Crowds Flood Madrid As King Felipe VI Takes Oath

Prince Felipe became King of Spain at midnight Spanish time.

This morning, as planned, King Juan Carlos held a small ceremony at Zarzuela Palace to symbolically hand-over command of the armed forces.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos — © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafo

20140619 imposicion faja capitan general 07 — Infanta Elena and her son Felipe, far right, were part of the Zarzuela Palace ceremony.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, along with their young daughters Princess Leonor of Asturias and Infanta Sofia, then headed over to the Congress Palace.

Also there were Queen Sofia, Infanta Elena and other members of the King’s Family. King Juan Carlos did not attend the proclamation to not overshadow his son.

Parliamentarians cheered the traditional “Viva España, Viva El Rey!”

The King swore to uphold the Spanish constitution, spoke in favor of human rights and democracy, and offered a strong defense of the Monarchy.

“The independence of the Crown, its political neutrality and its search for unity amid ideological differences, allow it to contribute to the stability of our political system,” the King said.

The King also alluded to ongoing nationalist and separatist rumblings in certain communities. “Unity is not uniformity,” he said, in an effort to honor Spain’s diversity.

“In a Spain that is united and diverse, based on the equality of all Spaniards, and the solidarity among its different communities and respect for the rule of law, we all fit,” said the new King.

Don Felipe said improving Spain’s economic situation was paramount, and stressed the need for Spain to be a leader in promoting a strong and united Europe.

© Casa de Su Majestad el Rey / Agencia EFE

King Felipe then proceeded in open car to the Madrid Royal Palace. Crowds gathered along the way.

_75640890_de27-1 — The new Royal Family greets crowds in Madrid’s Plaza de Oriente from the Royal Palace balcony. King Felipe and Queen Letizia were then scheduled to greet 2,000 guests at the Royal Palace.

20140619_balcon_palacio_1 — King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia.

U.S. President Barack Obama released a statement of congratulations this morning.

“I look forward to working closely with King Felipe VI and continuing to strengthen this bond in the years to come. As Spain celebrates this transition and looks ahead to the future, the American people celebrate along with the people of Spain,” he said.

King Felipe is adopting a Royal Standard slightly different from his father’s. It lacks the Cross of Burgundy and the background is maroon.

Spain On The Verge Of New King

Spain is on the verge of having a new King.

Today King Juan Carlos signed legislation to make his own abdication official effective at midnight Spanish time.

King Felipe VI will be Spain’s second head of state since the death of General Franco.

20140618_Promulgación_07 — King Juan Carlos embraces Prince Felipe at the Royal Palace’s Hall of Columns during today’s ceremony.

This is a historic moment for Spain. The country is seeing the first peaceful transfer of royal power in modern history.

Pres. Obama Congratulates King On Long Reign

U.S. President Barack Obama over the weekend called King Juan Carlos to congratulate him on a “historic reign,” the White House said.

Prince Felipe is scheduled to become King Felipe VI after proclamation ceremonies later this week.

King Juan Carlos signing his abdication announcement. — King Juan Carlos signing his abdication announcement after 39 years on the throne.

The White House said President Obama thanked Don Juan Carlos for his promotion of democracy and transatlantic relations.

Prince Felipe with his daughters, Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Cristina García Rodero

Events to proclaim Felipe the new King of Spain will begin with legislative action in parliament on the 18th, according to media reports.

The 19th will see ceremonies at Zarzuela Palace, the Congress Palace and the Royal Palace, including a balcony appearance by the new monarchs.

Queen Sofia at the opera in Valencia over the weekend.

Security Elevated For King’s Proclamation

Spanish media outlets are reporting that security forces are beefing up their anti-terrorism stance in advance of King Felipe VI’s proclamation on June 19th.

King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia host Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto and his wife for a state dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

As workers prepare the Congress of Deputies building for the event, security forces are mulling whether the new King should ride an open or closed car.

It appears that Don Felipe wants an open top, especially on his ride from the Congress to the Royal Palace.

Media outlets are also reporting that King Juan Carlos will not attend the proclamation to not upstage his son.

Infanta Cristina and her husband, embroiled in a corruption scandal, will also not be attending.

Spaniards Debate Monarchy

A majority of Spaniards supports a referendum on whether the country should remain a monarchy of become, once again, a republic, El País newspaper is reporting.

The news comes as Prince Felipe prepared to become King Felipe VI.

The newspaper also found that while most Spaniards support King Juan Carlos’ abdication, only 36 percent want an elected president.

Roughly 50 percent of respondents expressed support for a Monarchy under Felipe VI.

Support for the Monarchy is strongest among right-of-center voters. Socialists are divided, even though party leaders back the Monarchy.

The newspaper’s president wrote that people’s desire for more democracy and transparency was not necessarily linked to whether the country had an elected or hereditary head of state.

20140608_FAS_06 — The military saluted the King today.

