Tag: Queen Sofia

Olympic Sendoff

King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia and other members of the Royal Family hosted several members of the Spanish Olympic delegation before their departure for London.

Group at El Pardo Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The King recalled the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and the strength of Spanish teams.

During a speech at El Pardo Palace near his own residence at Zarzuela, King Juan Carlos told the athletes that qualifying alone was a great accomplishment.

“Yours is a great responsibility and I am sure you will rise to it,” said His Majesty.

Members of the Royal Family are wrapping up their official agenda before heading to Marivent Palace in Mallorca for vacations.

Prince Felipe with European foreign ministers in the Almudaina Palace in Mallorca last week.

Even though other commitments kept the family away from the King’s Cup regatta in Mallorca, which was held earlier than usual this year because of the Olympics, Prince Felipe’s presence at the awards ceremony added a sense of normalcy to the event, Hola noted.

Prince Felipe with Balearic Island President José Ramón Bauzá Díaz last week.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

King, Queen Host Events Together

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia hosted events together this week. The media, especially international outlets, have talked about possible troubles in their relationship. And the busy agenda has kept them apart in recent days, at least in public.

Zarzuela Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Today Their Majesties received leaders and students of United World Colleges, a global organization designed to promote peace and understanding through multicultural education.

The King and Queen are high patrons of the foundation in Spain. They were joined by the head of the Spanish chapter of the foundation, the King’s cousin, His Royal Highness Infante Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias.

Earlier this week, Their Majesties met with participants of this year’s Ruta Quetzal. Sponsored by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, the program takes outstanding young people from several countries on an expedition.

El Pardo Palace.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Queen Sofia Takes Philippines By Storm

Queen Sofia has taken the Philippines by storm on her third visit to the country this week. Leaders in the former Spanish colony are giving Her Majesty a warm welcome with full honors wherever she goes.

Queen Sofia with President Benigno Aquino.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The Queen presided over a meeting about Spanish international aid to the country. She called the Philippines a priority for Spain and said she felt “truly at home.”

Arrival in Legazpi.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The Queen opened an exhibit at the National Library about Spanish cooperation in the Philippines. She has also visited a school, a workshop and a hospital.

Meeting with students at Refugio School.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Queen Sofia met with mayors who are working to improve local governance. She’s also promoting the increased teaching of Spanish in the country.

Princess Letizia Incognito

Princess Letizia took to the streets of Madrid for some below-the-radar shopping while her daughters were in school. Hola magazine took note of her cutting edge fashion.

Meanwhile, her husband, Prince Felipe, yesterday presided over a dinner marking a meeting of the Association of the Councils of State and Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions of the European Union at the Spanish Supreme Court.

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

In July, Queen Sofia is scheduled to visit the Philippines.

Royal Whirlwind, Prince In New York, King Near Gibraltar

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia arrived in the U.S. yesterday and visited IESE Business School’s campus in New York today.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Like his father, Prince Felipe spoke about Spain’s ongoing economic troubles. He touted recent reforms and called for “more Europe” to solve the continental crisis. He said the monetary union was “weak” and suggested the need for a stronger pact.

Their Royal Highnesses participated in a business colloquium and met with students on campus. IESE is an outpost of the University of Navarra and the first European business school to set up a permanent facility in New York.

The Prince and Princess of Asturias are also scheduled to visit Harvard University this week.

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

Just yesterday, Prince Felipe was in Morocco. He met with Prince Moulay Rachid and business leaders from both countries.

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

Meanwhile, King Juan Carlos visited Civil Guard facilities near Gibraltar, as scheduled.

Some critics in that British outpost are calling to Monarch’s visit as a hostile act. Fishermen wanting access to disputed waters are calling on the King to intervene on their behalf. Spanish forces have already escorted them on fishing trips.

Queen Sofia is holding down the fort in Madrid. She presided over a meeting of the Royal Patronage for Disabilities and assisted an event organized by the Indian Embassy. She went with her sister Princess Irene.

