor, to whom he conceded the title of Duke of Girona; the title embraced territories of the counties of Girona, Besalú, Empúries...
, Prince of Viana
Prince of Viana
The Prince of Viana is one of the titles of the heir of the Crown of Spain. Other associated titles originate from the rest of the kingdoms that formed Spain: Prince of Asturias, Prince of Girona, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer....
, Duke of Montblanc
Montblanc, Tarragona
Montblanc s the capital of the Catalan comarca Conca de Barberà, in the Spanish province of Tarragona.The Prades Mountains are located in the vicinity of this municipality.-History:The area around Montblanc has been inhabited for thousands of years...
, Count of Cervera
Cervera
Cervera is the capital of the comarca of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain. The title Compte de Cervera is a courtesy title, formerly part of the Crown of Aragon, that has been revived for Felipe, Prince of Asturias....
and Lord of Balaguer
Balaguer
Balaguer is the capital of the comarca of Noguera, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia, Spain.It is located by the river Segre, a tributary to the Ebre....
.
Birth and early life
Felipe was born in MadridMadrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
. His birth, after that of his two sisters, the infantas Elena and Cristina, ensured a male successor to the Spanish throne. His full name is Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y de Grecia. The symbolic names given at his christening
Infant baptism
Infant baptism is the practice of baptising infants or young children. In theological discussions, the practice is sometimes referred to as paedobaptism or pedobaptism from the Greek pais meaning "child." The practice is sometimes contrasted with what is called "believer's baptism", or...
, by the Archbishop of Madrid
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madrid was founded on 7 March 1885 by Pope Leo XIII. Initially, the territory that now makes up the Archdiocese was part of the Archdiocese of Toledo. It was raised to the level of an Archdiocese on 25 March 1964 by Pope Paul VI. Pope John Paul II gave the...
Casimiro Morcillo González included the names of the first Bourbon to reign in Spain; his grandfathers (Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and Paul of Greece
Paul of Greece
Paul reigned as King of Greece from 1947 to 1964.-Family and early life:Paul was born in Athens, the third son of King Constantine I of Greece and his wife, Princess Sophia of Prussia. He was trained as a naval officer....
); his great-grandfather King Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII of Spain
Alfonso XIII was King of Spain from 1886 until 1931. His mother, Maria Christina of Austria, was appointed regent during his minority...
; and All Saints (Todos los Santos or et omnes sancti) as is customary among the Bourbons. At the time of his birth he was titled as Infante of Spain, as his father was not yet King and Felipe was not yet heir apparent. His godparents were his grandfather Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona and his great-grandmother Queen Victoria Eugenia.
On 30 January 1986, at the age of 18, Felipe swore allegiance to the Constitution
Spanish Constitution of 1978
-Structure of the State:The Constitution recognizes the existence of nationalities and regions . Preliminary Title As a result, Spain is now composed entirely of 17 Autonomous Communities and two autonomous cities with varying degrees of autonomy, to the extent that, even though the Constitution...
and to the King in the Spanish Parliament
Cortes Generales
The Cortes Generales is the legislature of Spain. It is a bicameral parliament, composed of the Congress of Deputies and the Senate . The Cortes has power to enact any law and to amend the constitution...
, fully accepting his institutional role as successor to the Crown
The Crown
The Crown is a corporation sole that in the Commonwealth realms and any provincial or state sub-divisions thereof represents the legal embodiment of governance, whether executive, legislative, or judicial...
.
Activities in Spain and abroad
Felipe started school at Santa Maria de los Rosales, a modern day school where he could fit in without special treatment. Felipe attended high school at Lakefield College SchoolLakefield College School
Lakefield College School is a coeducational boarding school located north of the village of Lakefield, Ontario, Canada.The school's motto is Mens Sana In Corpore Sano...
in Ontario, Canada, and studied in the Autonomous University of Madrid
Autonomous University of Madrid
The Autonomous University of Madrid is one of the top university of Spain and commonly known by its Spanish initials UAM or as "la Autónoma"...
, where he earned a degree in Law. He also completed several courses on economics. He completed his academic studies by obtaining a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service
The Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
at Georgetown University
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
, where he was the roommate of his cousin, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, is the eldest son and heir apparent of Constantine II, who was King of Greece from 1964 to 1973....
