monarchy of spain

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King of Spain

Rey de Espaa

Coat of arms of the King of Spain

Incumbent

Felipe VI of Spain

since 19 June 2014

Style His Majesty

Heiresspresumptive

Leonor, Princess of Asturias

First monarch Charles I

Formation 1516

Residence Royal Palace of Madrid (official)Palace of Zarzuela (private)

Website The Household of His Majesty the King(http://www.casareal.es)

Monarchy of SpainFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

(Redirected from King of Spain)

The Spanish Monarchy (Monarqua Espaola),constitutionally referred to as The Crown (la Corona) andcommonly referred to as the Monarchy of Spain(Monarqua de Espaa) or Hispanic Monarchy

(Monarqua Hispnica),[1] is a constitutional institution and

a historic office of Spain.[2] The monarchy comprises thereigning monarch, his or her family, and the royal householdorganization which supports and facilitates the monarch in the

exercise of his royal duties and prerogatives.[3][4][5] TheSpanish monarchy is represented by King Felipe VI, his wifeQueen Letizia, and his daughters Leonor, Princess of

Asturias, and Infanta Sofia;[6] Juan Carlos I and his wife

retained courtesy titles of King and Queen of Spain.[7][8]

Opinion polls routinely reveal that the monarchy remainspopular by a wide majority of citizens in contemporary

Spain,[9] with as many as 75% of Spanish citizens ranking the

monarchy above any other public institution in the country.[10]

In 2010, the budget for the Spanish monarchy was 7.4million euros, one of the lowest public expenditures for the

institution of monarchy in Europe.[11][12]

The Spanish Constitution of 1978 reestablished[2][13] aconstitutional monarchy as the form of government for Spain.The 1978 constitution affirmed the role of the King of Spainas the personification and embodiment of the Spanish Stateand a symbol of Spain's enduring unity and

permanence.[3][14] Constitutionally, the king is the head-of-state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed

Forces.[3][14] The constitution codifies the use of royal stylesand titulary, royal prerogatives, hereditary succession to thecrown, compensation, and a regency-guardianshipcontingency in cases of the monarch's minority or

incapacitation.[3][14] According to the constitution, themonarch is also instrumental in the "nations of its historical

community"[3][14], i.e. Ibero-America. In this capacity, theKing of Spain serves as the president of the Ibero-American States Organization, purportedly representing over700,000,000 people in twenty-four member nations worldwide. In 2008, Juan Carlos I was considered the most

popular leader in all Ibero-America.[10][15]



The Spanish monarchy has its roots in the Visigothic Kingdom founded in Spain and Aquitainia[16] in the 5thcentury, and its Christian successor states which fought the Reconquista following the Umayyad invasion ofHispania in the 8th century. A dynastic marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II of Aragon unitedSpain in the 15th century. The Spanish Empire became one of the first global powers as Isabella and Ferdinandfunded Christopher Columbus's exploratory voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. This led to the rediscovery ofAmerica by Europeans, which became the focus of Spanish colonization.

Contents

1 History

2 The Crown, constitution, and royal prerogatives

2.1 Styles, titles, and the 'Fount of Honour'

2.2 Inviolablity and lse majest

2.3 Succession and regency

2.4 The king, the government, and the Cortes Generales

2.5 Royal assent, judiciary, and promulgation of the laws

2.6 The king and international diplomacy

2.7 The king as Commander-in-Chief

3 Contemporary monarchy

3.1 Popularity and criticism

3.2 Charitable, cultural, and religious patronage

4 Household of H.M. the King

4.1 Residences and royal sites

4.2 Annual budget and taxation

5 See also

6 Notes

7 References

8 External links

History

The Kingdom of Spain has its roots in the Visigothic Kingdom and its Christian successor states of Navarra,Asturias and Aragon, which fought the Reconquista or Reconquest of the Iberian peninsula following the Umayyadinvasion of Hispania in the 8th century. One of the earliest influential dynasties was the House of Jimnez whichunited much of Christian Iberia under its leadership in the 11th century. From Sancho III of Navarre (r. 1000-1035) until Urraca of Len and Castile (r.1106-1125), members of the Jimnez family claimed the historicVisigothic title Imperator totius Hispaniae or Emperor of All Spain. The Jimnez rulers sought to bring theirkingdoms into the European mainstream and often engaged in cross-Pyrenees alliances and marriages, and became



Dynastic line from

the first Visigothic

kings to Juan Carlos

I.

patrons to Cluniac Reforms (c. 950c.1130). Uracca's son and heir Alfonso VII of Len and Castile, the first ofthe Spanish branch of the Burgundy Family, was the last to claim the imperial title of Spain, but divided his empireamong his sons. The Castilian Civil War (1366 to 1369) ended with the death of King Peter (r. 1334-1369) at thehands of his illegitimate half-brother Henry, 1st Count of Trastmara who ruled as Henry II (r. 13691379). HenryII became the first of the House of Trastmara to rule over a Spanish kingdom. King Peter's heiress, hisgranddaughter Catherine of Lancaster, married Henry III, reuniting the dynasties in the person of their son, KingJohn II.

In the 15th century, the marriage between Isabella I of Castile and Ferdinand II ofAragon, both members of the House of Trastmara, known as the Catholic Monarchs,united most of the Iberian peninsula. In 1492 the Catholic Monarchs conquered theKingdom of Granada in southern Spain, the last moorish territory in the Iberian peninsula.This date marks the unification of Spain.

In the early 16th century, the Spanish monarchy controlled several territories in Europeunder the Habsburg King Charles I (also Holy Roman Emperor as Charles V), son ofQueen Joanna of Castile. His reign ushered in the Spanish Golden Age (14921659) aperiod of great colonial expansion and trade. In 1700, Charles II, the last of the SpanishHabsburgs, designated his sister Maria Theresa's grandson, Philip of France, Duke ofAnjou, as his heir. The possible unification of Spain with France sparked the SpanishWar of Succession in the 18th century, culminating in the treaties of Utrecht (1713) andRastatt (1714) which preserved the European balance of power. Philip V was the firstmember of the House of Bourbon (Spanish: Borbn) to rule Spain, the dynasty that stillrules today under Felipe VI.

During the Napoleonic Wars, the French Emperor Napoleon Bonaparte forcedFerdinand VII to abdicate in 1808 and the Bourbons became a focus of popularresistance against French rule. However, Ferdinand's rejection of the liberal SpanishConstitution of 1812, his ministerial appointments, particularly the exclusion of liberals,gradually eroded popular support for the Spanish monarchy. With the PragmaticSanction of 1830, Ferdinand set aside the Salic Law, introduced by Philip V, thatprohibited women from becoming sovereigns of Spain. Thereby, as had been customarybefore the arrival of the Bourbons, the Ferdinand VII's eldest daughter Isabella becamehis heiress presumptive. Opponents of the Pragmatic Sanction argued that it was neverofficially promulgated, claiming Ferdinand VII's younger brother, Prince Carlos, therightful heir to the crown according to the Salic Law.

