Spanische Monarchie

The Monarchy of Spain, constitutionally referred to as de la Corona de España, and commonly referred to as the Spanish Monarchy (Monarquía española), is the constitutional institution and office comprising of a king or of a queen regnant of Spain (Rey de España or Reina de España), their legal spouse and family (Familia Real Española), and the Royal Household organization (La Casa Real de Su Majestad el Rey) which supports and facilitates the monarch in the exercise of his royal duties and prerogatives.

The Spanish Constitution of 1978, Title II the Crown, Article 56, affirms the role of the Spanish monarch as the personification and embodiment of the Spanish State, a symbol of Spain's enduring unity and permanence; and as such, the monarch is the head-of-state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces in a system known in Spanish as "monarquía parlamentaria". Opinion polls routinely demonstrate that the Spanish monarchy remains popular with the majority of Spanish citizens in contemporary Spain.

The 1978 constitution codifies the use of Spanish royal titulary, royal prerogatives, hereditary succession to the crown, compensation, and a regency-guardianship contingency in cases of the monarch’s minority or incapacitation.

According to the Spanish constitution, the monarch is also instrumental in promoting Ibero-American relations, the “nations of its historical community” ("especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histórica"). Currently the King of Spain serves as president of the Ibero-American States Organization, representing over 700,000,000 people in twenty-four member nations worldwide. In 2008, the king was considered the most popular leader in all Ibero-America.

The Spanish monarchy has its roots the Visigothic Kingdom founded in Spain and Aquitainia in the 5th century, and its Christian successor states which fought the Reconquista following the Muslim conquest of Spain in the 8th century. A dynastic marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon united Spain in the 15th century. The Spanish Empire became one of the first global powers as Queen Isabella and King Ferdinand funded Christopher Columbus's exploratory voyage across the Atlantic Ocean and leading to the discovery of America, with the New World becoming the focus of Spanish colonization.

Today's Spanish monarchy is represented by king Juan Carlos I, his wife Queen Sofia, and their children and grandchidren.

Polls from 2000 show that he is widely approved of by Spaniards.

History

Dynastic line from the first Visigothic kings to Juan Carlos I.

The Spanish monarchy has its roots in the Visigothic Kingdom and its Christian successor states which fought the Reconquista following the Muslim conquest of Spain in the 8th century. A dynastic marriage between Isabella I of Castille and Ferdinand II of Aragon united Spain in the 15th century.

The Spanish monarchy was united with much of Europe in the person of Charles I, the Habsburg Emperor of the Holy Roman Empire, who claimed Spain through his mother Joanna in the early 16th century, and ushering in the Spanish Golden Age.

Charles II, the last of the Spanish Habsburgs, designated his sister’s grandson Philippe de Bourbon, duke of Anjou, as his heir in 1700. The possible unification of Spain with France sparked the Spanish War of Succession in the 18th century, culminating in the treaties of Utrecht (1713) and Rastatt (1714) which preserved the European balance of power. Philippe de Bourbon, who reigned as Philip V of Spain, was first of the Spanish Borbón rulers of Spain.

During the Napoleonic Wars, French forces forced the abdication of Ferdinand VII of Spain in 1808, and the Spanish Borbóns became a focus of popular resistance against French rule. However, Ferdinand’s rejection of the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1812, his erratic ministerial appointments, overly favoring conservatives to the exclusions of liberals, and the chronic bankruptcy of the government eroded popular support for the Spanish monarchy.

With the Pragmatic Sanction of 1830 Ferdinand set aside House of Borbón succession laws prohibiting women from succeeding by naming his eldest daughter Isabel as his heiress, sparking the Carlist Wars against those who preferred to bar women from rule and secularism.

Queen Isabel II, whose main suport came from centrist and moderates, was beset by Carlist forces on the extream right and radicals on the extream left. Faced with these challenges, Isabel's rule became increasingly reactionary in her dealings with the Cortez and her authoritarian rule increasingly dependent on the army. Isabel's reliance on the military eroded her popular suport from the moderates and centrists by 1868 when she was forced to abdicate, and in September 1873 the First Spanish Republic was founded.

A coup d’etat by conservatives restored the Borbón dynasty to the throne in 1874; however in 1931 a democratic election returned a republican majority to the Cortes Generales. With a program to abolish the monarchy, King Alfonso XIII went into exile, ushering in the Second Spanish Republic.

The ensuing Spanish Civil War began in 1936 and ended in 1 April 1939 with the Carlist General Francisco Franco victorious. General Franco ruled Spain through the fascist Falange political party until his death in 1975. Despite Franco’s Carlist sympathies, Franco appointed as his successor King Juan Carlos I de Borbón, who is credited with presiding over Spain’s transition from fascism to democracy by fully endorsing the liberal Spanish Constitution of 1978, and the reconciliation of the two factions.

The constitution asserts Juan-Carlos' right to the Crown of Spain is by dynastic succession in the Borbón tradition, "the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty" ("La Corona de España es hereditaria en los sucesores de S. M. Don Juan Carlos I de Borbón, legítimo heredero de la dinastía histórica"), rather than as the designated successor of Franco, an important distinction.

The monarchy in contemporary Spanish life

Spanish Royal Family

The Spanish royal family is comprised of King Juan Carlos, his wife Queen Sofía, their children and their spouses, and the king’s grandchildren. Additionally, the king’s sisters and their children, and the king’s paternal cousins, are occasionally included in the royal family. However, royal titles, styles, their recognition and use, and the succession to the Crown of Spain, are codified in the Spanish Constitution of 1978 and subsequent organic acts.

As a young man Juan Carlos completed his four-year military training and then received a rigorous two year liberal education in the European tradition as insisted upon by his father Don Juan, Count of Barcelona, in 1957. Impatient with the pace of democratic political reforms, King Juan Carlos, known for his formidable personality, dismissed Carlos Arias Navarro and appointed the reformer Adolfo Suárez as President of the Government in 1977. The next year the king signed into law the new liberal democratic Constitution of Spain, which was approved by 88% of voters. Juan Carlos’ “quick wit and steady nerve” cut short the attempted military coup in 1981 when the king used a specially designed command communications center in the Zarzuela Palace to denounce the coup and command the military’s eleven captain-generals to stand down.

Following the events of 1981 Juan Carlos has led a less eventful life, according to author John Hooper. The king does not open hospitals and bridges as often as monarchs in other nations, rather he has worked towards establishing reliable political customs when transitioning one government administration to another, emphasizing constitutional law and protocol, representing the Spanish State domestically and internationally, all the while maintaining a professionally non-partisan yet independent monarchy. In 2007 while celebrating his anniversary, the king said he wanted to represent all Spanish people.