. Felipe has fulfilled his institutional commitments in his capacity as Heir to the Crown, chaired many official events in Spain, and participated in key events in different sectors and aspects of Spanish public life. Since October 1995, Felipe has made a series of official visits to the Spanish Autonomous Communities with a view to gaining in-depth knowledge of Spain and making contact with other Spaniards. Felipe holds regular meetings with constitutional bodies and the main state institutions in order to keep in touch with their activities. He also attends meetings of the various bodies of the Central Administration and of the Autonomous Communities as required by his national and international institutional activities. Felipe grants public and private audiences to a large number of people with a view to receiving up-to-date information on national and international affairs. In particular, he holds meetings with people close to his own generation with outstanding careers in political, economic, cultural and media circles. When King Juan Carlos is unable to attend, Felipe presides over the annual presentation of dispatches to Officers and Non-Commissioned Officers of the Armed Forces and participates in military exercises held by the three services.
Arab world
The Arab world refers to Arabic-speaking states, territories and populations in North Africa, Western Asia and elsewhere.The standard definition of the Arab world comprises the 22 states and territories of the Arab League stretching from the Atlantic Ocean in the west to the Arabian Sea in the...
, the Far East, and Australia. He shows special interest in all matters related to the European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
, the Middle East, North Africa, and Latin America. Since January 1996, Felipe has represented the Spanish State at the swearing-in ceremonies for several Latin American Presidents. Felipe has also played a very active role in the promotion of Spain's economic and commercial interests and of Spanish language and culture in foreign countries. He frequently presides at economic and trade fairs held by Spain abroad (Expotecnia, Expoconsumo, and Expohabitat), and is especially interested in promoting the creation of Centres and University Chairs to disseminate the history and current situation of Spain in major foreign universities.
Gregarious and outgoing, Felipe speaks Spanish, Catalan
Catalan language
Catalan is a Romance language, the national and only official language of Andorra and a co-official language in the Spanish autonomous communities of Catalonia, the Balearic Islands and Valencian Community, where it is known as Valencian , as well as in the city of Alghero, on the Italian island...
, French, English and some Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
.
Participation in the Olympics
1992 Summer Olympics
The 1992 Summer Olympic Games, officially known as the Games of the XXV Olympiad, were an international multi-sport event celebrated in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain, in 1992. The International Olympic Committee voted in 1986 to separate the Summer and Winter Games, which had been held in the same...
in 1992, which recalled his mother's and uncle's position on the Greek sailing team in 1960. He also took part in the opening ceremony as the Spanish team's flag bearer. He finished in sixth position in the Soling class
Soling
A Soling is a class of open keelboat designed by Jan Linge of Norway in 1965. In 1968, it was chosen from among many other boats to be the men's triple-handed boat for the 1972 Olympics...
and obtained an Olympic Diploma.
Marriage and children
The bachelorhood of Felipe was an issue in the Spanish press for several years. His name was linked with several eligible women, but only two with any conviction: Spanish noblewoman Isabel Sartorius, who was not viewed favorably by the Royal Family due to her being three years older than he was and having divorced parents; and Norwegian model Eva Sannum, who had modeled underwear, something favored by neither the Spanish people nor the Royal Family. When Felipe finally began a serious relationship, nothing was suspected before the official announcement. On 1 November 2003 the Prince's engagement to Letizia Ortiz RocasolanoLetizia, Princess of Asturias
Letizia, Princess of Asturias , is the wife of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, the heir apparent to the Spanish throne...
, an award-winning television journalist formerly with CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
, was proclaimed. Despite the fact she had been civilly married and then divorced, the public generally approved of Letizia since she represented the modern woman—independent, cultured, and accomplished in her profession. The couple married on the morning of 22 May 2004 in the Almudena Cathedral
Catedral de la Almudena
Santa María la Real de La Almudena is a Catholic cathedral in Madrid.When the capital of Spain was transferred from Toledo to Madrid in 1561, the seat of the Church in Spain remained in Toledo; so the new capital – unusually for a Catholic country – had no cathedral...
in Madrid, with members of several European royal families
Royal family
A royal family is the extended family of a king or queen regnant. The term imperial family appropriately describes the extended family of an emperor or empress, while the terms "ducal family", "grand ducal family" or "princely family" are more appropriate to describe the relatives of a reigning...
attending. Ortiz had previously been married to Alonso Guerrero, a teacher and author; they were divorced in 1999. The wedding was watched by more than 25 million television viewers in Spain alone, and was broadcast throughout the world. Letizia Ortiz then gained the title HRH The Princess of Asturias, but is often referred to as Princess Letizia. On 8 May 2005, the Spanish Royal House announced that the couple were expecting their first child in November.