Numerous Spanish leaders agree with the need to reform the Constitution to address political challenges, including separatist sentiments in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

There is less elite support, however, for submitting the Crown to referendum.

Prince Promises To Lead United And Diverse Spain

Prince Felipe, soon to be proclaimed King of Spain, pledged today to use all his strength to serve the nation, which he called “politically united and diverse with deep historical roots.”

Prince Felipe spoke at the Prince of Viana awards ceremony in Navarra today in the wake of his father’s abdication announcement.

Members of the Royal Family have been pressing unity amid pro-independence rumblings in Catalonia. They hope a change at the top will defuse some of the recent political tension.

Other than being Prince of Asturias, Prince Felipe is also Prince of Viana and Prince of Girona, among a series of titles reserved for the heir to the Spanish throne.

Those titles were several hundred years ago reserved for the heirs to the different realms that now make up Spain.

Today King Juan Carlos got standing ovations from a group of business leaders during a meeting at El Pardo Palace.

Crowds also cheered Don Juan Carlos during what may be the last bullfight of his reign.

King, Prince Make Joint Appearance After Abdication News

King Juan Carlos and Prince Felipe made a joint appearance today after the King’s abdication announcement yesterday.

Don Juan Carlos and Don Felipe presided over a military ceremony at El Escorial palace complex in the outskirts of Madrid.

Prince Felipe, who was recently in El Salvador for the new president’s swearing-in, is expected to be proclaimed King by the Cortes Generales later this month.

Today Queen Sofia, who was having meetings at the United Nations in New York, when asked about her husband’s abdication said things would continue as usual after the transfer of power.

Of course, there will be major changes.

Media reports indicate that Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina will no longer be members of the Royal Family as they are now.

They will instead be part of the King’s Family and keep their titles of nobility.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia will remain part of the Royal Family as former Monarchs, but Don Juan Carlos will lose his legal inviolability.

King To Abdicate (With Updates)

Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy announced this morning that King Juan Carlos, who has been Spain’s Head of State for 39 years and helped restore Democracy to the country, will abdicate.

Don Juan Carlos had talked down the possibility of abdicating in recent years, but now says he made his decision during his 76th birthday earlier this year.

The King said in a message to the nation it was important to recognize the influence of “a younger generation, with new energies.” He said Prince Felipe, who will soon be proclaimed King, represents “stability.”

The King’s abdication is the latest in a string of European Monarchs stepping down. But it also comes amid ongoing economic and political troubles.

King Juan Carlos speaking at Zarzuela Palace.

Prince Felipe, and his wife Letizia, the soon-to-be Queen Consort, will have to promote Spanish unity amid pro-independence rumblings in Catalonia and the Basque Country.

Prince Felipe will be proclaimed (not crowned) King soon. The action has to be ratified by the Cortes as the Constitution requires for abdications.

Spain's future King and Queen. — Spain’s future King and Queen.

Updates

-King Juan Carlos’ abdication announcement drew praise for the Monarch’s work from conservative Popular Party and Socialist Party leaders. United Left, however, called for a referendum on the Monarchy.

-Catalan President Artur Mas said change at the top of Spanish politics would not stop his push for a referendum on independence.

-Several thousand people hit the streets in Madrid and Barcelona to call for a referendum on whether to keep the Monarchy.

-The Spanish government will introduce legislation this week to begin the process of ratifying the abdication and welcoming Prince Felipe as the new King. Debate will follow in the Cortes.

-Prince Felipe’s proclamation as King could begin, media reports indicate, as soon as the 16th of this month.

-Details remain to be worked out, including the future legal standing of Don Juan Carlos, who is currently considered “inviolable.”

-The Royal Household released a timeline with images of important events in the future King’s life, including swearing allegiance to the Constitution in 1986.

King Meets With Sarkozy, Cheers Real Madrid

King Juan Carlos today met with former French President Nicolas Sarkozy at Zarzuela Palace.

Don Juan Carlos is friends with Sarkozy and recently awarded him the collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece.

The King, who has significantly boosted his public appearances, was in Lisbon this weekend with Queen Sofia attending the UEFA Champions League 2014 final game between Real Madrid and Atlético Madrid.

20140524 final champions 01 — Their Majesties with European and Portuguese officials.

Among recent events by members of the Royal Family, Princess Letizia attended a childhood cancer symposium in Seville.

Princess Letizia Celebrates Anniversary

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia last week celebrated their ten year anniversary.

The Royal Household released pictures of the couple getting their daughters — Infanta Leonor and Infanta Sofia — getting ready for school.

The Royal Household also released a series of statistics about Their Royal Highnessess as Prince and Princess of Asturias, and heirs to the Spanish throne.

The Prince and Princess of Asturias on a museum visit in Toledo. © Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos — The Prince and Princess of Asturias on a museum visit in Toledo.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The couple has made more than 70 foreign trips to 38 countries. They have hosted more than 1,500 official events together, with Princess Letizia hosting 190 by herself.

The Prince and Princess have also received more than 7,000 people together during audiences.