Thus began a series of civil wars known as the Carlist Wars, named after the Carlists,who supported Carlos' claim. Isabella II, whose main support came from centrists andmoderates, was beset by Carlisti forces on the extreme right and radicals on the extreme left. Faced with thesechallenges, Isabella's rule became increasingly reactionary in her dealings with the polarized Cortes, and herauthoritarian rule became increasingly dependent on the army. Her reliance on the military eroded her popularsupport from the moderates and centrists until 1868 when she was forced to abdicate. In September 1873 the FirstSpanish Republic was founded.

A coup d'tat restored the Borbn dynasty to the throne in 1874. However, in 1931 local and municipal electionsproduced victories (particularly in urban areas) for candidates favoring an end to the monarchy and theestablishment of a republic. Faced with unrest in the cities, Alfonso XIII went into exile, but did not abdicate. The



Symbols of the Spanish Monarchy:

Commemorative Crown and Sceptre

ensuing provisional government evolved into the relatively short-lived Second Spanish Republic. The Spanish CivilWar began in 1936 and ended on 1 April 1939 with the victory of General Francisco Franco and his coalition ofallied organizations commonly referred to as the Nationalists.

General Franco ruled Spain as Regent to the King of Spain.However, without a king on the throne, he ruled through a coalitionof allied organizations from the Spanish Civil War including, but notlimited to, the Falange political party, the supporters of the Borbonroyal family, and the Carlists, until his death in 1975. DespiteFranco's alliance with the Carlists, Franco appointed Juan Carlos Ide Borbn as his successor, who is credited with presiding overSpain's transition from dictatorship to democracy by fully endorsingpolitical reforms.

Impatient with the pace of democratic reforms, the new king, knownfor his formidable personality, dismissed Carlos Arias Navarro and

appointed the reformer Adolfo Surez as President of the Government in 1977.[17][18]

The next year the king signed into law the new liberal democratic Constitution of Spain, which was approved by88% of voters. Juan Carlos' "quick wit and steady nerve" cut short the attempted military coup in 1981 when theking 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.[19]

Following the events of 1981, Juan Carlos has led a less eventful life, according to author John Hooper.[19] Theking does not preside over ceremonies such as the opening of hospitals and bridges as often as monarchs in othernations. Instead, he has worked towards establishing reliable political customs when transitioning one governmentadministration to another, emphasizing constitutional law and protocol, and representing the Spanish Statedomestically and internationally, all the while maintaining a professionally non-partisan yet independent

monarchy.[10][19]

The Crown, constitution, and royal prerogatives

The historic Crown of Spain, (la Corona de Espaa) with its roots in the Visigothic kingdom from the 5th centuryand subsequent successor states, is recognized in Title II The Crown, Articles 56 through 65 of the Spanish

Constitution of 1978.[2] Constitutionally the monarch embodies and personifies the unity and permanace of theSpanish State, and represents the legal personality of the State and by extension fulfills the role of "Father of theNation". As a unifying figure for the nation, in 2010 King Juan Carlos worked towards "bridging the gap" betweenSpains rival polarized political parties to develop a unified strategy in response to the countrys on-going late-

2000s economic crisis.[10]

According to the Spanish Constitution voted in referendum, the sovereignty power emanates from the people, so

it's the very same people who give the king the power to reign:[3][5]

National sovereignty belongs to the Spanish people, from whom all State powers emanate.

Title I, Article 2, the Spanish Constitution of 1978[20]



The monarch "arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions" and assumes the highest

representation of the Spanish State in international relations.[2] The monarch exercises the functions expressly

conferred on him by the constitution and the laws.[3][5]

The King is Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence. He arbitrates and moderates theregular functioning of the institutions, assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State ininternational relations, especially with the nations of its historical community, and exercises thefunctions expressly conferred on him by the Constitution and the laws.

Title II the Crown, Article 56, the Spanish Constitution of 1978[21]

Upon accession to the crown and being proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, the king swears an oath tofaithfully carry out his constitutional duties and to abide by the constitution and laws of the state. Additionally, theconstitution gives the king the added responsibility to ensure that the constitution is obeyed. Lastly, the king swearsto respect the rights of Spanish citizens and of the self-governing communities. The Prince of Asturias, uponreaching the age of majority, in addition to any regent(s) upon assuming the office, swears the same oath as that ofthe king along with a further oath of loyalty to the monarch.

(1) The King, on being proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, will swear to faithfully carry out hisduties, to obey the Constitution and the laws and ensure that they are obeyed, and to respect therights 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 tothe King.

Title II The Crown, Article 61, the Spanish Constitution of 1978

The oath reads as follows:

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

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.[3][5][22] Title VI Judicial

Power, Article 117, Articles 122 through 124, outlines the king's role in the country's independent judiciary.[23]

However, by constitutional convention established by Juan Carlos I, the king exercises his prerogatives havingsolicited government advice while maintaining a politically non-partisan and independent monarchy. Receivinggovernment advice does not necessarily bind the monarch into executing the advice, except where prescribed bythe 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.



Royal Standard

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.

Title II The Crown, Article 62, the Spanish Constitution of 1978[3][5]

Styles, titles, and the 'Fount of Honour'

The 1978 constitution confirms the title of the monarch is the King ofSpain, but that he may also use other titles historically associated with the

Crown.[3][5][24] The titles used by Alfonso XIII before his exile in 1931which, with this provision of the constitution, the king is entitled to useinclude:

His Catholic Majesty, the King of Spain [the Spanish], Kingof Castile, of Len, of Aragon, of the Two Sicilies, ofJerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Seville, of Toledo, ofValencia, of Galicia, of Sardinia, of Crdoba, of Corsica, ofMurcia, of Jan, of the Algarves, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, ofthe Canary Islands, of the East and West Indies, of the Islandsand Mainland of the Ocean Sea; Archduke of Austria; Dukeof Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, of Athens and Neopatria;Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Roussillon, andof Barcelona; Lord of Biscay and of Molina de Aragn; Captain General & SupremeCommander of the Royal Armed Forces; Sovereign Grand Master of the Order of the GoldenFleece and of the orders awarded by the Spanish state.

Title II The Crown, Article 56 (2), the Spanish Constitution of 1978.[3][5][24]

According to the royal decree published in 1987, the king & the queen consort will formally be addressed as "HisMajesty and Her Majesty" (Their Majesties, Spanish: Su Majestad, Su represents His or Her) rather than thetraditional "Catholic Majesty" (Su Catlica Majestad). A prince consort of a regnant Queen of Spain will have the

style "His Royal Highness" (Su Alteza Real).[5] Additionally, a widowed and unmarried queen consort, now a

queen dowager, will continue to be addressed as "Her Majesty".[5] A widowed and unmarried prince consort will

continue to be addressed as "His Royal Highness".[5] The heir from birth shall hold the title of Prince of Asturias and

the other titles historically associated with the heir apparent.[3][5] These additional titles include Prince of Viana,historically associated with the heir apparent to the Kingdom of Navarre; with the titles Prince of Girona and



The insignia of the Order

of Charles III.