Juan Carlos set a modest tone for his kingship as early as 1975 when he declared that he and his family would continue to reside at the modest Palacio de Zarzuela, rather than the Palacio de Oriente in Madrid. Additionally, the king, who can still look awkward at large events, did not resurrect any formal ‘Royal Court’, much to the disappointment of some in the aristocracy. The king’s charms are best evident in smaller and less formal events, according to Hooper.

Juan Carlos, publicly perceived as a kind of action man or G.I. Joe, is fond of sports and enjoys skiing in winter and sailing in the summer, and likes to play snooker after dinner. Such is the king’s enthusiasm for sailing that he competed in the 1972 Summer Olympic Games in the Dragon Class, and each year he and the royal family holiday in Majorca where they are photographed sailing by the media. It is this image of the king enjoying himself that is somewhat instilled in the public mind in recent years, according to Hooper. In his younger years Juan Carlos enjoyed and was reportedly good at squash, tennis, and karate. However, the king has angered environmental activists when he engaged in bear hunting in Romania in 2004.

Queen Sofía, on the other hand, is opposed to the wearing of furs and of bullfighting, and is “something of a vegetarian”, according to author John Hooper. Born in 1938 a Princess of Greece and Denmark, Sofía enjoys sailing- a passion she shares with her husband Juan Carlos. As a young woman Sofía qualified as a reserve for the Greek sailing team at the 1960 Summer Olympics. Initially their shared passion for sailing threatened to stifle their relationship as Sofía later recalled “I once went sailing with him when we were still engaged, and I shall never understand how I was able to marry him after that!” Juan Carlos married Sofía in Athens at the Church of Saint Dennis on 14 May 1962.

Exile is another experience which had bonded Sofía and Juan Carlos, according to Hooper. Sofia and the Greek Royal Family went into exile in South Africa ahead of the Nazi invasion of Greece, and she and her family did not return to Greece until she was eight. Of Juan Carlos and Sofia’s shared experiences in exile John Hooper wrote “Both the King and Queen were given a lesson in their early years that no member of the British Royal Family received- that, for a monarch, the penalty for failing to judge correctly the mood of his or her country, can be exile and debilitating irrelevance.”

The queen's interest over the years have been more intellectual, and Sofía may be given credit for encouraging Juan Carlos in his transition of Spain from an authoritarian dictatorship to a liberal democracy. According to author John Hooper, it is noteworthy that shortly after Juan Carlos married Sofia he began his secret meetings with ‘politicians and others’ as early as 1963. Sofia demonstrated her empathy and solidarity with Spanish families when she sent her children to secular schools known for their progressive methods. When the parents at Felipe’s school boycotted the increase in meal prices, Sofía took the side of the parents sending Felipe to school with sandwiches in packed lunches.

Sofía is far more religious then her husband or her children, having converted to Catholicism just before her marriage. The queen’s religious views were revealed in an interview with Opus Dei conservative author Pilar Urbano in 2008 for Sofia’s biography “La Reina Muy de Cerca” (The Queen Up Close).

One of the more controversal of the queen's opinions was on Gay Marriage, legal in Spain since 2005. “I can understand, accept and respect there are people of another sexual orientation,” Urbano quotes Sofía as saying, however "[I]f all of us who are not gay were to parade in the streets, we’d halt the traffic in every city." Additionally, Sofía is quoted as objecting to the use of the word ‘marriage’ for gay unions, “If those people want to live together, dress up like bride and groom and marry, they could have a right to do so […] but they should not call this matrimony, because it isn't”. In 2005, 66% of Spanish citizens favored legalizing Gay marriage.

The queen supports religious education in secular public schools, and is against legalizing euthanasia now under consideration by the current Spanish government.

The queen’s views caused an uproar and opened Sofia and the Spanish monarchy to rare criticism through-out 2008, with a Zarzuela palace press release stating that the queen had been inaccurately quoted.

The king's heir is his youngest child Felipe, Prince of Asturias (b. 1968), who married Letizia, Princess of Asturias (b. 1972) on 22 May 2004 in the Cathedral Santa María la Real de la Almudena in Madrid. The Prince and Princess of Asturias have two daughters, TRH the Infantas Leonore (b. 2005) and Sofía (b. 2007).

HRH Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, (b. 1963) is the king's eldest child and mother of two with Jaime de Marichalar, Duke of Lugo, His Excellency Felipe Juan (b. 1998) and Her Excellency Victoria Federica (b.2000). Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar, Duke of Lugo separated in 2007.

HRH Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, (b 1965) is the king's middle child and mother of three boys and a daughter with Iñaki Urdangarín, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, Their Excellencies Juan Valentín (b. 1999), Pablo Nicolás (b. 2000), Miguel (b. 2002), and Her Excellency Irene (b. 2005).

The king has two sisters; HRH Infanta Doña Pilar de Borbón, Duchess of Badajoz (b. 1936) and mother of five, and HRH Infanta Doña Margarita de Borbón, Duchess of Soria, 2nd Duchess of Hernani (b. 1939) and mother of two. However, both sisters renounced any claim to the Spanish Crown before their marriage and before the 1978 Constitution was ratified. If the heirs of King Juan Carlos I were to expire, the 1978 Constitution reserves the right for the Cortes to designate the successor branch in a manner suitable for Spain, and presumably the Cortes would consider the claims of these heirs.

The king and queen reside at the Palacio de la Zarzuela, while the Prince and Princess of Asturias and their children reside at the Palacio del Principe on the Zarazuela palace compound, both a Spanish royal site administered by the Patrimonio Nacional. The Duchess of Palma de Mallorca and her family reside in a private residence in Barcelona where she works on behalf of her charitable foundations.

Popularity and criticism

A copy of the Spanish Constitution, signed by King Juan Carlos, is held at the Palace of the Cortes.

The Spanish monarchy continues to enjoy wide support and popularity by Spanish citizens since its constitutional restoration in 1978, according to Fernando Villespin, president of the Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas (CIS, English: Sociological Research Center) in 2008.

According to Villespin, the king’s average approval rating of over 70% through the years consistently out-performs those of elected political leaders, and a similar percentage of respondents consider that the king plays an important role in maintaining Spanish democracy. Public trust in Juan Carlos’ kingship “comes only behind that of the National Ombudsman,” Villespin continued. Members of the royal family are routinely voted among the most respected public figures in Spain, according to Dr Juan Díez-Nicolás in 2008, a former president of the CIS and founder of the private consulting firm ASEP (Análisis Sociológicos Económicos y Políticos).

The CIS, a non-partisan government funded independent research institution, has been researching public opinion of the monarchy since 1984 and tracks three basic lines of inquiry; what is public confidence in the monarchy, what is the role of the monarchy in a democratic system, and to what degree has the king contributed to the democratic process.