- HRH Infanta Leonor de Todos los Santos of SpainInfanta Leonor of SpainThe Infanta Leonor of Spain is the first child of Felipe, Prince of Asturias, and his wife Letizia. Her father has no sons and she is thus second in the line of succession to the Spanish throne after her father...
, was born on 31 October 2005 at 2.35 am weighing 3500 grams and measuring 47 cm. She is the second in the succession to King Juan Carlos after Prince Felipe.
On 25 September 2006, the Royal House announced that the couple were expecting their second baby in May 2007. On 28 November 2006, it was revealed that the child would be a girl.
- HRH Infanta Sofía de Todos los Santos of SpainInfanta Sofía of SpainThe Infanta Sofía of Spain is the second child of Felipe, Prince of Asturias and his wife Princess Letizia. As the daughter of the heir-apparent to the throne, she is styled and titled Her Royal Highness, Infanta of Spain...
was born on 29 April 2007 at 16.50 pm weighing 3100 grams and measuring 50 cm. She is the third in the succession to King Juan Carlos after her father and older sister.
Felipe is godfather to at least seven children: prince Konstantinos-Alexios of Greece, son of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece
Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, is the eldest son and heir apparent of Constantine II, who was King of Greece from 1964 to 1973....
; prince Ernst August of Hannover, son of prince Ernst August of Hannover; Luis Felipe Gómez-Acebo y Ponte, the son of his cousin, Beltrán (son of Infanta Pilar); Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón
Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón
Don Miguel de Todos los Santos Urdangarín y de Borbón is a member of the Spanish Royal Family, the third son of the Duchess and Duke of Palma de Mallorca, Infanta Cristina of Spain and Iñaki Urdangarín. Miguel is tenth in the line of succession to the Spanish Throne, after his mother and two older...
, son of his sister infanta Cristina; Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway
Princess Ingrid Alexandra of Norway is the daughter of Crown Prince Haakon of Norway and second in the line of succession to the Norwegian throne.-Biography:...
, daughter of Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway
Haakon, Crown Prince of Norway is the heir apparent to the throne of Norway. On birth he was named Prince Haakon Magnus but it was stressed in the announcement that he would go by the name Haakon. He became Crown Prince Haakon when his father ascended to the crown as Harald V in 1991...
; Prince Vincent of Denmark
Prince Vincent of Denmark
Prince Vincent Frederik Minik Alexander of Denmark, Count of Monpezat , is a member of the Danish Royal Family. He is the third child and youngest son of Crown Prince Frederik and his wife, the Australian-born Crown Princess Mary. He is also the sixth grandchild and youngest grandson of Queen...
, second son of Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark
Frederik, Crown Prince of Denmark, Count of Monpezat, is the heir apparent to the throne of Denmark. Frederik is the elder son of Queen Margrethe II and Henrik, the Prince Consort.-Name and christening:...
, and Princess Sofia of Bulgaria, daughter of Prince Konstantin of Bulgaria
Konstantin-Assen, Prince of Vidin
Konstantin-Assen, Prince of Vidin, Duke of Saxony , is the fourth son of Tsar Simeon II of Bulgaria and his wife Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela. He is known also as Konstantin-Assen of Bulgaria and Konstantin-Assen of Vidin, the latter being the title of the fourth son of Bulgarian kings...
. In turn, Konstantin is godfather to Felipe's daughter, Sofía.
Public protest
After the 11 March 2004, Madrid bombings, Felipe, along with his sisters Elena and Cristina, became the first members of the Spanish royal family ever to take part in a public protest.Social work
In addition to his official activities, Felipe is Honorary President of several associations and foundations , such as the Imperial Munitions Board, which finances specific economic and social development activities in Ibero-America and other countries, and the Spanish branch of the Association of European Journalists, which is composed of outstanding communications professionals. Most noteworthy is the Príncipe de Asturias Foundation, where he presides annually the Awards ceremony of these highly prestigious Awards, at the international level, that carry his name.Within the framework of these institutions which work towards aims of general interest, Felipe focuses his interest on activities in the fields of development projects, voluntary work, the environment
Environment (biophysical)
The biophysical environment is the combined modeling of the physical environment and the biological life forms within the environment, and includes all variables, parameters as well as conditions and modes inside the Earth's biosphere. The biophysical environment can be divided into two categories:...