Duke of Montblanc historically associated with the heir apparent for the Crown of Aragon, among others. Otherchildren of the monarch, and the children of the heir apparent, shall have the title and rank of Infante or Infanta

(prince or princess), and styled His or Her Royal Highness (Su Alteza Real).[5] Children of an Infante or Infanta

of Spain "shall have the consideration of Spanish Grandees", and the address of "Your Excellency".[5] The royaldecree further limits the ability of any regent to use or create titles during the minority or incapacitation of a

monarch.[5] No further constitutional language prescribes titles or forms of address to the fourth generation, or greatgrandchildren, of a reigning monarch.

The monarch's position as the "Fount of honour" within Spain is codified in Article 62 (f); It is incumbent upon themonarch to "[...] confer civil and military positions and award honors and distinctions in conformity of the

law".[3][25] According to the Spanish Ministry 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.[25] Titles may revert to

the Crown when their vacancy is observed.[25] Succession of titles may follow one of several courses listed on the

Title of Concession when the title is created.[25] As a general rule, most titles are now inherited by absoluteCognatic Primogeniture (as of 2006), in which the first born inherits all titles regardless of gender. However, a titleholder 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.[25]

During his reign between 1975 and 2014, King Juan Carlos awarded peerages totwo of his former prime ministers who have retired from active politics: AdolfoSurez, who was created 1st Duke of Surez; and Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo who was

created 1st Marquess of la Ra de Ribadeo.[26][27][28][29] All successive politiciansremain active within politics.

The king grants not only military & civil orders, but also grants awards of distinction,customarily on the advice of government. The most distinguished order the king mayaward 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".[30][31]

The Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand is Spain's highest military award for gallantry.Other historic awards and distinctions include the Spanish Order of the Golden

Fleece, the Order of Isabella the Catholic, the Order of Alfonso X, the Royal and Military Order of SaintHermenegild, the Order of Saint Raimundo de Penafort, the Order of Military Merit, the Order of Naval Merit, theOrder of Aerial Merit, the Order of Civil Merit, the Order of Cultural Merit, the Order of Calatrava, the Order ofthe Knights of Santiago, the Order of Sant Jordi d'Alfama, and the Order of Alcntara, among others.

Inviolablity and lse majest

The Spanish monarch is personally immune from prosecution for acts committed by government ministers in the

king's name.[3][5] This legal convention mirrors the concept of sovereign immunity which evolved in similarconstitutional monarchies. The legal concept of sovereign immunity evolved into other aspects of immunity law insimilar liberal democracies, such as parliamentary immunity, judicial immunity, and qualified immunity in the UnitedStates.



Statue of Queen Urraca in the

Parque del Buen Retiro in Madrid.

Urraca succeeded as queen in

1108, becoming Europe's second

regnant female monarch after

Irene I of the Byzantine Empire.

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

Title II The Crown, Article 56, the Spanish Constitution of 1978.[3][5][32]

The concept of lse majest (lesa majestad) exists in Spanish jurisprudence, which is the crime or offense violatingthe dignity of the head-of-state or the State itself. According to Article 56 of the 1978 Constitution the monarchand the dignity of the Spanish State are one and the same: "The King is Head of State, the symbol of its unity and

permanence".[3][5] Breaching Spain's lse majest laws may carry fines and up to two years in prison.[33] Theconcept is within the same legal sphere as legislation prohibiting flag desecration in other democratic countries.Additionally, lse majest extends to any foreign heads-of-state visiting Spain, and other members of the royalfamily, 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 lse majest laws after publishing anissue with a caricature of the Prince and Princess of Asturias engaging in sexual intercourse on their cover in

2007.[34] In 2008, 400 Catalonia separatists burned images of the king and queen in Madrid,[35] and in 2009 two

Galician separatists were fined for burning effigies of the king.[36]

Succession and regency

According to Article 57 the Crown of Spain is inherited by the successors ofKing Juan Carlos I de Borbn through male preference

primogeniture[3][5] Article 57 is also significant in that it omits entirely the

Franconist era designation of Juan Carlos as Franco's successor.[2] Whiledrafting the new constitution, lawyer and liberal congressman JoaqunSatrstegui (19091992) insisted that the phrase the legitimate heir of thehistoric dynasty be included in the text to underscore that the monarchy

was an historic institution predating the constitution or the prior regime.[2]

Additionally, Satrstegui was "anxious to remove" notions that theconstitutional monarchy had any Francoist origins, according to author

Charles Powell.[2]

The Crown of Spain shall be inherited by the successors of HM JuanCarlos I de Borbn, the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty.Succession to the throne shall follow the regular order ofprimogeniture and representation, the first line having preference oversubsequent lines; and within the same line the closer grade over themore remote; and within the same grade the male over female, and inthe same sex, the elder over the younger..

Title II the Crown, Article 57 (1), the Spanish Constitution of

1978.[3][5][37]



Male preference cognatic primogeniture has been practiced in Spain since the 11th century in the various Visigothic

successor states and codified in the Siete Partidas, with women able to inherit in certain circumstances.[38]

However, with the succession of Philip V in 1700, the first of the Spanish Bourbons, women were barred fromsuccession until Ferdinand VII reintroduced the right and designated his eldest daughter Isabella as his heiresspresumptive by 1833.

The debate on amending the Crown's succession law came to the forefront on 31 October 2005, when the InfantaLeonor was born to then-Prince Philip and his wife Letizia, the current King and Queen of Spain. Amending the lawto absolute cognatic primogeniture, known in French as anesse intgrale would allow the first-born to inherit thethrone, whether the heir be male or female. The Zapatero administration of the day proclaimed its intention toamend the succession law, however with the birth of the king's second daughter the issue was placed on the backburner. Paving the way, in 2006 King Juan Carlos issued a decree reforming the succession to noble titles from

male preference primogeniture to absolute and equal cognatic primogeniture.[25] Since the order of succession tothe Crown is codified in the Constitution, its reform mandates a complicated process that involves a dissolution ofparliament, a constitutional election, and a referendum.

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".[3][5] The 1978 constitution disinherits members of theroyal family from succession if they marry against the expressed prohibition of the monarch and the Cortes

Generales, as well as their descendants.[3][5] Lastly, Article 57 further provides that "Abdications and renunciationsand 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".[3]

Constitutionally, the current heirs of Philip VI are;[3][5][39]

1. HRH The Princess of Asturias, elder daughter of the King

2. HRH The Infanta Sofa, younger daughter of the King

3. HRH The Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, elder daughter of King Juan Carlos I.

4. HE Felipe Juan Froiln de Marichalar y de Borbn, son of Infanta Elena.

5. HE Victoria Federica de Marichalar y de Borbn, daughter of Infanta Elena.

6. HRH The Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, younger daughter of King Juan Carlos I.

7. HE Juan Urdangarn y de Borbn, eldest son of Infanta Cristina.

8. HE Pablo Urdangarn y de Borbn, middle son of Infanta Cristina.

9. HE Miguel Urdangarn y de Borbn, youngest son of Infanta Cristina.

10. HE Irene Urdangarn y de Borbn, daughter of Infanta Cristina.

The constitution outlines the regency of the monarchy and guardianship of the person of the monarch in the event of

his minority or incapacitation.[3][5] The office of Regent(s) and the Guardianship of the monarch (whether themonarch is in his minority or incapacitated), may not necessarily be the same person. In the event of the minority ofthe 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.[3][5] If a monarch becomesincapacitated, and that incapacitation is recognized by the Cortes Generales, then the Prince of Asturias (the heirapparent), shall immediately become Regent, if he is of age. If the Prince of Asturias is himself a minor, then the



A copy of the Spanish Constitution, signed

by King Juan Carlos, is held at the Palace

of the Cortes.