According to a poll conducted by Metroscopia for the Toledo Foundation in 2008, 69% of Spanish citizens feel that the institution of constitutional monarchy is the ideal political system for Spain, and 80% of Spanish believe Spain's transition to democracy would not have been made possible without the king's personal intervention. Historian and royal biographer Charles Powell told BBC News in 2008 that "There's a deep-rooted feeling of gratitude for the king's role in the transition to democracy [and] Polls show that he is the individual to whom democratisation is most closely attributed, and the sense of gratitude cuts across class and ideological lines."

Part of the monarchy's appeal may lay in the personal characteristics of King Juan Carlos, whose philosophy on his family, on personal integrity, and on a selfless work ethic were revealed in intimate private letters of fatherly advice to his son Felipe, Prince of Asturias, between 1984 and 1985, when Felipe was then attending university in Canada.

According to Juan Carlos a monarch must not take his position for granted but work for the people's welfare, be kind, attentive and helpful, and "appear animated even when you are tired; kind even when you don't feel like it; attentive even when you are not interested; helpful even when it takes an effort [...] You need to appear natural, but not vulgar; cultivated and aware of problems, but not pedantic or conceited".

The king continued;

Those whom God has chosen to be kings and to be at the head of the destiny of a country do not have any other choice than to start to understand the importance and the special characteristics of the position, because one can say that they start to become adults long before other boys of their age.
If in this life it is as important to form and strengthen character enough to permit us to lead, it is not any less to know how to obey. In spite of the high positions that we hold in life, it will always be vital to know we also have duties to perform and obedience always involves real honour.
[...]
We have to build a closely united family, without fissures or contradictions, we must not forget that on all and on each one of us are fixed the eyes of Spaniards whom we should serve with body and soul. I do not want to prolong my first letter any more in order not to tire you, but I would hope that this as well as the succeeding ones I send you leave a profound impression on you and are read calmly and thought about seriously.
King Juan Carlos I to Prince Felipe, 1984.

"I have had to stand snubs and contempt, incomprehension and annoyances that you, thank God, have not known," reminded the king to his son in one letter.

The private letters from father to son remain within the royal household, but were copied and released into the public domain without any approval or foreknowledge, according to a Zarzuela palace official who confirmed the letter's authenticity.

Despite the high approval ratings from the Spanish mainstream, and in particular the personal popularity enjoyed by the current king and queen, the monarchy has been the focus of acute criticism from the extreme left and extreme right of the Spanish political spectrum, and by regional separatists.

As many as 22% of Spanish citizens feel that a republic would be the better form of government for Spain, while separatists and independence supporters in the Basque Country and Catalonia routinely protest the monarchy as the living symbol of a united Spain. The extreme left criticize the institution of monarchy as anachronistic, while the far right criticize King Juan Carlos personally because he has given his royal assent and tacit approval to what they perceive to be a liberal agenda in Spain and a secularism of Spanish life.

Charitable, cultural, and religious patronage

Members of the Spanish Royal Family, "the royals", are often asked by non-profit charitable, cultural, or religious organizations within Spain or internationally to become their patrons, a role the Spanish constitution recognizes and codified in Title II Article 62 (j) It is incumbent for the monarch "to exercise the High Patronage of the Royal Academies". Royal patronage conveys a sense of official credibility as the organization is scrutinized for suitability. A royal presence often greatly raises the profile of the organization and attracts media publicity and public interest that the organization may not have otherwise garnered, aiding in the charitable cause or cultural event. Royals use their considerable celebrity to assist the organization to raise funds or to affect or promote government policy.

Additionally, members of the royal family may also pursue their own charitable and cultural interests. Queen Sofía devotes much of her time to the Queen Sofia Foundation (Fundación Reina Sofia); while Prince Felipe chairs the Prince of Asturias Foundation (Fundación Príncipe de Asturias), which aims to promote "scientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of mankind's universal heritage."

The Prince of Asturias Foundation holds annual awards ceremonies acknowledging the contributions of individuals, entities, and/or organizations from around the world who make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, or public affairs. Prince Felipe serves as president of the Codespa Foundation, which finances specific economic and social development activities in Ibero-America and other countries, and serves as president of the Spanish branch of the Association of European Journalists, which is composed of achieving communications professionals. Prince Felipe also serves as honorary chair of the Ministry of Culture National Awards Ceremonies.

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, the king's eldest daughter, is the Director of Cultural and Social Projects of Mapfre Foundation, while Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, the king's youngest daughter, served as the Goodwill Ambassador to the United Nations for the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing, and is a member of the Dali Foundation Board of Trustees, president of the International Foundation for Disabled Sailing, and Director of Social Welfare at the La Caixa Foundation in Barcelona where she lives with her family.

The king, queen, and Infanta Cristina are all members of the Bilderberg Group, an informal think-tank centered on United States and European relations, and other world issues.

Annual Christmas Eve National Speech

The King of Spain gives annual Christmas Eve National Speeches entitled "Mensaje de S.M. Juan Carlos I" which are broadcast by radio and television through various media outlets. The king usually refers to social or economic challenges facing the nation as well as positive messages of charity, good will, and religious faith. In 2004, the speech was highly related to 11 March 2004 Madrid train bombings; in 2006 he talked about the need to become a united nation against terrorism (in implicit support of Zapatero's anti-terrorist policies), and he mentioned the increasing force of immigrants in Spain and appreciated their contribution to the economy.

The Crown and the Constitution

Vorlage:PoliticsES The historic Spanish monarchy, with its roots in the Visigothic kingdom from the 5th century and subsequent successor states, is recognized in Title II The Crown, Articles 56 through 65 of the Spanish Constitution of 1978.

According to Title II, Article 56, Subsection 1, the monarch embodies and personifies the unity and permanace of the Spanish State, representing the legal personality of the state in the concept "l'État, c'est moi" ("I am the state"), and by extension fulfills the "Father of the Nation" role. However, ultimate constitutional sovereignty in Spain is vested with the people.

The monarch "arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions", and assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State in international relations. The monarch exercises the functions expressly conferred on him by the Constitution and the laws.

Title II, Articals 56
The King is 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.

Title II, Articals 56
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.

On accession to the crown, and on being proclaimed before the Cortes Generalas, the king swears an oath to faithfully carry out his constitutional duties and to obey the constitution and the laws. Additionally, the constitution gives the king the added responsibility to ensure that the constitution is obeyed. Lastly, the king swears to respect the rights of Spanish citizens and of the self governing communities.

The Prince of Asturias, on reaching his majority, and any Regent(s) on assuming the office, swears the same oath as that of the king with a further oath of loyalty to the monarch.

Title II the Crown, Artical 61
(1) The King, on being proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, will swear to faithfully carry out his duties, to obey the Constitution and the laws and ensure that they are obeyed, and to respect the rights of the citizens and the Self-governing Communities
(2) The Crown Prince, on coming of age, and the Regent or Regents, on assuming office, will swear the same oath as well as that of loyalty to the King.