, universities, the integration of young people in the workplace and business, relations between business circles and society and social communication.
On the occasion of the United Nations declaration of 2001 as the International Year of Volunteers, the UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan
Kofi Annan
Kofi Atta Annan is a Ghanaian diplomat who served as the seventh Secretary-General of the UN from 1 January 1997 to 31 December 2006...
, named Felipe an "Eminent Person" so that he could contribute on an international level towards enhancing the importance of voluntary workers.
Titles and styles
- 30 January 1968 – 22 January 1977: His Royal Highness The Infante Felipe of Spain
- 22 January 1977 – present: His Royal Highness The Prince of Asturias
- in Catalonia: 22 January 1977present: His Royal Highness The Prince of Girona
- in Navarre: 22 January 1977present: His Royal Highness The Prince of Viana
When Felipe was born, his father did not have any official title or post in Spain, but he was registered in the Civil Registry
Civil registry
Civil registration is the system by which a government records the vital events of its citizens and residents. The resulting repository or database is called civil register or registry, or population registry. The primary purpose of civil registration is to create legal documents that are used to...
as Infante, with the style of Royal Highness. About a year after his birth, General Franco
Francisco Franco
Francisco Franco y Bahamonde was a Spanish general, dictator and head of state of Spain from October 1936 , and de facto regent of the nominally restored Kingdom of Spain from 1947 until his death in November, 1975...
recognized Juan Carlos as successor to the Headship of State and bestowed 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 to Felipe as heir apparent
Heir apparent
An heir apparent or heiress apparent is a person who is first in line of succession and cannot be displaced from inheriting, except by a change in the rules of succession....
until 2 January 1977, when he was created
Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias
Prince of Asturias is the historical title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Kingdom of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía...
, 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".
Rarely used, the Prince's style and title in full is: His Royal Highness the Most Serene Infante Don Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia, Prince of Asturias, Girona and Viana, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer. Although legally warranted since 1977, Felipe started to use in public the Aragonese-Catalan title of Prince of Girona
Prince of Girona
The title of Prince of Girona is one of the titles given to the heir apparent to the Crown of Aragon. It originated in 1351 when King Peter IV of Aragon named his successor, to whom he conceded the title of Duke of Girona; the title embraced territories of the counties of Girona, Besalú, Empúries...
on 21 April 1990, during a trip around Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia, becoming the first Bourbon to use this title. Later, he did the same thing with the Princedom of Viana
Prince of Viana
The Prince of Viana is one of the titles of the heir of the Crown of Spain. Other associated titles originate from the rest of the kingdoms that formed Spain: Prince of Asturias, Prince of Girona, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer....
in Navarre, and the titles of Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera
Count of Cervera
The title Count of Cervera is currently held by Felipe, Prince of Asturias, heir to Juan Carlos of Spain. Cervera is the capital of the comarca of Segarra, in the province of Lleida, Catalonia...
and Lord of Balaguer
Lord of Balaguer
The Lord of Balaguer is a title of the Spanish Crown. specifically represents the Heir to the Kingdom of Mallorca, a part of the Crown of Aragon.-Evolution:...
in their appropriate places. If Prince Felipe succeeds to the throne and uses his first given name as his regnal name
Regnal name
A regnal name, or reign name, is a formal name used by some monarchs and popes during their reigns. Since medieval times, monarchs have frequently chosen to use a name different from their own personal name when they inherit a throne....
, he would be known as Philip VI.
Military ranks
1 August 19857 July 1986: Officer CadetOfficer CadetOfficer cadet is a rank held by military and merchant navy cadets during their training to become commissioned officers and merchant navy officers, respectively. The term officer trainee is used interchangeably in some countries...
, Spanish ArmySpanish ArmyThe Spanish Army is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies - dating back to the 15th century.-Introduction:...- 7 July 19867 July 1989: Cadet 2nd Lieutenant, Spanish Army
10 July 19867 July 1989: MidshipmanMidshipmanA midshipman is an officer cadet, or a commissioned officer of the lowest rank, in the Royal Navy, United States Navy, and many Commonwealth navies. Commonwealth countries which use the rank include Australia, New Zealand, South Africa, India, Pakistan, Singapore, Sri Lanka and Kenya...
