| Felipe VI | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Felipe VI in 2024 | |||||
| King of Spain | |||||
| Reign | 19 June 2014 – present | ||||
| Enthronement | 19 June 2014 | ||||
| Predecessor | Juan Carlos I | ||||
| Heir presumptive | Leonor, Princess of Asturias | ||||
| Born | 30 January 1968 Madrid, Spain | ||||
| Spouse | |||||
| Issue | |||||
| |||||
| House | Bourbon[1][a] | ||||
| Father | Juan Carlos I | ||||
| Mother | Sophia of Greece and Denmark | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholicism | ||||
| Signature |  | ||||
| Military career | |||||
| Allegiance | Spain | ||||
| Service | Spanish Army Spanish Air Force Spanish Navy | ||||
| Years of service | 1986–2014[b] | ||||
| Rank | Captain general (See list) | ||||
| Spanish royal family |
|---|
 |
|
Extended royal family
Children of the late Duchess of Badajoz:
The Duchess of Soria and Hernani
|
Felipe VI (Spanish: [feˈlipe ˈseksto];[c] Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is King of Spain. In accordance with the Spanish Constitution, as monarch, he is head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces, holding the military rank of captain general,[3][4] and also plays the role of the supreme representation of Spain in international relations.[3][4]
Felipe was born in Madrid during the dictatorship of Francisco Franco as the third child and only son of Prince Juan Carlos of Spain and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark. Felipe was officially created Prince of Asturias in 1977, two years after his father became king. Felipe was formally proclaimed as prince in 1986. He was also made honorary soldier of the Spanish Army at the age of 9. Felipe was educated at Santa María de los Rosales School and went to Lakefield College School in Canada. Later, he studied law at the Autonomous University of Madrid and he obtained a Master of Science in Foreign Service degree from the School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C.
To prepare for his future role as commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, Felipe joined the Spanish Army in 1985. During the next two years, he completed his military training in the Navy and Air Force. After completing his civil and military studies, he undertook official duties representing his father in different social and institutional events, such as chairing charity foundations or attending inaugurations of Latin American leaders. At one of these events with the press, Felipe met TV news journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, whom he married in 2004. They have two daughters, Leonor and Sofía.
Felipe ascended the throne on 19 June 2014 upon the abdication of his father.[5][6][7] His reign has been marked by his condemnation of the Catalan independence referendum that led to the 2017–18 Spanish constitutional crisis, the COVID-19 pandemic, and moves towards greater transparency in royal affairs. According to a poll conducted in 2020, Felipe has moderately high approval ratings.[8]
- ^ "His Majesty the King Juan Carlos". The Royal Household of His Majesty the King. Archived from the original on 18 February 2011.
- ^ e.g. New Statesman Archived 7 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ a b (in Spanish) Título II. De la Corona Archived 25 January 2010 at the Wayback Machine. Es.wikisource.org. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
- ^ 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.
El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, símbolo de su unidad y permanencia, arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones, asume la más alta representación del Estado español en las relaciones internacionales, especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histórica, y ejerce las funciones que le atribuyen expresamente la Constitución y las leyes - ^ "Felipe takes over as king of Spain". BBC News. 18 June 2014. Archived from the original on 22 June 2018. Retrieved 22 June 2018.
- ^ Govan, Fiona (13 June 2014). "Spain will have two kings and two queens". The Telegraph. Archived from the original on 11 January 2022. Retrieved 14 June 2014.
- ^ Garea, Fernando; Fabra, María (3 June 2014). "Coronation of Prince Felipe to take place on June 18". El Pais. Archived from the original on 26 December 2018. Retrieved 4 June 2014.
- ^ Bickerstaff, Isaac (26 April 2022). "Spanish king reveals his wealth for the first time". Tatler. Archived from the original on 20 December 2022. Retrieved 20 December 2022.
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