Título II. De la Corona, Artículo 61
1. El Rey, al ser proclamado ante las Cortes Generales, prestará juramento de desempeñar fielmente sus funciones, guardar y hacer guardar la Constitución y las leyes y respetar los derechos de los ciudadanos y de las Comunidades Autónomas.
2. El Príncipe heredero, al alcanzar la mayoría de edad, y el Regente o Regentes al hacerse cargo de sus funciones, prestarán el mismo juramento, así como el de fidelidad al Rey

The oath;

I swear faithfully to discharge My functions, to sustain and see to it that the Constitution and the Laws are sustained, and to respect the rights of the citizens and of the autonomous communities.

Titulary and the Fount of honour

Titulary

The 1978 Constitution, Title II, Article 56, Subsection 2, confirms the title of the monarch is King of Spain, but that he may also use other titles historically associated with the Crown, ("los demás que correspondan a la Corona").

The titles used by Alfonso XIII before his exile in 1931 which, with this provision of the constitution, the King is entitled to use include:

His Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain, King of Castile, of León, of Aragón, of the Two Sicilies, of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Seville, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Sardinia, of Córdoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Jaén, of the Algarves, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, of the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea; Archduke of Austria; Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, of Athens and Neopatria; Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Roussillon, and of Barcelona;Lord of Biscay and of Molina; Captain-General and Supreme Commander of the Royal Armed Forces; Sovereign Grand-Master of the Order of the Golden Fleece and of the orders awarded by the Spanish state.

According to the Royal Decree published in 1987, the king and the queen consort will formally be addressed as "His Majesty and Her Majesty" (Their Majesties, Spanish: Su Majestad, Su represents His or Her) rather than the traditional "Catholic Majesty" (Su Católica Majestad). A prince consort of a regnant Queen of Spain will have the style "His Royal Highness" (Su Alteza Real).

Additionally, a widowed and unmarried queen consort, now a queen dowager, will continue to be addressed as "Her Majesty". A widowed and unmarried prince consort will continue to be addressed as "His Royal Highness".

According to Title II, Article 57, Subsection 2, the Crown Prince from birth shall hold the title of Príncipe de Asturias and the other titles historically associated with the heir apparent.

Other children of the monarch, and the children of the heir apparent, shall have the title and rank of Infante or Infanta (prince and princess), and styled His or Her Highness (Su Alteza), according to the Royal Decree published in 1987.

Children of an Infante or Infanta of Spain "shall have the consideration of Spanish Grandees", and the address of "Your Excellency", according to the 1987 Royal Decree.

The royal decree further limits the ability of any regent to use or create titles during the minority or incapacitation of a monarch."

No further constitutional language prescribes titles or forms of address to the fourth generation, or great grandchildren, of a reigning monarch.

Fount of honour

The monarch's position as the "Fount of honour" within Spain is codified in Title II The Crown, Artical 62 (f); It is incumbent upon the monarch to "[...] confer civil and military positions and award honors and distinctions in conformity of the law " ("[...] conferir los empleos civiles y militares y conceder honores y distinciones con arreglo a las leyes").

Spanish peerage

According to the Spanish Ministy of Justice, nobility and grandee titles are created by the "sovereign grace of the king", and may be passed on to the recipient's heirs, who may not sell the title. Titles may revert back to the Crown when their vacancy is observed.

Succession of titles may follow one of several courses listed on the Royal Warrant (Title of Concession) when the title is created. As a general rule, most titles are now inherited by absolute Cognatic Primogeniture (as of 2006), where the first born inherits all regardless of gender. However, a title holder may designate his successor (Succession by Assignment), or disperse his titles among his children – with the eldest getting the highest ranking title (Succession by Distribution).

The king awarded peerages to two of his former presidents who have retired from active politics: Adolfo Suárez, who was created 1st Duke of Suárez; and Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo who was created 1st Marquess of la Ría de Ribadeo. The king's third president Felipe González declined a title, while José María Aznar's presidency was mired in controversies making a peerage unlikely. All successive politicians remain active within politics.

Orders and Awards

Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III.

The king grants military and civil orders and awards of distinction, customarily on the advice of government. The most distinguished order the king may award is the Order of Charles III to "citizens who, with their effort, initiative and work, have brought a distinguished and extraordinary service to the Nation".

The Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand is Spain's highest military award for gallantry. Other historic awards and distinctions include the Order of Calatrava, the Knights of Santiago, the Order of Sant Jordi d'Alfama, the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece, Knights of Santiago, and the Order of Alcántara among others.

Inviolablity and lese majesté

The Spanish monarch is personally immune from prosecution for acts committed by government ministers in the king's name, according to Title II, Article 56, Subsection 3 of the 1978 Spanish Constitution.

The Person of the King of Spain is inviolable and shall not be held accountable. His acts shall always be countersigned in the manner established in section 64. Without such countersignature they shall not be valid, except as provided under section 65(2).

La persona del Rey de España es inviolable y no está sujeta a responsabilidad. Sus actos estarán siempre refrendados en la forma establecida en el artículo 64, careciendo de validez sin dicho refrendo, salvo lo dispuesto en el artículo 65,2.

This legal convention mirrors the concept of Sovereign immunity which evolved in similar constitutional monarchies. The legal concept of Sovereign immunity evolved into other aspects of immunity law in similar liberal democracies, such as Parliamentary immunity, Judicial immunity, and Qualified immunity in the United States.

The concept of lèse majesté ("lesa majestad") exists in Spanish jurisprudence, as in other legal systems, which is the crime or offense violating the dignity of the head-of-state, or against The State, which in Article 56 of the Constitution the Spanish monarch and the dignity of the Spanish State are one and the same; "The King is Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence" (El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, símbolo de su unidad y permanencia). The concept is within the same legal sphere as legislation prohibiting flag desecration in other democratic countries. Additionally, lèse majesté extends to any foreign heads-of-state visiting Spain, and other members of the Spanish Royal Family, and to the Spanish President of the Government as the king's appointed officer.

The Spanish satirical magazine El Jueves was fined for violation of Spain's lèse majesté laws after publishing an issue with a caricature of the Prince and Princess of Asturias engaging in sexual intercourse on their cover in 2007. In 2008, 400 Catalonia separatists burned images of the king and queen in Madrid, and two were fined for burning effigies of the king in Galicia in 2009 by Galician separatists.

Breaching Spain's lèse majesté laws may carry fines and up to two years in prison.

King Juan Carlos may have breached lèse majesté himself when, in exasperation, the king said to Hugo Chávez, President of Venezuela, "¿Por qué no te callas?", as Chávez repeatedly interrupted Spanish President José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero's speech, also an act on Chávez's part breaching lèse majesté.