, Spanish NavySpanish NavyThe Spanish Navy is the maritime branch of the Spanish Armed Forces, one of the oldest active naval forces in the world. The Armada is responsible for notable achievements in world history such as the discovery of Americas, the first world circumnavigation, and the discovery of a maritime path...
10 July 19877 July 1989: Cadet 2nd LieutenantCadetA cadet is a trainee to become an officer in the military, often a person who is a junior trainee. The term comes from the term "cadet" for younger sons of a noble family.- Military context :...
, Spanish Air ForceSpanish Air Force-The early stages:Hot air balloons had been used with military purposes in Spain as far back as 1896. In 1905, with the help of Alfredo Kindelán, Leonardo Torres y Quevedo directed the construction of the first Spanish dirigible in the Army Military Aerostatics Service, created in 1896 and located...- 7 July 19891 December 2000: Lieutenant, Spanish Army
- 7 July 19891 December 2000: EnsignEnsign (rank)Ensign is a junior rank of a commissioned officer in the armed forces of some countries, normally in the infantry or navy. As the junior officer in an infantry regiment was traditionally the carrier of the ensign flag, the rank itself acquired the name....
, Spanish Navy - 7 July 19891 December 2000: Lieutenant, Spanish Air Force
- 1 December 20003 July 2009: CommandantCommandant (rank)Commandant is a military or police rank. In the French, Spanish and Irish armed forces it is a rank equivalent to major. In South Africa for most of the second half of the 20th century, commandant was a rank equivalent to lieutenant-colonel in other countries.-Ireland:Commandant is a military...
, Spanish Army - 1 December 20003 July 2009: Corvette CaptainCorvette CaptainCorvette captain is a rank in many navies which theoretically corresponds to command of a corvette . The equivalent rank in the United Kingdom, Commonwealth and USA is lieutenant commander...
, Spanish Navy - 1 December 2000 3 July 2009: CommandantCommandant (rank)Commandant is a military or police rank. In the French, Spanish and Irish armed forces it is a rank equivalent to major. In South Africa for most of the second half of the 20th century, commandant was a rank equivalent to lieutenant-colonel in other countries.-Ireland:Commandant is a military...
, Spanish Air Force - 3 July 2009present: Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, Spanish Army - 3 July 2009present: Frigate CaptainFrigate CaptainFrigate captain is a naval rank in the naval forces of several countries.It is, usually, equivalent to the Commonwealth/US Navy rank of commander.Countries using this rank include Argentina and Spain , France , Belgium , Italy ,...
, Spanish Navy - 3 July 2009present: Lieutenant ColonelLieutenant colonelLieutenant colonel is a rank of commissioned officer in the armies and most marine forces and some air forces of the world, typically ranking above a major and below a colonel. The rank of lieutenant colonel is often shortened to simply "colonel" in conversation and in unofficial correspondence...
, Spanish Air Force
Honours
Appointments- 3 May 1981: Knight of the Order of the Golden FleeceOrder of the Golden FleeceThe Order of the Golden Fleece is an order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip III, Duke of Burgundy in 1430, to celebrate his marriage to the Portuguese princess Infanta Isabella of Portugal, daughter of King John I of Portugal. It evolved as one of the most prestigious orders in Europe...
(1,182nd Knight) - 24 January 1986: Knight of the Collar of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III
- 7 July 1986: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Military Merit, with white distinctive
- 13 July 1987: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Naval Merit, with white distinctive
- 4 July 1988: Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Aeronautical Merit, with white distinctive
- 30 April 1999: Knight Grand Cross of the Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild
Foreign Honours Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Merit of Chile
Order of the Merit of Chile
The Order of the Merit of Chile is a Chilean military decoration and was created in 1929. Succeeding the Medal of the Merit, it was created during the term of the President Germán Riesco through the Minister of War decree No. 1350 on September 4, 1906...
Knight Grand Cross of the Legion of Honour Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Merit of the Italian Republic
Italian orders of merit
There are five orders of knighthood awarded in recognition of service to the Italian Republic. Below these sit a number of other decorations, associated and otherwise, that do not confer knighthoods...
Grand Officer of the Order of the Cedar Knight of the Band of the Order of the Aztec Eagle
Order of the Aztec Eagle
The Order of the Aztec Eagle is a Mexican order and is the highest decoration awarded to foreigners in the country.It was created by decree on December 29, 1933 by President Abelardo L. Rodríguez as a reward to services given to Mexico or humankind by foreigners...
Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav
The Royal Norwegian Order of St. Olav is a Norwegian order of chivalry that was instituted by King Oscar I of Norway and Sweden on August 21, 1847, as a distinctly Norwegian order. It is named after King Olav II, known for posterity as St. Olav. Nobility was abolished in Norway in 1821...
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Vasco Núñez de Balboa Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Sun Knight Grand Cross of the Order of Lakandula
Order of Lakandula
The Order of Lakandula is one of the highest honors given by the Republic of the Philippines. It is an order of political and civic merit, awarded in memory of Lakandula’s dedication to the responsibilities of leadership, prudence, fortitude, courage and resolve in the service of one’s people.Its...
Grand Cross of the Order of Aviz
Order of Aviz
The Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1910 Royal Military Order of Aviz , previously to 1789 Order of Saint Benedict of Aviz , previously Knights of St. Benedict of Aviz or Friars of Santa Maria of Évora, is a Portuguese Order of Chivalry...
Grand Cross of the Order of Christ (Portugal)
Order of Christ (Portugal)
The Military Order of Christ previously the Royal Order of the Knights of Our Lord Jesus Christ was the heritage of the Knights Templar in Portugal, after the suppression of the Templars in 1312...
Grand Officer (1996) later Grand Cross (2006) of the Order of the Tower and Sword
Order of the Tower and Sword
The Military Order of the Tower and of the Sword, of Valour, Loyalty and Merit is a Portuguese order of knighthood and the pinnacle of the Portuguese honours system. It was created by King Afonso V in 1459....
Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Star of Romania
Order of the Star of Romania
The Order of the Star of Romania is Romania's highest civil order. It is awarded by the President of Romania...
Knight of the Order of the Seraphim
Order of the Seraphim
The Royal Order of the Seraphim is a Swedish Royal order of chivalry created by King Frederick I of Sweden on 23 February 1748, together with the Order of the Sword and the Order of the Polar Star...
- Knight Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian OrderRoyal Victorian OrderThe Royal Victorian Order is a dynastic order of knighthood and a house order of chivalry recognising distinguished personal service to the order's Sovereign, the reigning monarch of the Commonwealth realms, any members of her family, or any of her viceroys...
Arms
Before 2001, The Prince used this coat of arms unofficially, as it is done now when in Catalonia or Navarre, where a different version of his arms is used, as Prince of Girona and Prince of Viana respectively. It is likely that these arms will also be some day adopted officially, i.e. via Royal Decree.| Heraldry of Felipe, Prince of Asturias | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coat of arms as Prince of Girona | Coat of arms as Prince of Viana | Coat of arms as Duke of Montblanc | Coat of arms as Count of Cervera | Coat of arms as Lord of Balaguer |
Ancestry
See also
- Prince of Asturias AwardsPrince of Asturias AwardsThe Prince of Asturias Awards are a series of annual prizes awarded in Spain by the Prince of Asturias Foundation to individuals, entities or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, and public affairs....
- Coat of arms of the Prince of AsturiasCoat of arms of the Prince of AsturiasThe blazon of the coat of arms of the Prince of Asturias appears in Royal Decree 284 of 16 March 2001, whereby His Guidon and His Standard are created.QUARTERED SHIELD:...
- Standard of the Prince of AsturiasRoyal Standard of SpainThe Royal Standard of Spain is the official flag of the King of Spain. The present design is regulated by Title II, Rule 2, of Spanish Royal Decree 1511 of 21 January, 1977, whereby the Rules for Flags, Standards, Guidons, Banners and Badges are adopted.The Royal Standard of Spain consists of a...
- Line of succession to the Spanish ThroneLine of succession to the Spanish ThroneSpain uses the system of primogeniture. Male children succeed before female, and otherwise in order of age. If descent from male children does not exist , a female and her heirs succeed. Dynasts who marry against the express prohibition of the king or the Cortes are excluded from the succession...
- List of titles and honours of Felipe, Prince of Asturias
- Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign ServiceEdmund A. Walsh School of Foreign ServiceThe Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service is a school within Georgetown University in Washington, D.C., United States. Jesuit priest Edmund A...
External links
- The Spanish Monarchy
- Prince of Asturias Foundation
- Royal House of Spain
- The Ancestry of Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano (b. 1972)
- Prince of Asturias Family Tree
- The title of Prince of Asturias (in Spanish)
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