Cortes Generales shall appoint a Regency which may be composed of one, three, or five persons.[3][5] The personof 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.[3][5] If no guardian has been appointed in thewill, then the father or mother will then assume the guardianship, as long as they remain widowed. Otherwise, theCortes 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.[3][5]

The king, the government, and the Cortes Generales

The constitution defines the government's responsibilities.[22] Thegovernment consists of the President of the Government andministers of state. The government conducts domestic and foreignpolicy, civil and military administration, and the defense of the nationall in the name of the king. Additionally, the government exercises

executive authority and statutory regulations.[22] The most directprerogative the monarch exercises in the formation of Spanishgovernments is in the nomination and appointment process of thePresident of the Government (Presidente del Gobierno de

Espaa).[22][40][41] Following the General Election of the CortesGenerales (Cortes), and other circumstances provided for in theconstitution, the king meets with and interviews the political partyleaders represented in the Cortes, and then consults with theSpeaker of the Congress (who, in this instance, represents thewhole of the Cortes Generalas).

(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.

Title II Government and Administration, Article 99 (1) & (2), the Spanish

Constitution of 1978.[3][22][42]

Constitutionally, the monarch may nominate anyone he sees fit as his prerogative. However, it remains pragmatic forhim 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.[22] For the Crown to nominate the politicalleader whose party controls the Cortes can be seen as a royal endorsement of the democratic process, afundamental concept enshrined in the 1978 constitution. By political custom, the king's nominees have all been fromparties who hold the most seats in the Cortes. The king is normally able to announce his nominee the day followinga 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 (Cuestin de confianza) by the Cortes.[22] A simple majority

confirms the nominee and his program.[22] After the nominee is deemed confirmed by the Speaker of the Congressof Deputies, the king appoints him as the new President of the Government in a ceremony performed at the Saln

de Audiencias in the la Zarzuela Palace, the official residence of the king.[22] During the inauguration ceremony, thePresident 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;:[43]

I swear, under my conscience and honor, to faithfully execute the duties of the office of President ofthe Government with loyalty to the King, obey and enforce the Constitution as the main law of theState, and preserve in secret the deliberations of the Council of Ministers.

Oath of office of President Rodrguez Zapatero, given before the king 17, April, 2004, La

Zarzeula.[44]

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.[22] Following the second vote, if confidence by the Cortes isstill unreached, then the monarch again meets with political leaders and the Speaker, and submits a new nominee for

a vote of confidence.[22] 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.[22] The king's royal decree is countersigned by the

Speaker of the Congress.[22]

In the political life of Spain, the king would already be familiar with the various political leaders in a professionalcapacity, and perhaps less formally in a more social capacity, facilitating their meeting following a General Election.Conversely, nominating the party leader whose party maintains a plurality and who are already familiar with theirparty manifesto facilitates a smoother nomination process. In the event of coalitions, the political leaders wouldcustomarily have met beforehand to hammer out a coalition agreements before their meeting with the king. Onceappointed, the President of the Government forms an administration whose ministers are appointed and removed bythe king on the president's advice. No minister may take up his appointment until after they give their oath of office

to obey the constitution with loyalty to the king.[2]

As early as 1975, Juan Carlos expressed his view that his role in the government of a "crowned democracy" wouldbe for him to counsel and orient an administration's "thrust in action", but for the government to take the initiative

without the need for it to involve the king unnecessarily in its decisions.[2] Therefore, Juan Carlos has abstained

from presiding over cabinet meetings except under special occasions or circumstances.[2] Generally, the kingpresides over cabinet meetings once or twice a year (more regularly if needed) to be directly informed by ministers

of non-partisan national and international concerns.[2] However, the king does meet weekly with the President of

the Government, usually on Tuesday mornings.[2][45] During the late-2000s economic recession which gripped the

nation, the king discretly used his influence to facilitate a bi-partisan response to the crisis.[10]

Governments and the Cortes sit for a term no longer than four years when the president tenders his resignation tothe king and advises the king to dissolve the Cortes, prompting a General Election. It remains within the king'sprerogative 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.[46] The president may call for earlier elections, but no sooner than a



year after the prior General Election. Additionally, if the Government loses the confidence of the Cortes, then itmust resign. In the event that a president dies or becomes incapacitated while in office, then the government as awhole resigns and the process of royal nomination and appointment takes place. The vice president would takeover the day-to-day operations in the meantime, even while vice president himself may be nominated by the king.

Royal assent, judiciary, and promulgation of the laws

The constitution vests the sanction (Royal Assent) and promulgation (publication) of the laws with the king, whileTitle 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 givehis 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.[3]

No provision within the constitution invests the king with the ability to veto legislation directly, however no provisionprohibits the king from withholding royal assent, effectively a veto. When the media asked King Juan Carlos if hewould endorse the 2005 bill legalizing gay marriages (the implication implied that he may not endorse the bill), heanswered "Soy el Rey de Espaa y no el de Blgica" ("I am the King of Spain, not of Belgium") a reference to

King Baudouin I of Belgium who had refused to sign the Belgian law legalising abortion in Belgium.[47]

According to Title VI of the 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..."[23] It remains a royal prerogative for theking to appoint the twenty members to the General Council of the Judicial Power of Spain (Spain's SupremeCourt), and then appoint the President of the Supreme Court nominated by the General Council, according to

Article 122, Subsection 3, of the constitution.[3][23] However, by convention the king's nominations have been withthe advice of the government of the day.

The General Council of the Judicial Power shall consist of the President of the Supreme Court, whoshall preside over it, and of twenty members appointed by the King for a five-year period, of whichtwelve shall be judges and magistrates of all the judicial categories, under the terms provided for bythe organic act; four nominated by the Congress and four by the Senate, elected in both cases bythree-fifths of their members amongst lawyers and other jurists of acknowledged competence withmore than fifteen years of professional practice.

