Queen Sofia this month attended funeral ceremonies for Prince Vittorio Emanuele of Savoy, pretender to the defunct Italian throne.

Her Majesty was present at services in Turin in her personal capacity and not representing the Spanish Crown.

Some commentators wondered why Queen Sofia attended the funeral for someone so controversial and who had run-ins with her own family.

Crowds cheered King Felipe and Queen Letizia during an event in Barcelona last week.

Their Majesties helped inaugurate a new tower for the Puig fashion and fragrance company. They met with executives and local leaders, including Pere Aragonès, the nationalist and anti-monarchist president of the autonomous community of Catalonia.

Observers are always keen to see how members of the Spanish Royal Family are received in Catalonia. They’re also keeping an eye on Queen Letizia, who has been weathering months of attacks from the political right and claims of infidelity.

The queen’s former brother-in-law has been claiming they had an affair years ago. He’s also accusing her of favoring Socialist Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has become a pariah among conservatives because of his amnesty deal with Catalan nationalists.

King Felipe this week signed the third amendment to Spain’s Constitution since its ratification in 1978.

His Majesty, joined by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and other top officials, signed the text at the Royal Palace of Zarzuela outside central Madrid. It updated wording and government responsibilities related to people with disabilities.

King Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos, signed the 1978 text after a democratization process following the death of dictator Francisco Franco.

King Felipe traveled to Guatemala in recent days for the inauguration of Bernardo Arévalo de León as the country’s new president.

The trip was part of a busy agenda on foreign affairs for the king. He has welcomed a number of new ambassadors at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

On Monday His Majesty met with Ethiopian President Sahle-Work Zewde at the Zarzuela Royal Palace north of central Madrid.

Spain’s Royal Family kicked off the new year’s agenda with the so-called Pascua Militar, a military event at the Madrid Royal Palace that coincides with the Epiphany holiday.

Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, made her first official appearance as heir to the throne after having turned 18 last year. She’s undergoing extensive military training.

This year’s event was most notable because of the princess’ presence. Royal watchers were also keen on observing the Queen’s mood.

Political opponents and other critics of both Their Majesties have been spreading claims of infidelity by the Queen more than a decade ago. Indeed, Queen Letizia was somber when the minister of defense praised her work.

King Felipe used his remarks to highlight the armed forces’ role in defense of democracy.

The government used the event to reiterate its call for a ceasefire in Israel and the protection of human rights.

King Felipe focused on the Constitution in his traditional Christmas Eve address, perhaps the monarch’s most important of the year.

His Majesty, speaking from the Zarzuela Royal Palace, to the north of central Madrid, discussed broad economic and political issues, but — as years before — went deep on his vision of a Spain in which citizens set aside divisions and work together to solve common problems.

The remarks show Don Felipe’s continued concern about nationalist parties and leaders, particularly in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

The Spanish Constitution turned 45 in 2023. Also last year, Princess Leonor — heir to the throne — swore allegiance to the text upon turning 18. A picture of the event was behind the King during his message.

Later in December, before the new year, King Felipe held a swearing-in ceremony for new government ministers.

The first major event of the year on the royal calendar is the Pascua Militar, a military event at the Royal Palace in Madrid that coincides with the Epiphany holiday.

King Felipe traveled to Argentina roughly a week ago to attend inauguration ceremonies for the country’s new president, Javier Milei, who’s rise to power has stunned observers.

Milei is an eccentric populist who has promised deep spending cuts and reforms to tackle inflation and make the country more competitive. He has acknowledged a painful transition.

Present at the ceremonies were several world leaders, including the heads of Chile, Ukraine and Hungary.

For decades, a senior member of the Royal Family has attended inauguration ceremonies at former Spanish colonies.

King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Princess Leonor presided over the solemn opening of the Spanish Cortes Generales — the Congress of Deputies and the Senate — during a ceremony Wednesday.

His Majesty reminded lawmakers of their responsibility to always search for the common good for all Spaniards. He also praised the “political pluralism” represented.

This was the first opening of parliament featuring Princess Leonor, who recently took an oath to the Constitution as heir to the throne.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia will preside over the Solemn Opening of the Cortes Generales next week now that a new government has taken shape.

The solemn opening includes remarks from the King and the presence of parliamentarians and other high authorities. The Congress of the Deputies building in Madrid takes out a large canopy to receive the King and Queen with military honors.

It took months for left-leaning political parties to form a coalition led by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. It took a deal with Catalan nationalists to make it happen.

King Felipe tasked Sánchez with forming a government after the conservative Popular Party leader was unable to muster enough votes.

The prime minister and his Cabinet took their oath before the king in ceremonies at Zarzuela Palace in recent days.

Many smaller, leftist parties are expected to skip the ceremonies just like they did the recent gathering for Princess Leonor to take an oath to the Constitution.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia met with Danish Queen Margarethe and other royals during a state visit to that country last week.

The trip started with an official departure ceremony at the Madrid airport’s Terminal of State. Their Majesties then attended a state dinner and met with Danish political and business leaders.

King Felipe has family ties to the Danish Royal Family, which is linked to the Greek Royal Family.