The phrase "¿Por qué no te callas?" (English: "Why don't you [just] shut up?") became an overnight sensation, gaining cult status as a mobile-phone ringtone, spawning a domain name, a contest, T-shirt sales, and YouTube videos.

Ibero-American Summit, November 2007, Santiago, Chile, where the king presided over.

The king was presiding over the 2007 Ibero-American Summit in Santiago, Chile, when Chávez repeatedly interrupted Zapatero and calling the Spanish president's predecessor, José María Aznar, a "fascist" and "less human than snakes", and accused Aznar and the Spanish government of having supported a failed coup d'état aimed at removing Chávez from power. Zapatero had earlier irritated Chávez by suggesting that Latin America needed to attract more foreign capital to combat its chronic deepening poverty; Chávez's leftist policies shun outside investment.

Chavez's attacks became so strong that Zapatero, who is usually considered deeply opposed to his predecessor's policies, defended his predecessor, pointing out that Aznar had been democratically elected and "a legitimate representative of the Spanish people".

The king's rebuke received applause from the general audience. However, for the king, the incident, was part of an annus horribilis for the royal image.

Succession to the Crown

Statue of Queen Urraca of Leon and Castile in the Parque del Buen Retiro in Madrid. Urraca ruled between 1108 to 1125

According to the 1978 Constitution, Title II, Article 57, Subsection 1, the Crown of Spain is inherited by the successors of King Juan Carlos I de Borbón through male preference Primogeniture Article 57 is significant in that it omits entirely the Franconist era designation of Juan Carlos as Franco's heir. Rather, Article 57 asserts Juan Carlos I's right to the Crown as the legitimate heir following the regular order of succession in the Borbón tradition as "the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty" (legítimo heredero de la dinastía histórica).

The Crown of Spain shall be inherited by the successors of H.M. Juan Carlos I de Borbón, the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty. Succession to the throne shall follow the regular order of primogeniture and representation, the first line having preference over subsequent lines; and within the same line the closer grade over the more remote; and within the same grade the male over female, and in the same sex, the elder over the younger.

La Corona de España es hereditaria en los sucesores de S. M. Don Juan Carlos I de Borbón, legítimo heredero de la dinastía histórica. La sucesión en el trono seguirá el orden regular de primogenitura y representación, siendo preferida siempre la línea anterior a las posteriores; en la misma línea, el grado más próximo al más remoto; en el mismo grado, el varón a la mujer, y en el mismo sexo, la persona de más edad a la de menos.

Male preference primogeniture had been practiced in Spain since the 11th century in the various Visigothic successor states and codified in the Siete Partidas. Urraca of León and Castile succeeded as queen in 1108 and ruled until her death during childbirth in 1125. However, with the succession of Philip V in 1700, the first of the Spanish Borbóns, women were barred from succession rights until Ferdinand VII of Spain reintroduced the right and designated his eldest daughter Isabel as his heiress by 1833.

With the birth of Infanta Leonor of Spain on 31 October 2005 to the Prince and Princess of Asturias, President Zapatero reaffirmed his government's intention to amend the Spanish constitution by introducing full and equal Cognatic Primogeniture, a gender neutral succession law already adopted in Norway, Sweden, the Netherlands and Belgium. Zapatero's proposal was supported by the leader of the main opposition party, the conservative Partido Popular, making its passage likely. The rights of the current heir apparent Felipe, Prince of Asturias, would be maintained. With full or equal Cognatic Primogentiture, the first born would be the heir apparent regardless of gender.

Paving the way, in 2006 the king issued a decree reforming the succession to noble titles from male preference primogeniture to absolute and equal Cognatic Primogeniture. However, as succession to the Crown is codified explicitly in the constitution, its reform madates an amendment to the constitution, a somewhat more complicated process then issuing a royal decree. Prince Felipe has counseled reformers that there is plenty of time before the constitutional amendment would need to be enacted as he is next in line, and after him his daughters.

If all lines designated by law become extinct, the constitution reserves the right for the Cortes Generales to provide for the succession "in the manner most suitable for Spain".

The 1978 Spanish constitution disinherits members of the royal family from succession if they marry against the expressed prohibition of the monarch and the Cortes Generales, as will their descendants. Lastly, Article 57 further provides that "Abdications and renunciations and any doubt in fact or in law that may arise in connection with the succession to the Crown shall be settled by an organic act.

According to the 1978 Constitution, Title II, Article 57, Subsection 1 The current heirs of Juan Carlos I;

1. HRH The Prince of Asturias, son of King Juan Carlos.
2. HRH The Infanta Leonor, elder daughter of The Prince and Princess of Asturias
3. HRH The Infanta Sofía, younger daughter of The Prince and Princess of Asturias
4. HRH The Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, eldest daughter of King Juan Carlos.
5. HE Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar y de Borbón, son of Infanta Elena.
6. HE Victoria Federica de Marichalar y de Borbón, daughter of Infanta Elena.
7. HRH The Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, younger daughter of King Juan Carlos.
8. HE Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón, eldest son of Infanta Cristina.
9. HE Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón, middle son of Infanta Cristina.
10. HE Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón, youngest son of Infanta Cristina.
11. HE Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón, daughter of Infanta Cristina.

Regency and Guardianship

The 1978 constitution codifies the regency and guardianship of the person of the monarch in the event of his minority (legal age in Spain is 18) or incapacitation. The office of Regent(s) and the Guardianship of the monarch (whether the monarch is in his minority or incapacitated), may not necessarily be the same person.

In the event of the minority of the monarch, the surviving mother or father, or oldest relative of legal age who is nearest in line to the throne, would immediately assume the office of Regent, who in any case must be Spanish, according to Title II, Article 59.

If a monarch becomes incapacitated, and that incapacitation is recognized by the Cortes Generales, then the Prince of Asturias (the heir apparent), shall immediately become Regent, if he is of age. If the Prince of Asturias is himself a minor, then the Cortes Generals shall appoint a Regency which may be composed of one, three, or five persons.

The person of the king in his minority shall fall under the guardianship of the person designated in the will of the deceased monarch, provided that he or she be of age and of Spanish nationality. If no guardian has been appointed in the will, then the father or mother will then assume the guardianship, as long as they remain widowed. Otherwise, the Cortes Generales shall appoint both the Regent(s) and the guardian, who in this case may not be held by the same person, except by the father or mother of direct relation of the king.

Royal prerogatives

The 1978 Constitution, Title II The Crown, Article 62, delineates the powers of the king, while Title IV Government and Administration, Article 99, defines the king's role in government. Title VI Judicial Power, Article 117, Articles 122 through 124, outlines the king's role in the country's independent judiciary. However, by constitutional convention established by Juan Carlos I, the king exercises his prerogatives having solicited government advice while maintaining a politically non-partisan and independent monarchy. Receiving government advice does not necessarily bind the monarch into executing the advice, except where prescribed by the constitution.