Title VI Judicial Power, Article 122 (3).[3][48]

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

124.[23] The king may grant clemency in accordance with the law, however the king may not authorize a generalpardon 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.[23]

The king and international diplomacy

Constitutionally the king accredits Spanish ambassadors to international states and governments, and foreignrepresentatives to Spain are accredited before him. However, the government of the day manages diplomatic policy

on behalf of the monarch.[3][14] 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.[3][14]



Members of the Organization of Ibero-American

States

King Philip VI serves as president

During his kingship, Juan Carlos followed a foreign policy during the first decade of his kingship coined

Reencounter and Reconciliation, which greatly improved Spain's standing on the world stage.[2] The kingreconciled long standing historic tensions with the Netherlands and cultivated relationships with France andGermany which led directly to Spain's entry into the

European Community and into NATO.[2] Following thetensions between Franco and the Papacy over the reformsof the Second Vatican Council, Juan Carlos' personalrelations with successive popes greatly improved diplomaticrelations between the Holy See and Spain, and with Pope

Paul VI blessing Juan Carlos' democratic reforms.[2][49]

According to historian Charles Powell, it was the king's goal

to win Spain's full acceptance by other European powers.[2]

The king, a self-described Europeanist, was awarded theprestigious Charlemagne Award in 1982 for his steadfastwork towards democracy and for supporting European

unity.[2] The constitution gives the monarch specialresponsibility 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.[3][14] Fulfilling this responsibility, the King of Spainserves as president of the twenty-four member Ibero-American States Organization. With his support ofdemocracy, various elements within Ibero-America political society have sought the king's advice on how to

transition from a dictatorship to a democracy.[2] For his efforts, by 2008 the king was voted the most popular

leader in all of the Ibero-America community.[15]

The monarch 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.[50] The royal householdcoordinates with the Foreign Ministry to ensure successful diplomatic engagements. Additionally, other members ofthe royal family, most notably the Prince of Asturias, may represent the Spanish State internationally. Though theSpanish monarchy is independent of the government, it is important that royal speeches are compatible withgovernment foreign policy to project a unified diplomatic effort. To achieve balance, royal household speechwritersconfer with the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the official speeches strike the desired diplomatic tone between the

king's views and government policy.[2][51][52] When necessary and appropriate, the king and his government mayfocus on two different aspects in a diplomatic engagement. The king may emphasize one aspect, such as thepromotion of democracy and historic relations; while the government focuses on the details of strategic planning andbilateral coordination.

The king and members of the royal family have represented Spain in Europe, Latin America, in the United Statesand in Canada, nations in the Middle East and North Africa, in China, Japan, the Philippines, Australia, NewZealand and many countries in sub-Sahara Africa. The king and Prince of Asturias have addressed manyinternational organizations which include the United Nations, the institutions of the European Union, the Council ofEurope, the Organization of American States, UNESCO, the International Labour Organization, and the ArabLeague. Since 2000, Prince Philip has represented Spain in half of all diplomatic engagements.

The king as Commander-in-Chief



Emblem of Spanish Armed

Forces

King Juan Carlos I inspecting the troops in

a military parade, 2009

The role of the Crown in the Spanish Armed Forces is rooted in tradition and patriotism as demonstrated in thesymbols and the history of the military. The role of the Spanish monarch in thechain of command of the forces is established by the constitution of 1978, and

other statutory law ( Acts of Parliament, Royal Decrees etc. ).[3]

It is incumbent upon the King [...] to exercise Supreme Command of theArmed Forces.

Title II The Crown, Article 62 (H), the Spanish Constitution of

1978.[3]

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

Title 1 the Crown, Article 3, National Defense Act, November

17, 2005

However, Title IV of the constitution vests the administration of the armed forces and formulation of nationaldefense policy with the President of the Government, a civil officer who is nominated and appointed by the king,confirmed by the elected Congress of Deputies and, as such, is representative of the Spanish people.

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

Bosnia and Lebanon.[53]

As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the king holds thehighest-ranking office in the military chain of command. The king'sranks include Captain General of the Army, the Navy and the AirForce. The king is the only officer in the military to hold this 5 StarGeneral rank. The king takes a keen interest in all aspects of militarypolicy as evidenced by "his direct participation in the life of the

Spanish Armed Forces".[54] The king's participation in Spanishmilitary life stems from his constitutional duty to "arbitrate andmoderate" the regular working of state institutions. Serving in thearmed forces is considered an expectation of the heir apparent, andJuan Carlos served in the various branches of the armed forcesbefore he became king. Likewise, Prince Philip, Prince of Asturias,has served in the armed forces.

The monarch has made his desire for a strong rapport with the armed forces clear in speeches to his officer corp:



I do not feel a stranger in your company, and my functions are not limited to being your king and toholding the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. I am also your companion... I feel one moreamong you... because my youth has been formed, as yours and with many of you, in militaryacademies where virtues are praised and qualities infused which are not modified by time or by thechanges that may occur in society [...] In my heart, in all my being, side by side with my love for thecountry, palpitates military spirit, and I feel always identified with my companions in the army, withyour concerns, your sorrows, your satisfactions and your hopes. So when I see you joyful, I amjoyful. When I feel You sad, I am sad. And all, absolutely all of your worries, all absolutely all of yourproblems gravitate on your king and Captain General-your companion-with the same intensity that isfelt by you.

Juan Carlos Easter Military Address, 1980[55]

Contemporary monarchy

Popularity and criticism

Prior to the Spanish financial crisis from 2008, the monarchy traditionally enjoyed wide support and popularity by

Spanish citizens since its constitutional restoration in 1978, according to Fernando Villespin,[56] president of the

Centro de Investigaciones Sociolgicas (CIS, English: Sociological Research Center) in 2008.[57][58][59]

According to Villespin, the king's traditional approval rating of over 70% through the years consistently out-performed those of elected political leaders, with a similar percentage of respondents considering that the king

played an important role in maintaining Spanish democracy.[57] Public trust in Juan Carlos kingship "comes only

behind that of the National Ombudsman", Villespin continued.[57] Members of the royal family were routinely voted

among the most respected public figures in Spain,[60] and in 2010 as many as 75% of Spanish citizens ranked themonarchy as "above any other public institution in the country", according to Dr Juan Dez-Nicols, a formerpresident of the CIS and founder of the private consulting firm ASEP (Anlisis Sociolgicos Econmicos y

Polticos).[10][61] The CIS, a non-partisan government funded independent research institution, has beenresearching public opinion of the monarchy since 1984 and tracks three basic lines of inquiry; what is publicconfidence 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.[57]

The king was routinely considered one of the top ten most popular figures in Spain,[10] with as many as 80% ofSpanish believing Spain's transition to democracy would not have been made possible without the king's personal

intervention.[57] 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 individualto whom democratisation is most closely attributed, and the sense of gratitude cuts across class and ideological

lines."[18]

Prior to the economic crisis, part of the monarchy's appeal may lay in the personal characteristics of Juan Carlos,whose philosophy on his family, on personal integrity, and on a selfless work ethic were revealed in intimate privateletters of fatherly advice to his son Philip, Prince of Asturias, between 1984 and 1985, when Philip was then

attending university in Canada.[62][63] According to Juan Carlos a monarch must not take his position for grantedbut 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".[62][63]

Juan Carlos continued;

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

King Juan Carlos I to Prince Philip, 1984.[62][63]

"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.[62][63] The private letters from father to son remain within the royalhousehold, 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.[62][63]

However, the monarchy became the focus of acute criticism from the extreme left and extreme right of the Spanishpolitical spectrum, and by regional separatists. As many as 22% of Spanish citizens feel that a republic would be thebetter 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.[18][35][36][64] The extreme leftcriticize the institution of monarchy as anachronistic, while the far right criticize King Juan Carlos personally becausehe 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.[18][65][66]

