Joshua Bennett
The Spanish Royal Family, currently consisting of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, and the former king's parents, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, is a part of the Catholic religion and attends various church services. The current king's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church. The Spanish monarchy is constitutionally referred to as 'The Crown' and plays a ceremonial function, with the king having no authority over the church, unlike in the United Kingdom. The Catholic Monarchs, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, united two important kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula and were responsible for the religious unification of the peninsula through militant Catholicism, establishing the Spanish Inquisition to prevent converts from reverting to their old faiths.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Current Members | King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, Infanta Sofía, King Juan Carlos I, Queen Sofía |
| Residence | Royal Palace of Madrid, Palace of Zarzuela |
| Religion | Catholic |
| Duties | Ceremonial functions, charity work, meeting foreign dignitaries, requesting victorious parties to form a government after an election |
| Address | "His Majesty" and "Her Majesty" instead of the traditional "Catholic Majesty" |
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What You'll Learn
The current Spanish royal family
The Spanish monarchy, also referred to as The Crown (La Corona in Spanish), is currently led by King Felipe VI, who ascended the throne in 2014. The king is the head of state and a symbol of Spain's unity and permanence. He enjoys absolute sovereign immunity and cannot be charged in any court of law in the country. The current royal family includes King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, and the former king and queen, Juan Carlos I and Sofía.
King Felipe VI was born on 30 January 1968 and is the only son of Juan Carlos I and Sofía. He became heir apparent in 1975 and was named Prince of Asturias in 1977. He married Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano in 2004. Princess Leonor, the elder daughter, is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne since her father's accession in 2014. She was born on 31 October 2005. Infanta Sofía, the younger daughter, was born on 29 April 2007.
Juan Carlos I is the former king of Spain, reigning from 1975 to 2014. He was born on 5 January 1938 and is the grandson of King Alfonso XIII. He married Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark in 1962 and had three children with her. He is credited with overseeing Spain's transition from dictatorship to democracy and guiding the country into the 21st century. However, he abdicated in 2014 following controversies surrounding an elephant hunting trip, his relationship with his mistress, his daughter's embezzlement scandal, and his own financial dealings.
The Spanish royal family plays a ceremonial function and is involved with charitable causes and cultural events. They are also often patrons of non-profit charitable, cultural, or religious organisations, both within and outside Spain. The family has a lineage with the British royal family, as both King Felipe VI and Queen Elizabeth II are descendants of Queen Victoria of England.
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The family's Catholic faith
The Spanish Royal Family is Catholic, as are the majority of citizens in Spain. The current monarch, King Felipe VI, and his daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, have all been confirmed into the Catholic Church. The family attends various church services.
Historically, the Catholic Monarchs of Spain, Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon, were responsible for the religious unification of the peninsula around Catholicism. They established the Spanish Inquisition to ensure that Jews and Muslims who had converted to Christianity did not revert to their previous faiths. This was done with the support of Pope Sixtus IV, who issued a bull in 1478 to establish a Holy Office of the Inquisition in Castile.
The Catholic Monarchs were also responsible for financing the expedition of three caravels captained by Christopher Columbus in 1492, which resulted in the discovery of America and the extension of their power to overseas territories. This marked the beginning of the Spanish Empire, which left a legacy of language and religion that still persists today.
In modern times, the Spanish Royal Family is mostly concerned with charitable causes and meeting foreign dignitaries. While the family remains Catholic, King Felipe has reportedly begun to slowly separate the religious life of the family from the state.
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Historical context: the Catholic Monarchs
The Catholic Monarchs, Queen Isabella I of Castile and King Ferdinand II of Aragon, are known for their joint rule that marked the unification of Spain. They were both from the House of Trastámara and second cousins, requiring a papal dispensation from Sixtus IV to marry. Their marriage in 1469 united the two kingdoms, leading to the beginnings of modern Spain.
Isabella and Ferdinand ruled independently, and their kingdoms retained their own regional laws and governments for the next two centuries. The Catholic Monarchs set out to restore royal authority in Spain, creating the Spanish Inquisition in 1478 to ensure that individuals converting to Christianity did not revert to their old faiths. They also established the Council of Castile, which was intended to be the central governing body of Castile, excluding the old nobility from exercising power.