It is incumbent upon the King:

• a. To Sanction and promulgate the laws
• b. To summon and dissolve the Cortes Generales and to call for elections under the terms provided for in the Constitution.
• c. To Call for a referendum in the cases provided for in the Constitution.
• e. To appoint and dismiss members of the Government on the President of the Government's proposal.
• f. To issue the decrees approved in the Council of Ministers, to confer civil and military honours and distinctions in conformity with the law.
• g. To be informed of the affairs of State and, for this purpose, to preside over the meetings of the Council of Ministers whenever, he sees fit, at the President of the Government's request.
• h. To exercise supreme command of the Armed Forces
• i. To exercise the right of clemency in accordance with the law, which may not authorize general pardons.
• j. To exercise the High Patronage of the Royal Academies.

The king, the government, and the Cortes Generales

Title IV of the Constitution defines the government's responsibilities. The government consists of the President of the Government and ministers of state. The government conducts domestic and foreign policy, civil and military administration, and the defense of the nation all in the name of the king. Additionally, the government exercises executive authority and statutory regulations.

The most direct prerogative the monarch exercises in the formation of Spanish governments is in the nomination and appointment process of the President of the Government (Presidente del Gobierno de España), according to Article 99 of Title IV. The President of the Government is usually known as the prime minister in many English language publications as the title president, outside of academic and business circles, has a republican connotation absent in the Spanish presidente.

Following the General Election of the Cortes Generales (Cortes), and other circumstances provided for in the constitution, the king meets with and interviews the political party leaders represented in the Cortes, and then consults with the Speaker of the Congress (who, in this instance, represents the whole of the Cortes Generalas).

Title IV Government and Administration Artical 99(1) & (2)

• (1) After each renewal of the Congress and the other cases provided for under the Constitution, the King shall, after consultation with the representatives appointed by the political groups with parliamentary representation, and through the Speaker of the Congress, nominate for the Presidency of the Government.
• (2) The candidate nominated in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing subsection shall submit to the Congress the political program of the Government he or she intends to form and shall seek the confidence of the House.

Artículo 99.

• 1. Después de cada renovación del Congreso de los Diputados, y en los demás supuestos constitucionales en que así proceda, el Rey, previa consulta con los representantes designados por los grupos políticos con representación parlamentaria, y a través del Presidente del Congreso, propondrá un candidato a la Presidencia del Gobierno.
• 2. El candidato propuesto conforme a lo previsto en el apartado anterior expondrá ante el Congreso de los Diputados el programa político del Gobierno que pretenda formar y solicitará la confianza de la Cámara.

Constitutionally, the monarch may nominate anyone he sees fit as his prerogative. However, it remains pragmatic for him to nominate the person most likely to enjoy the confidence of the Cortes and form a government, usually the political leader whose party commands the most seats in the Cortes. For the Crown to nominate the political leader whose party controls the Cortes can be seen as a royal endorsement of the democratic process, a fundamental concept enshrined in the 1978 Constitution. By political custom since the 1978 Constitution, the king's nominees have all been from parties who hold the most seats in the Cortes. The king is normally able announce his nominee the day following a General Election.

The king's nominee is presented before the Cortes by the Speaker where the nominee and his political agenda are debated and submitted for a Vote of Confidence (Cuestión de confianza) by the Cortes. A simple majority confirms the nominee and his program. After the nominee is deemed confirmed by the Speaker of the Congress of Deputies, the king appoints him as the new President of the Government in a ceremony performed at the Salón de Audiencias in the Zarzuela Palace, the official residence of the king. During the inauguration ceremony, the President of the Government takes an oath of office over an open Constitution next to the Holy Bible. The oath as taken by President Zapatero on his second term in office on 17 April 2004 was; :

However, if no overall majority was obtained on the first vote of confidence, then the same nominee and program is resubmitted for a second vote within forty-eight hours. Following the second vote, if confidence by the Cortes is still unreached, then the monarch again meets with political leaders and the Speaker, and submits a new nominee for a vote of confidence.

If, within two months, no candidate has won the confidence of the Cortes then the king dissolves the Cortes and calls for a new General Election. The king's royal decree is countersigned by the Speaker of the Congress.

Once appointed, the President of the Government forms his government whose ministers are appointed and removed by the king on the president's advice.

In the political life of Spain, the king would already be familiar with the various political leaders in a professional capacity, and perhaps less formally in a more social capacity, facilitating their meeting following a General Election. Conversely, nominating the party leader who's party maintains a plurality and who are already familiar with their party manifesto facilitates a smoother nomination process. In the event of coalitions, the political leaders would customarily have met beforehand to hammer out a coalition agreements before their meeting with the king.

Governments and the Cortes sit for a term no longer then four years when the president tenders his resignation to the king and advises the king to dissolve the Cortes, prompting a General Election. It remains within the king's prerogative to dissolve the Cortes if, at the conclusion of the four years, the president has not asked for its dissolution, according to Title II Article 56. The president may call for earlier elections, but no sooner then a year after the prior General Election. Additionally, if the Government loses the confidence of the Cortes, then it must resign.

In the event that a president dies or becomes incapacitated while in office, then the government as a whole resigns and the process of royal nomination and appointment takes place. The vice president would take over the day to day operations in the meantime, even while vice president himself may be nominated by the king.

The Royal Assent and promulgation of the laws

Title IV of the Constitution invests the sanction (Royal Assent) and promulgation (publication) of the laws with the king, while Title III The Cortes Generals, Chapter 2 Drafting of Bills outlines the method with which bills are passed. According to Article 91, within fifteen days that a bill has been passed by the Cortes Generales, the king shall give his assent and publish the new law. Article 92 invests the king with the right to call for referendum on the advice of the president and the previous authorization of Congress.

No provision within the constitution invests the king with the ability to veto legislation directly, however no provision prohibits the king from with-holding royal assent, effectively a veto. When the media asked King Juan Carlos if he would endorse the bill legalizing gay marriages (the implication implied that he may not endorse the bill), he answered "Soy el Rey de España y no el de Bélgica" ("I am the King of Spain, not of Belgium")Vorlage:Ndash a reference to King Baudouin I of Belgium who had refused to sign the Belgian law legalising abortion. The King gave his Royal Assent to Law 13/2005 on 1 July 2005; the law was gazetted in the Boletín Oficial del Estado on 2 July, and came into effect on 3 July 2005.