The monarchy became subject to sharpened criticism during the financial crisis, particularly 2012 which became a

kind of "annus horribilis" for the monarchy,[67] as members of the royal family became increasingly seen as out-of-

step with the Spanish mainstream or drawn into scandal.[68][69] Queen Sofia was criticized in 2008 for inarticulatelydisclosing her private opinions on gay marriage in a biography publically released that year. In 2011 the kings son-in-law Iaki Urdangarin, Duke of Palma de Mallorca, was accused of money laundering and impropriety for using

his connection to the royal family for personal financial gain.[68][70][71][72][73][74] In April 2012 the kings grandson,13-year-old Froiln, shot himself in the foot during target practice at his fathers estate, echoing a similar but far

more serious gun accident involving the king in 1956.[69] According to historians, the then 18-year-old Juan Carlos

was cleaning a revolver when he accidentally shot to death his 14-year-old brother Alfonso.[69] Also in 2012, themonarchy was seen as out-of-touch during the financial crisis as the king went on a hunting safari in Botswana while

Spanish citizens suffered crippling unemployment and austerity measures at home.[69] Furthermore, sporting a

hunting vest and rifle the king was photographed over a dead elephant propped against a tree.[69] Despite public



knowledge of the king's interest in hunting,[75][76][77][78][79] the image this time contrasted sharply with hispatronage of the Spanish branch of the conservation group World Wildlife Fund and with Spanish public opinion

trending against animal hunting.[69][80][81][82][83][84] Though elephant hunting is legal on the game preserve inBotswana, the World Wildlife Fund lists elephants as an endangered species, and the public outcry led to the

WWF to strip the king of his honorary patronage in July, 2012.[69][85][86] With the perceived disconnect publicsupport of the monarchy has dropped to a new low of only 49%, according to a December 2011 Metroscopia

survey.[68]

The king took measures to reconcile public confidence in the monarchy.[67][87] In the wake of the scandalsurrounding the Duke of Palma de Mallorca, the king spoke in his 2011 Christmas Eve National Speech that no-

one is above the law.[87] Additionally, the king addressed the perennial critique of the monarchy by publishing the

budget spent on the monarchy and royal household.[87] In 2012, the king and Prince of Asturias volunteered anadditional 7% pay-cut in solidarity with government officials, bringing the king's taxable income for 2012 at about

270,000 euros, and that of the prince at 131,000 euros.[86] Of the events surrounding the safari, the contrite king

issued a rare apology and said "I am very sorry. I made a mistake. It will not happen again."[86] Furthermore, theking and the Prince of Asturias stepped up public engagements, particularly those of a business nature, in an effort

to promote "Brand Spain," as the king put it as he answered written questions.[67] The king's mantra for Spanish

business; "Export, export, export!"[67] Spanish business magnets rallied to the king's cause; "From a corporatepoint of view, [King Juan Carlos] is Spains No. 1 ambassador," said Csar Alierta, chairman of the Spanish

telecommunications giant Telefnica.[67] The king is also credited with brokering a deal worth $9.9 billion for aSpanish consortium in Saudi Arabia to construct a high-speed rail line by leveraging his personal relationship with

Saudi King Abdullah and outmaneuvering a French bid.[67][88][89] Without the king, this contract would not have

gone ahead, according to former Spanish foreign minister Miguel Angel Moratinos.[67] The king's role as a"business diplomat and deal maker" for his country's interest was brought to light during the safari scandal, as thesafari was paid for by Mohamed Eyad Kayali, a Syrian construction magnate and longtime friend of the king. Thetwo worked together on the deal which awarded the Haramain High Speed Rail Project to the Spanish

consortium.[67] For supporters of the monarchy the king is an "irreplaceable resource" with unrivaled relationships

with other world leaders.[67] Observers credit the king with easing tensions between Spain's former government of

Jos Zapatero and the George W. Bush administration, while also helping to resolve disputes in Latin America.[67]

Opinion polls released in April 2012 revealed that the Spanish public generally forgave the king over the scandals,

but wished for greater transparency of the monarchy.[67]

On June 19th, 2014, King Juan Carlos I abdicated the throne in favor of Prince Philip, now King Philip VI.[90] [91]

At the time of his abdication La Razon found that more than 77 per cent of respondents rated the leadership ofKing Juan Carlos as "good" or "very good." Seventy-two per cent thought the monarchy was an important factor

for political stability. [92] The Spanish public also gave a broadly positive opinion not only of the abdication but ofhis reign as a whole. According to a poll taken by El Mundo, believed the kings reign was either good or verygood, up from 41.3 per cent. Overall, 55.7 per cent of those polled in the June 3-5 survey by Sigma Dossupported the institution of the monarchy in Spain, up from 49.9 per cent when the same question was posed six



months ago. 57.5 per cent believed the prince could restore the royal familys lost prestige. An overwhelmingmajority of Spaniards believe the new king, Philip VI, would make a good monarch and more than three-quarters

believe King Juan Carlos was right to hand over the throne to his son. [93]

Charitable, cultural, and religious patronage

Members of the royal family, "the royals", are often invited by non-profit charitable, cultural, or religious

organizations within Spain or internationally to become their patrons, a role the Spanish constitution recognizes.[94]

Royal patronage conveys a sense of official credibility as the organization is vetted for suitability. A royal presenceoften greatly raises the profile of the organization and attracts public interest and media coverage that theorganization may not have otherwise garnered, aiding in the charitable cause or cultural event. Royals use theirconsiderable celebrity to assist the organization to raise funds or to affect or promote government policy.

Members of the royal family also pursue charitable and cultural causes of special interest to themselves. As prince,King Felipe chaired the Prince of Asturias Foundation (Fundacin Prncipe de Asturias), which aims to promote

"scientific, cultural and humanistic values that form part of mankind's universal heritage."[95] The Prince of AsturiasFoundation holds annual awards ceremonies acknowledging the contributions of individuals, entities, andorganizations which make notable achievements in the sciences, humanities, or public affairs. Prince Philip serves aspresident 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.[96][97] Prince Philip also serves as

honorary chair of the Ministry of Culture National Awards Ceremonies.[98]

Queen Sofa devotes much of her time to the Queen Sofia Foundation (Fundacin Reina Sofia).[99] Established in1977 out of the queen's private funds, the non-profit aims to assist, promote, and develop the spiritual and physical

needs of men and women from diverse backgrounds, with a particular focus on progress, welfare, and justice.[99]

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, the king's eldest daughter, is the Director of Cultural and Social Projects of Mapfre

Foundation,[100] while Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma de Mallorca, the king's youngest daughter, served as theGoodwill Ambassador to the United Nations for the 2nd World Assembly on Ageing, and is a member of the DaliFoundation 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.[101]

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.[102][103][104]

King Juan Carlos gave annual Christmas Eve National Speeches entitled "Mensaje de S.M. Juan Carlos I" whichare broadcast by radio and television through various media outlets, which has become a traditional message from

the monarchy to the people.[105] King Juan Carlos usually referred to social or economic challenges facing thenation as well as positive messages of charity, good will, and religious faith. In 2004, the speech was highly relatedto the 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 inSpain and appreciated their contribution to the economy.

