Leibovitz, Higgs Among Award Winners

Photographer Annie Leibovitz and scientist Peter Higgs were among this year’s recipients of the annual Prince of Asturias awards, held in Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain.

Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia arriving at the awards venue in Asturias.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The awards are among the most important events that the Spanish Royal Family puts on every year. The ceremony is broadcast live on television and brings out thousands of spectators.

Beyond the formal events at Campoamor Theater and the Hotel of the Reconquest, the Prince and Princess of Asturias also award a town in the principality.

This year they recognized the community of Teverga for working to overcome the downturn in mining related employment.

Prince Felipe has been taking on an increasingly visible role in recent years after King Juan Carlos’ multiple operations.

King Absent For National Day

King Juan Carlos, who recently underwent hip surgery, was notably not present for the Fiesta Nacional military parade in Madrid.

Prince Felipe, who is playing an increasingly visible role, presided over the Saturday event, along with his wife Princess Letizia.

Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena joined them later for a reception at the Royal Palace.

The Prince of Asturias stepping in for his father more and more has led to news outlets and politicians to suggest changes in the Constitution or at least Spanish law to give the Prince more of an official role.

The King and his son did meet with Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy and other officials at Zarzuela Palace today to discuss the upcoming Ibero-American Summit.

The Prince, because he is not a head of state or government, will not be able to step in for his father to lead the Spanish delegation. Instead he will host associated events.

Also in recent days, Queen Sofia celebrated her brother in law Carlos Zurita, the Duke of Soria, who heads a booster group for the famed Prado museum.

And in the ongoing saga over the corruption investigation plaguing the King’s son on law, Infanta Cristina’s husband, El País reported that their Barcelona home is on sale to make bond.

In recent days news outlets have been reporting about leaked information about the couple’s expenses, including shrimp fajitas at a Washington, D.C. area restaurant.

The King Texts?!

It seems that King Juan Carlos is fond of texting public officials in a jovial manner.

Joan Mesquida, former director general of the Spanish Civil Guard and former tourism chief, got a text from the King during a recent radio broadcast, according to El País.

So Mesquida went on the explain that the King not only texts, but is also quick to pick up the phone or return phone calls.

Don Juan Carlos is still recovering from his recent operation.

Other members of the Royal Family, meanwhile, have remained active.

This week Queen Sofia, for example, attended an exhibit at El Prado Museum.

She also donned her mantilla and formal black dress to commemorate the Patrol Madonna of the Civil Guard.

It’s not all good news for the Royal Family these days.

A judge is deciding whether to include the King’s daughter, Infanta Cristina, in her husband’s ongoing corruption investigation.

Royals Celebrate Little Flag Day, Greet Crowds

Members of the Royal Family greeted crowds in Madrid today during the annual Flag Day Red Cross fundraiser.

Queen Sofia presided over a booth at the Congress of Deputies.

Infanta Elena and Princess Letizia were elsewhere in the city, also greeting crowds and putting little Red Cross flags on them.

Earlier this week Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were celebrated Police Day in Alcalá de Henares in the Madrid region.

King Juan Carlos has not held any public events since his recent surgery. He is already out of the hospital.

King’s Operation Successful

King Juan Carlos’ hip operation this week has been a success.

Queen Sofia has been among the several members of the Royal Family who have visited His Majesty at Quirón University Hospital in Madrid.

Also there this week were Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina, plus Prince Felipe and Princes Letizia.

Doctors had to operate the King to address an infection stemming from hip replacement surgery.

They are now administering antibiotics and will soon have to operate again.

His Majesty received ambassadorial credentials before going into surgery. He did so at Zarzuela Palace, rather than the usual venue, the Royal Palace in downtown Madrid.

King Juan Carlos Back Into Surgery

King Juan Carlos will be back in surgery in the coming days to deal with a rare infection stemming from a previous thigh procedure, the Royal Household said in a press conference yesterday.

The operation could put the king, 75, in recovery for several months, at a time when he has been wanting to be more active with the purpose of recovering his public image.

The head of the Royal Household said yesterday that Prince Felipe and other members of the Royal Family could continue to substitute the King at events, but that his duties as Head of State are non-transferable.

In other words, King Juan Carlos may not be able to attend the upcoming Ibero-American summit in Panama, and the Prince would not be able to sit in for his dad.

With the new surgery, the latest of several in recent years, talk of abdication resurfaced. The Royal Household said no such thing is being considered.

The Spanish government also said that King Juan Carlos would be able to sign important document, like Royal Decrees, from the hospital or recovery.

Royal Gathering

King Willem-Alexander and Queen Máxima, the new monarchs of the Netherlands, were in Spain this week visiting King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia and Infanta Elena.

Earlier this week Queen Sofia was in Cádiz presenting the battle ensign for Spanish Armada’s new warship Juan Carlos I.

Queen Sofia wore the traditional mantilla for the formal occasion.

King Opens Judicial Year

King Juan Carlos today opened the Judicial Year today at the Palace of Justice, the home for the Spanish Supreme Court.

His Majesty presided over the event wearing the Grand Collar of Justice, which dates back to the reign of Queen Isabella II.

Among numerous events presided by members of the Royal Family in recent days, Queen Sofia toured a new art exhibit at the Royal Palace and over the weekend went to a concert at the National Auditorium of Music in Madrid.

The King and his son, Prince Felipe, have also presided over several military related ceremonies.

Last week Don Felipe, the Prince of Asturias, visited the Cartagena area to visit the Spanish Armada’s base.

Queen Sofia In New York Amid Busy Agenda

The Spanish Royal Family’s agenda is quickly picking up after the recent summer vacations in Europe.

Today King Juan Carlos handed out the King Juan Carlos Human Rights Award at the famed Univerity of Alcalá.

The King’s son, Prince Felipe of Asturias, also presided over several meetings today at Zazrzuela Palace in the outskirts of Madrid.

However, Queen Sofia is the one capturing the headlines. Her Majesty has been in New York this week.

She was at the United Nations to receive the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Rights Award on behalf of Spain.

During her remarks, the Queen said the award represented the goal of complete equality for people in society.

Queen Sofia also met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and spoke at a development work meeting. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos — Queen Sofia also met with U.N. Secretary General Ban Ki Moon and spoke at an international development work meeting.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

It should not come as a surprise that Queen Sofia, a big sports fan and a booster of Spanish athletes, took some time to see Rafael Nadal win the US Open.

Prince Disappointed By Madrid Loss

Prince Felipe expressed disappointment this weekend over Madrid’s loss to Tokyo for the 2020 Olympics.

Don Felipe, and his wife, Princess Letizia, were in Buenos Aires lobbying for the city’s bid, along with other officials, including Government President Mariano Rajoy.

The Prince is said to have impressed delegates with his use of French, English and Spanish to answer questions about Madrid’s preparedness.

In the end, the Prince of Asturias said he understood the “sadness from the people of Madrid and all of Spain.” He said, “This is a competition that we were not able to win.”