The king, the judiciary, and Royal Pardons

According to Title VI of the 1978 Constitution, Justice in Spain "emanates from the people and is administered on behalf of the King by judges and magistrates members of the Judicial Power..." (La justicia emana del pueblo y se administra en nombre del Rey por Jueces y Magistrados integrantes del poder judicial...).

It remains a royal prerogative for the king to appoint the twenty members to the General Council of the Judicial Power of Spain and then the President of the Supreme Court on the General Council's proposal, according to Article 122, Subsection 3, of the constitution.

Title VI Judicial Power, Artical 122, Subsection 3
The General Council of the Judicial Power shall consist of the President of the Supreme Court, who shall preside over it, and of twenty members appointed by the King for a five-year period, of which twelve shall be judges and magistrates of all the judicial categories, under the terms provided for by the organic act; four nominated by the Congress and four by the Senate, elected in both cases by three-fifths of their members amongst lawyers and other jurists of acknowledged competence with more than fifteen years of professional practice.

Título VI. Del Poder Judicial, Artículo 122. (3)
El Consejo General del Poder Judicial estará integrado por el Presidente del Tribunal Supremo, que lo presidirá, y por veinte miembros nombrados por el Rey por un periodo de cinco años. De estos, doce entre Jueces y Magistrados de todas las categorías judiciales, en los términos que establezca la ley orgánica; cuatro a propuesta del Congreso de los Diputados, y cuatro a propuesta del Senado, elegidos en ambos casos por mayoría de tres quintos de sus miembros, entre abogados y otros juristas, todos ellos de reconocida competencia y con más de quince años de ejercicio en su profesión.

Additionally, the king appoints the State Public Prosecutor on the advice of the government, according to Article 124.

The king may grant clemency in accordance with the law, however the king may not authorize a general pardon of government ministers who have been found criminally liable or guilty of treason by the Criminal Article of the Supreme Court, according to Articles 62 and 102.

The king and international diplomacy

Members of the Organization of Ibero-American States
King Juan Carlos I serves as president

According to Title II Article 63 of the Constitution, the king accredites Spanish ambassadors and other diplomatic representatives to international states and governments, and foreign representatives to Spain are accredited before him. However, the government of the day manages diplomatic policy on behalf of the monarch. Additionally, it remains the responsibility for the monarch to express the state's assent to international commitments and treaties, which must be in conformity with the Spanish constitution.

The constitution gives the Spanish monarch special responsibility in promoting Spanish relations with members of its historic community, the nations formerly part of the Spanish Empire and also relations with Portugal and Brazil. Fulfilling this responsibility, the King of Spain serves as president of the twenty-four member Ibero-American States Organization. In 2008, the king was considered the most popular leader in all Ibero-America.

The king is assisted in his diplomatic missions by the Foreign Ministry, and high-ranking members of the Foreign Ministry are made available to the king when he is abroad representing Spain. The Royal Household coordinates with the Foreign Ministry to ensure a successful diplomatic engagement. Additionally, other members of the royal family, most notably the Prince of Asturias, may represent the Spanish State internationally. Though the Spanish monarchy is independent from the government of the day, it is important that the king's speeches are not in conflict with government foreign policy. To this end, the king's speeches may be reviewed with the Foreign Ministry before departing on diplomatic missions or revised as necessary during the diplomatic engagement.

The king and members of the royal family have represented Spain in Europe, Latin America, in the United States and in Canada, nations in the Middle East and North Africa, in China, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, New Zealand and many countries in sub-Sahara Africa. The king and Prince of Asturias have addressed many international organizations which include the United Nations, the institutions of the European Union, the Council of Europe, the Organization of American States, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, and the Arab League.

The king as Commander-in-Chief

The role of the Crown in the Spanish Armed Forces is rooted in tradition and patriotism, and is codified in constitutional and statutory law. Serving in the Armed Forces is considered an expectation of the heir appearent, and Juan Carlos served in the various branches of the Armed Forces before he became king. Likewise, Prince Felipe, Prince of Asturias, has served in the Armed Forces. The Spanish Crown is the nominal controlling authority of the armed forces, demonstrated in the command structure, the symbols, and the history of the military.

The Supreme Command of the military is vested in the monarch through article 62(h) of the Constitution of 1978.

Article 62-(h) It is incumbent upon the King:

to exercise Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.

Additionally, the National Defence Act of Nov 17, 2005 also lays down in Title-1 The Crown:

Article-3

The King exercises Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and other powers regarding national defense that are provided for in the constitution and other laws.

However, Title IV of the 1978 Constitution vests the administration of the armed forces and formulation of national defense policy with the President of the Government, a civilian authority who is nominated by the king, confirmed by the elected Congress of Deputies and, as such, is represenitive of the Spanish people.

Royal Decree #1310 of Oct 5, 2007 requires the National Defence Council to report to the monarch, and that the king is to be the Chairman of the Council when he attends its sessions. The National Defence Council is Spain's highest advisory body on security and defense matters and performs the same basic function as the US National Security Council. King Juan Carlos chaired the first full meeting of the council on Nov 10 2007, at which the newly proposed National Defence Directive was reviewed along with the ongoing peace missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Lebanon.

As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the king holds the highist ranking office in the military chain of command. The king's ranks include Captain General of the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. The king is the only officer in the military to hold this 5 Star General rank.

The king takes a keen interest in all aspects of military policy as evedinced by "his direct participation in the life of the Spanish Armed Forces".

The king's participation in Spanish military life stems from his constitutional duty to "arbitrate and moderate" the regular working of state institutions. In speaches to his officer corp the monarch has made efforts to ensure that his desire for a strong raport with the armed forces is made clear:

The king inspecting the troops in a military parade, 2009

I do not feel a stranger in your company, and my functions are not limited to being your king and to holding the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. I am also your companion... I feel one more among you... because my youth has been formed, as yours and with many of you, in military academies where virtues are praised and qualities infused which are not modified by time or by the changes that may occur in society.

[...]

In my heart, in all my being, side by side with my love for the country, palpitates military spirit, and I feel always identified with my companions in the army, with your concerns, your sorrows, your satisfactions and your hopes. So when I see you joyful, I am joyful. When I feel You sad, I am sad. And all, absolutely all of your worries, all absolutely all of your problems gravitate on your king and Captain General-your companion-with the same intensity that is felt by you.
Juan Carlos Easter Military Address, 1980

Royal Household of the King

Royal Palace of Madrid

The Royal Household organization, constitutionally La Casa de Su Majestad el Rey, supports, manages, and facilitates the monarch and members of the royal family in fulfilling their constitutionally hereditary responsibilities and obligations. The royal household is funded through yearly budgets drafted by the government of the day in consultation with the monarch, and brought before the Cortes for approval, and then paid directly to the monarch.

The Royal Household coordinates with various government administration ministries, and receives their advice and support where needed, though in no way does the Royal Household form part of the government administration. Royal Household staff serve at the pleasure of the monarch, and does not resign when the Spanish government resigns during election cycles.