Household of H.M. the King



Royal Palace of Madrid

The royal household organization, constitutionally La Casa de Su

Majestad el Rey,[106] supports and facilitates the monarch and membersof the royal family in fulfilling their constitutionally hereditary

responsibilities and obligations.[3][107] The royal household is fundedthrough yearly budgets drafted by the government of the day inconsultation with the monarch, and brought before the Cortes forapproval, and then paid directly to the monarch. The royal householdcoordinates with various government administration ministries, andreceives their advice and support where needed, though in no way does

the royal household form part of the government administration.[107]

Royal household staff serve at the pleasure of the monarch, and does notresign when the Spanish government resigns during election cycles. The royal household is managed by the Head ofthe 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.[107] The General Secretariat isdivided into various departments which includes planning and coordination, the secretariat (bureau) of H.M. theQueen, the secretariat (bureau) of H.R.H. the Princess of Asturias, security services, public relations and the media,

protocol, administration, Infrastructure and Services.[107]

The Spanish Armed Forces are represented by the Head of the Military Chamber, who does not advise the kingon matters of national defense, which is the portfolio of the Minister of Defence and President of the Government toadvise the king. Rather, the Head of the Military Chamber coordinates royal military operations and ceremonies,

and prepares the royal family for any military activities.[107] The Military Chamber is directed by a commander whomust be an active lieutenant-general or a general within the Spanish military, and is under the direct orders of the

king.[107] The commander maintains an office with a military legal advisor, an auditor, and section heads for staffing,

protocol, operations and logistics.[107] The king is assigned personal aides-de-camp for his assistance, and by

extension to his wife the queen and to Princess Sofia.[107] 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.[107] The Princessof Asturias is entitled to personal aides-de-camp, with one drawn each from the army, the navy and the air

force.[107]

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.[107] In 2004, theroyal household employed 100 staff members.

The royal household's public relations department manages and maintains an official website on behalf of the royalfamily known as Casa de S.M. El Rey (http://www.casareal.es/index-iden-idweb.html). The website listsbiographical information on members of the immediate royal family, charts their activities, records speeches given atevents, and publishes their expected diary of upcoming events, among other information. Additionally, the publicrelations department publishes the king's diary of his private meetings and the meeting minutes, so long as the other

party agrees.[10]

Residences and royal sites



The king and queen perform many official functions and ceremonies at the Oriente Palace in Madrid.[108] However,King Philip and Queen Letiza and their family reside at the Pavilion, the modest home on the El Pardo estate, near

his parents at the La Zarzuela.[19][109] King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia have spent the majority of their time atthe La Zarzuela Palace, a former hunting lodge on the El Pardo estate on the outskirts of Madrid. The El PardoPalace itself has served as the "guest house" for visiting heads of state since the 1980s.

The Oriente Palace and the palaces of the El Pardo estate form part of the "Spanish royal sites", a collective termused to denote the set of palaces, monasteries, and convents built under royal patronage throughout history. Royalsites are owned by the state and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional (National Heritage) on behalf of thegovernment of the day, and made available for the king as the head of state. Whenever a member of the royalfamily is not in residence, the royal site is made available for public visitations. The royal household coordinatesdirectly with the National Heritage Council and relevant government ministries or other interests in their planning andstaging of state events, with royal sites often providing the setting.

King Juan Carlos and his family have regularly vacationed since the 1960s on Palma de Mallorca, staying at the

Marivent Palace.[19] In 2001 King Juan Carlos, known as a keen yachtsman, was given a yacht by the BalearicIslands and a consortium of local business leaders as part of an effort to further associate the royal family with the

islands, and to promote the islands as a tourist destination.[110] The yacht, known as the Fortuna, is also owned by

the State and administered by the Patrimonio Nacional.[110]

Annual budget and taxation

Constitutionally 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.[3][107]

According to the Royal Household, "[T]he purpose of these resources is to ensure that the Head of State may carryout his tasks with the independence which is inherent to his constitutional functions, as well as with due effectiveness

and dignity".[107] 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.[107] 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.[107] As such, themanagement staff experience increases, decreases, or freezes to their pay in accordance with the fluctuations of

government minister salaries.[107] Additionally, the annual budget pays for the maintenance and expenses of seniormembers of the royal family who undertake royal duties; which includes grocery, clothing, and toiletries

allotments.[107] The budget approved by the Cortes for 2010 was just under 7.4 million euros, a budget only

slightly larger than that spent on the Luxembourg monarchy.[12][107] In 2011 the king addressed the perennial

critique of the monarchy; that of how the annual budget awarded to the monarchy and royal household is spent.[87]

The report revealed that only 9.6% of the 8.4 million euros budgeted that year for the monarchy are paid to royalfamily members as 'salaries and representative duties', with the difference marked for royal household operationalexpenses such as household staff salaries, various insurance premiums and liabilities, services, and 'supplimentals'

such as overhead.[87] In 2012, the monarchy volunteered an additional 7% pay-cut in solidarity with government

officials.[86]



Not included in the annual budget is the maintenance and upkeep of Spanish royal sites, which are owned by thestate and made available to the king as the head-of-state, but administered by Patrimonio Nacional on behalf of thegovernment 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.[107] The budget isadministered with professional Public Administration accounting procedures, and is audited by government

auditors.[107] All members of the royal family are subject to taxation and annually submit Income Tax and Wealth

Tax returns and effect the relevant payments.[107]

See also

List of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown

List of Spanish monarchs

List of Spanish consorts

Kings of Spain family tree

Line of succession to the Spanish throne

Politics of Spain

Carlism

Notes

1. ^ These terms are especially popular as synonyms for the Spanish Empire prior to the unification of Spain in the

early 18th century.

2. â b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s Powell, Charles, Juan Carlos of Spain; Self Made Monarch, St. Martin's Press,

INC

3. â b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa ab ac ad ae af ag ah ai aj ak al Ttulo II. De la Corona, Wikisource

(http://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1978:_04)

4. ^ Constitution of Spain 1978, Title II, Article 56, Subsection 2 and amended by Royal Decree 1368/1987, dated 6

th November

5. â b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z aa "Casa De S.U. El Rey (House of H.M. the King)"

(http://www.casareal.es/index-iden-idweb.html). Patrimonio Nacional (in Spanish). Retrieved 2009-12-01.

6. ^ "King of Spain to Abdicate for Son, Prince Felipe" (http://www.voanews.com/content/spains-king-to-abdicate-

for-son/1927321.html). VOA News. June 2, 2014. Retrieved June 2, 2014.

7. ^ Goodman, Al; Mullen, Jethro; Levs, Josh (2 June 2014). "Spain's King Juan Carlos I to abdicate"

(http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/world/europe/spain-king-abdication/index.html?hpt=hp_t2). CNN. Retrieved 2

June 2014.