Queen Sofia with the Indian ambassador to Spain.
© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

In Crutches and Limping But Still Strong

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, accompanied by Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, reviewed a military parade and other demonstrations during the official commemoration of Spanish Armed Forces Day at the Plaza Mayor in Valladolid.

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

Almost 200 events were planned starting yesterday all around Spain and in the North African enclaves of Melilla and Ceuta to honor those who died or served in the different military branches. The Royal Family also visited with family members of the fallen. Spain has offered military support to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Spanish press is talking up the Monarch’s reappearance in public after his hip surgery and noted his difficulty walking. Journalists noted that the King remained standing up during the ceremonies.

Don Juan Carlos quipped, “Let’s see if you would have been able to do it.”

Defense Minister Pedro Morenés noted Spain’s relatively low spending on defense and this year’s more austere celebrations because of the economic crisis. Still, there were some anti-monarchist protests.

Click here for more, including video, from El País.

Click here for Spanish Television coverage.

King, Queen Hand Out Prestigious Awards

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia handed out Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts gold medals to several Spanish luminaries today at Zarzuela Palace just outside Madrid.

Recipients were tenor Plácido Domingo, filmmaker Pedro Almodóvar, Tamara Rojo, Sara Baras  and Paco Peña.

King Juan Carlos and Almodóvar.

The King thanked the Washington, D.C.-based Kennedy Center for showcasing Spanish culture. He also noted Spain’s connection with American history and the importance of Hispanic culture in the U.S.  And he said the award recipients “contribute with their work to maintain Spain’s name at the highest levels of artistic creation.”

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

Queen Sofia Cancels Trip Over Gibraltar

Queen Sofia has cancelled a planned trip to London on Friday because of tensions between the Spanish and British governments over the disputed colony of Gibraltar, media reports indicate.

Specifically, the Spanish government has expressed displeasure over British Prince Edward’s visit to Gibraltar to mark Queen Elizabeth’s Diamond Jubilee. Queen Sofia’s visit to England was also connected to the celebrations.

Queen Sofia.
© Agencia EFE

Both Queen Sofia and King Juan Carlos have family and friendship ties to Queen Elizabeth.  Also, Queen Sofia’s brother, former Greek King Constantine, is Prince William’s Godfather.

Royal Wedding 1962

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia marked their 50th wedding anniversary at home today with their daughters, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina.

Juan Carlos, then Prince of Spain, and Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, daughter of the Hellenic Monarchs, married in Athens on May 14, 1962. They went through Catholic and Orthodox ceremonies to appease religious and political leaders in each country.

Contrary to tradition, Juan Carlos was formally called Prince of Spain and not Prince of Asturias. That’s because by calling him the latter, dictator Francisco Franco would have legitimized Juan Carlos’ father as rightful King of Spain. Don Juan de Borbón y Battenberg was living in exile in Portugal.

The wedding, which some critics compare to a “contract,” was important for both royal houses. Greek Queen Frederica of Hanover wanted her daughter Sofia to find a prince that could make her queen someday. At the same time, Prince Juan Carlos needed someone who could help him restore Spain’s monarchy.

Historians consider the union, and Queen Frederica’s counsel, essential to helping Juan Carlos succeed General Franco as Spanish head of state. Even though Franco had been grooming the Prince for years, nobody knew if Juan Carlos would actually manage to become King.

Prince Juan Carlos proclaimed King, 1975.

Franco, who spied on the young couple living at the Zarzuela Palace near the Generalissimo’s own residence of El Pardo Palace, wanted to make sure Juan Carlos would continue his nationalist movement. At the same time, the world’s leaders were wary of the young prince’s commitment to Democracy. And his father in Portugal wanted to become king himself.

Spanish Television aired this mini-documentary on the wedding, which was produced in 2002 for the King and Queen’s 40th wedding anniversary.