As a great deal of royal ceremonies and state events occur on Spanish royal sites, the Royal Household coordinates directly with the Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) in the planning, staging, and hosting of the events. Additionally, the Royal Household coordinates and liaisons with local municipalities and other organizations when ceremonies or state events occur outside of royal sites.

The Royal Household is managed by the Head of the Household who inspects and supervises all household operations through various bureaus or offices of the General Secretariat. The Head of the Household is assisted by a Secretary General. The General Secretariat is divided into various bureaus which includes Planning and Coordination, Secretariat of H.M. the Queen, Secretariat of H.R.H. the Prince of Asturias, Security Services, public relations and the media, protocol, Administration, Infrastructure and Services.

The Spanish Armed Forces are represented by the Head of the Military Chamber which coordinates royal military operations and ceremonies, and prepares the royal family for any military activities. The Military Chamber is directed by a Commander who must be an active Lieutenant-General or a General within the Spanish military, and is under the direct orders of the king. The Commander maintains an office with a Military Legal Advisor and an Auditor, as well as section heads for Staffing, Protocol, Operations and Logistics.

The king is assigned personal Aides-de-Camp for his assistance, and by extension to the queen and Infantas Doña Elena and Doña Cristina during official activities. Aides-de-camp are drawn from all of the services, with four from the Army, two from the Navy, two from the Air Force, and one from the Civil Guard. The Prince of Asturias is entitled to personal Aides-de-Camp assigned to him and the Princess of Asturias, with one drawn each from the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

The Head of the Household, Secretary General, and Head of the Military Chamber are considered senior management staff and are compensated at the level of senior government administration officials.

Annual Budget and taxation

According to subsection 64 of the 1978 constitution and subsequent organic acts, the monarch is entitled to compensation from the annual state budget for the maintenance of his family and household administration, and freely distributes these funds in accordance with the laws. According to the Royal Household, "[T]he purpose of these resources is to ensure that the Head of State may carry out his tasks with the independence which is inherent to his constitutional functions, as well as with due effectiveness and dignity".

The annual budget pays the remunerations for senior management staff, management staff and career civil servants, other minor staffing positions, and for general office expenses. The Head of Household, Secretary General, and other management staff salaries must be comparable to other administration ministers within the government, though in no way do they form part of the government or administration. As such, the management staff experience increases, decreases, or freezes to their pay in accordance with the fluctuations of government minister salaries.

Additionally, the annual budget pays for the maintenance and expenses of senior members of the royal family who undertake royal duties; which includes grocery, clothing, and toiletries allotments.

The budget approved by the Cortes for 2009 was just under 9 million euros.

Not included in the annual budget is the maintenance and upkeep of Spanish royal sites, which are owned by the state and made available to the king as the head-of-state, but administered by Patrimonio Nacional on behalf of the government of the day. Spanish royal sites are open to the public when members of the royal family are not in residence. Maintenance and upkeep includes groundskeeping, domestic staffing and catering.

The budget is administered with professional Public Administration accounting procedures, and is audited by government auditors.

The king, queen, and Prince of Asturias are subject to taxation and annually submit Income Tax and Wealth Tax returns and effect the relevant payments.

See also

• List of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown
• List of Spanish monarchs
• Royal Consorts of Spain
• Kings of Spain family tree
• Line of Succession to the Spanish Throne
• Politics of Spain

References

Bibliography

• Hooper, John: The New Spaniards. Penguin Books, London, New York 2006, ISBN 978-0-14-101609-2. 

Spanish Government Websites

• The Royal Household of His Majesty the King
• Centro de Investigaciones Sociológicas

News Articles

• BBC News
• Expatica.com
• Monsters and Critics news
• Notiemail News
• Telegraph

Wiki Sources

• Título II. De la Corona, Wikisource

Other

• Queen Sophia Foundation
• Prince of Asturias Foundation
• Codespa Foudation

External links

• The Royal Household of His Majesty the King

Spanish monarchy broadcasts

Alfonso XIII of Spain and Queen Victoria

• Age of majority - Alfonso XIII - Jura en su mayoría de edadAlfonso XIII reaches his majority at age 16 in 1902
• Wedding of King of Spain Alfonso XIII & Victoria Eugenia Boda in 1906
• Alfonso XIII en los funerales de Canalejas Alfonso XIII attends the funeral of Spanish President of the Government José Canalejas, assinated in 1912 by anarchist Manuel Pardiñas
• Alfonso XIII discurso inauguración Ciudad Universitaria 1929 Alfonso XIII opens the Community University in 1929
• Elecciones municipales 1931 y exilio de Alfonso XIII 1931 elections and Alfonso XIII's exile 1932
• S.M. el Rey Don Alfonso XIII marcha al exilo 1932 Alfonso XIII goes into exile 1932
• Primeras imágenes de Alfonso XIII en el exilio en Francia Alfonso XIII in exile in France
• Entierro de Alfonso XIII. Roma 1941 Alfonso XIII's funeral in Rome 1941
• Reina Victoria Eugenia 1 Biography on Queen Victoria
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 2
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 3 La boda
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 4
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 5
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 6
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 7
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 8 La marcha al exilo March into Exile
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 9 Las bodas de sus hijos y Villafontaine
  • Reina Victoria Eugenia 10 Vuelta a Espana y funerales Queen Victoria's funeral 1969

Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona

• Don Juan abdica en el Rey 1977 Don Juan officially abdicates in favor of his son
• Funerales del Conde de Barcelona Funeral of Don Juan, Count of Barcelona

Juan Carlos I of Spain and Queen Sofia

• Juan Carlos of Spain marries Sofia of Greece and Denmark 1962
• Franco nombra sucesor a Juan Carlos I que jura los cargos del movimiento Franco designates Juan Carlos as his successor 1969
• Rey de España, Proclamación Juan Carlos I gives his oath of office, and proclamation as King 1975

• I.T.V December 1975 produced documentary transition from Franco to Juan Carlos
  • Unavailable La transición Española -Juan Carlos I 1/6
    • La transición Española -Juan Carlos I 2/6
    • La transición Española -Juan Carlos I 3/6
    • La transición Española -Juan Carlos I 4/6
    • La transición Española -Juan Carlos I 5/6
    • La transición Española -Juan Carlos I 6/6
• King of Spain tells Hugo Chávez to shut up BBC News King and President Chavez' exchange 2007
• Mensaje de S.M. Juan Carlos I - 2008

Royal weddings

• Wedding of Duchess and Duke of Lugo
• Wedding of Duchess and Duke of Palma de Mallorca
• Wedding vows of the Prince and Princess of Asturias
  • Prince and Princess of Asturias on balcony

de:König (Spanien)