The Catholic Monarchs' reign was characterised by the religious unification of the Iberian Peninsula through militant Catholicism. They began the Granada War (1482-92), aided by Pope Sixtus IV, which ended with the fall of Granada in 1492. Isabella and Ferdinand then pursued policies of religious unification, including the expulsion of Jews who refused to convert to Christianity. They were officially bestowed the title of "Catholic King and Queen" by Pope Alexander VI in 1494, in recognition of their defence of Catholicism within their realms.
The Catholic Monarchs also extended their dominion to all the kingdoms of the Iberian Peninsula. They created the Royal Council to establish a more uniform judicial system and appointed magistrates to run the towns and cities. Their reign marked the de facto unification of Spain, and most scholars agree that this unification can be traced back to their marriage.
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The family's role in modern Spain
The Spanish Royal Family, led by King Felipe VI, plays a largely ceremonial role in modern Spain. The family is a symbol of Spain's unity and permanence, and the monarch is the commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces, sanctioning laws and appointing members of the government. The Royal Family also fulfils important diplomatic functions, representing Spain in Europe, Latin America, the United States, Canada, the Middle East, North Africa, China, Japan, Australia, New Zealand, and many countries in sub-Saharan Africa. They also meet with foreign dignitaries and support charitable and social causes.
The Royal Family's role is apolitical and neutral, and they are well-respected by the Spanish people, with King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia enjoying high approval ratings. The family has, however, faced some controversies, particularly surrounding former King Juan Carlos I, which have tarnished the monarchy's reputation.
The future of the monarchy is often debated, with some questioning whether it truly symbolises unity, given that many in Catalonia and the Basque Country reject its authority. Nevertheless, the Royal Family remains integral to Spain's constitutional framework and is a blend of tradition and modernity.
The family's lineage can be traced back to Philip V of the House of Bourbon, who became king in 1700. The current ruling family consists of King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía, and the former king, King Juan Carlos I, and his wife, Queen Sofía.
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The family's residences
The Royal Palace of Madrid, believed to be the largest palace in Europe, is the official residence of the Spanish royal family and the official palace of the Spanish monarchy. It is used for official and state functions, but it is not used as a royal residence. The palace has 135,000 m2 (1,450,000 sq ft) of floor space and contains 3,418 rooms. It is owned by the Spanish state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional (English: National Heritage), a public agency of the Ministry of Presidency, Justice and Relations with the Cortes. The palace is on Calle de Bailén in downtown Madrid, east of the Manzanares River, and is accessible from the Ópera metro station.
The Zarzuela Palace is the primary residence of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. It is located in the El Pardo complex, just outside of Madrid. Queen Sofia’s sister, Princess Irene of Greece, also lives at Zarzuela Palace. The palace is the residence and working office of the reigning monarch of Spain, King Felipe VI, although he and his family live in the Pabellón del Príncipe on the grounds just east of the palace. The palace is owned by the Spanish government and administered by a state agency named Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage).
The Royal Seat of San Lorenzo de El Escorial (Royal Castle & Monastery of El Escorial) is another site built under the patronage of the Spanish monarchy. It is administered by Patrimonio Nacional and is open to the public, except when needed for state or official events.
The El Pardo Palace is the former residence of General Franco and his family. King Juan Carlos chose to remain in the Zarzuela Palace within the grounds of El Pardo, and now the larger El Pardo Palace is used primarily as guest accommodations for visiting heads of state.
The Marivent Palace is the official summer residence of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. La Mareta was originally built by King Hussein of Jordan as a holiday retreat, but he never used the house and soon gave it to King Juan Carlos as a personal gift. The King, in turn, gifted it to the Patrimonio Nacional, the organization that owns and maintains most of the royal residences.
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Frequently asked questions
Yes, like most Spanish people, the Spanish Royal Family is Catholic and attends various church services.
The Spanish monarchy is currently represented by King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia, their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, and the king's parents, King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía.
The Spanish Royal Family plays mostly a ceremonial function. They are involved in charitable causes and meet with foreign dignitaries. They also request that the victorious party forms a government after an election.
While both of King Felipe and Queen Letizia's daughters have been confirmed into the Catholic Church, King Felipe has started to slowly separate the religious life of the Royal Family from the state.
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