Do you want to learn more about the Spanish royal family? Many books could be written (and have been written) about its rich history: the House of Bourbon (or House of Bourbons) has been rising and falling from the throne of European power since the 1700s. Although the Bourbons experienced some turmoil in the 20th century – Spain was embroiled in a brutal civil war in the 1930s and they were forced into exile – with the death of dictator Francisco Franco in 1975, the Zarzuela family returned to the palace once again. The new Bourbon king, Juan Carlos I, helped transform the country into a stable democracy with the king serving as head of state – and nearly 50 years later, the Spanish monarchy remains strong.
Here’s information on the main members of the Spanish royal family.
King Felipe VI
King Felipe VI is the current king and head of state of Spain. He is the third child and only son of Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain. He ascended the Spanish throne in 2014 after Juan Carlos abdicated.
For decades before his coronation, the Spanish people called him the Prince of Asturias. The prince was an accomplished sailor and was a member of the Spanish national team at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. He also spent several years training with the Spanish Navy and Air Force.
In 2003, he announced his engagement to TV host Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. They married in May 2004 at the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.
During his reign, Felipe adopted a more progressive monarchy: for example, he and Letizia were the first Spanish kings to welcome LGBTQ people into the palace. He also revealed information about his personal wealth in response to controversy over the royal family’s finances.
Queen Letizia
Wife of King Felipe VI and the current Queen of Spain. Before joining the royal family, she was the anchor of Spain’s most-watched news program, Teledario 2. She was also briefly married to a high school English teacher from 1998 to 1999.
In 2003, the Spanish Royal Palace announced that Felipe had proposed to Letizia with a baguette engagement ring studded with 16 diamonds. This surprised the Spanish public, who had no idea that the heir to the throne was in a serious relationship. Two years later, she gave birth to their first daughter, Leonor. Their second daughter, Sofia, was born in 2007.
Leonor, Princess of Asturias
The eldest son of Felipe and Letizia and the legal heir to the Spanish throne. On 31 October 2003, her 18th birthday, the Crown Princess publicly pledged allegiance to her country. She promised: “I will faithfully perform my duties, defend and obey the Constitution and the laws, respect the rights of citizens and autonomous regions, and be loyal to the King.”
Currently, she is studying at the Military Academy of Zaragoza, Spain. The first day of her three-year military training was widely covered by cameras and many praised her mature decision to actively prepare to become Spain’s head of state. It is being said that after graduation from the military academy, she will study law.
According to Spanish websites, King Felipe’s eldest daughter and heir to the Spanish throne is the most popular member of the royal family (even more so than her father).
Princess Sofia
Princess Sophia is a title given to the daughter of a reigning monarch who is not the heir apparent, similar to the British “Princess Royal.” Currently, 17-year-old Sophia is studying at UWC Atlantic, an International Baccalaureate school in Wales, England. She hopes to enroll in college next fall.
King Juan Carlos I
Father of King Felipe and “honorary king” of Spain. Born in 1938, when his family was in exile in Italy due to the Spanish Civil War, he was gradually brought back into Spanish government by dictator Francisco Franco: in 1969, Franco proposed a law to Congress naming Juan Carlos the future king of Spain. According to this law, after Franco’s death in 1975, Juan Carlos formally ascended the throne and helped Spain achieve democratic change.
He remained popular throughout most of his reign. However, he faced several scandals in the 2010s. In 2013, he faced criticism over an elephant safari in Botswana and a corruption case involving his daughter Christina. He decided to step down in favor of his son in 2014 due to health problems. Five years later, he faced charges of tax fraud.
Queen Mother Sofia
Wife of Juan Carlos. Born into the Greek royal family, she spent most of her life in exile after Germany invaded Greece during World War II. She met her Spanish third cousin Juan Carlos while sailing in the Greek Islands in 1954. They were married in Athens eight years later. They have three children: Princess Elena, Princess Cristina, and King Felipe VI.
The 85-year-old Queen Mother still occasionally appears alongside her son at official royal events.