8. ^ "Spain will have two kings and two queens"

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10898873/Spain-will-have-two-kings-and-two-

queens.html). Retrieved 14 June 2014.



9. ^ Un rey para una democracia "Los espaoles de hoy y el franquismo ("The Spaniards of today and Francoism")"

(http://www.elpais.com/especiales/2000/rey/) (in Spanish). El Pas. Adobe Shockwave file, year 2000. Retrieved

2007-12-29.

10. â b c d e f g h "Spanish King rebrands for recession" (http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/spanish-

king-rebrands-for-the-recession-1911276.html). The Independent (London). 2010-02-26. Retrieved 2010-10-13.

11. ^ Wendy Williams (12 October 2010). "Best budget royals" (http://www.theolivepress.es/2010/10/12/best-budget-

royals). The Olive Press. Retrieved 3 February 2011.

12. â b Martin Delgado and Christopher Leake (24 October 2010). "Queen's 38m a year offshore windfarm windfall

- because she owns the seabed" (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1323228/Queens-38m-year-offshore-

windfarm-windfall--owns-seabed.html#ixzz14cGB6mt9). London: Daily Mail. Retrieved 7 November 2010.

13. ^ According to historian Charles Powell, the term reestablished, rather than restored, was a conscious choice to

find a middle ground acceptable by monarchists, who viewed the 1975 monarchy as a restoration, and Franconists

who took the view that General Franco had essentially established a new monarchy apart from the prior historic

office.

14. â b c d e f g Title II, Article 56, Subsection 1

15. â b "Uribe es el lder iberoamericano mejor valorado por los ciudadanos de su pas"

(http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/09/internacional/1215635605.html) (in Spanish). El Mundo. 2008-10-

07. Retrieved 2009-12-01.

16. ^ The Visigothic Kingdom had its early capital in Toulouse, in modern Languedoc, then part of Aquitainia

17. ^ John Hooper, The New Spaniards, 2001, From Dictatorship to Democracy

18. â b c d "Spain's fast-living king turns 70)" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7171971.stm). BBC News. 2008-

01-04. Retrieved 2009-06-18.

19. â b c d e John Hooper, The New Spaniards, 2001, An Engaging Monarchy

20. ^ Spanish Constitution of 1978 (in English):

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978/Preliminary_Title

21. ^ El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, smbolo de su unidad y permanencia, arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular

de las instituciones, asume la ms alta representacin del Estado espaol en las relaciones internacionales,

especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histrica, y ejerce las funciones que le atribuyen expresamente la

Constitucin y las leyes

22. â b c d e f g h i j k l m Part IV Government and Administration


23. â b c d e Ttulo VI. Del Poder Judicial


24. â b The King of Spain may also use the formal address of His Catholic Majesty, according to Almanach de Gotha

page 336 (2000). However, according to Royal Decree published in 1987, the formal addressed used isHis Majesty

25. â b c d e f "Nobility and Grandee Titles"

(http://esede.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite/en/1215197183446/Tramite_C/1215326462418/Detalle.html) (in Spanish).

Spanish Ministry of Justice official website. 2008-01-04. Retrieved 2009-05-31.

26. ^ "No deben tolerarse las recompensas a torturadores (They should not tolerate rewards to torturers)"

(http://www.es.amnesty.org/com/2001/com_30ene01b.shtm). Amnesty International. 30 January 2001.



27. ^ Aznar pag con dinero pblico a un "lobby" de Washington para conseguir la medalla del Congreso de EEUU

(Cadena SER)

(http://www.cadenaser.com/articulo/espana/Aznar/pago/dinero/publico/lobby/Washington/conseguir/medalla/Congr

eso/EEUU/csrcsrpor/20040722csrcsrnac_6/Tes/)

28. ^ "Aznar: "Muslims should apologize for occupying Spain for 800 years""

(http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/politics/former-spanish-president-aznar-ldquomuslims-should-

apologize-for-?itemId=B24_11616&cl=%2Feitb24%2Fpolitica&idioma=en). YouTube. Retrieved 2008-01-03.

29. ^ "Aznar se pregunta por qu los musulmanes no se disculpan 'por haber ocupado Espaa ocho siglos' "

(http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/09/22/internacional/1158945858.html). El Mundo. Retrieved 2008-01-03.

30. ^ (Spanish) Royal Decree 1051/2002 (http://www.lexureditorial.com/boe/0210/19803.htm), October 11, by which

the Regulation of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III is passed

31. ^ (Spanish) Order of May 8 2000 (http://juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/o080500-mp.html) by which the

Regulation of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III is adapted to the current circumstances and

conditions.

32. ^ La persona del Rey de Espaa es inviolable y no est sujeta a responsabilidad. Sus actos estarn siempre

refrendados en la forma establecida en el artculo 64, careciendo de validez sin dicho refrendo, salvo lo dispuesto

en el artculo 65,2.

33. ^ Govan, Fiona (2007-10-04). "Spanish King Juan Carlos defends monarchy"

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565021/Spanish-King-Juan-Carlos-defends-monarchy.html).

London: The Telegraph. Retrieved 2009-05-27.

34. ^ "Spain royal sex cartoonists fined" (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7092866.stm). BBC. 2007-11-13.

Retrieved 2007-11-13.

35. ^a b "Protesters burn pictures of King Juan Carlos in Spain"

(http://www.monstersandcritics.com/news/europe/news/article_1355696.php). Europa News. 2007-09-14.


36. ^a b "Two fined for torching effigy of Spanish king" (http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-news/Two-

fined-for-torching-effigy-of-Spanish-king_49575.html). Expatica. 2009-06-01. Retrieved 2009-12-02.

37. ^ La Corona de Espaa es hereditaria en los sucesores de S. M. Don Juan Carlos I de Borbn, legtimo heredero de

la dinasta histrica. La sucesin en el trono seguir el orden regular de primogenitura y representacin, siendo

preferida siempre la lnea anterior a las posteriores; en la misma lnea, el grado ms prximo al ms remoto; en el

mismo grado, el varn a la mujer, y en el mismo sexo, la persona de ms edad a la de menos.

38. ^ Klapisch-Zuber, Christine; A History of Women: Book II Silences of the Middle Ages, The Belknap Press of

Harvard University Press, Cambridge, Massachusetts, London, England. 1992, 2000 (5th printing). Chapter 6,

"Women in the Fifth to the Tenth Century" by Suzanne Fonay Wemple, pg 74. According to Wemple, Visigothic

women of Spain and the Aquitaine could inherit land and title and manage it independently of their husbands, and

dispose of it as they saw fit if they had no heirs, and represent themselves in court, appear as witnesses (over the

age of 14), and arrange their own marriages over the age of twenty

39. ^ The Crown of Spain shall be inherited by the successors of H.M. Felipe VI de Borbn, 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.



40. ^ "The English Style Guide (Fifth edition: 2005 Revised: March 2009)"

(http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7092866.stm). European Commission Directorate-General for Translation.

2009-03-01. Retrieved 2007-11-13.

41. ^ 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.

42. ^ Artculo 99.

1. Despus de cada renovacin del Congreso de los Diputados, y en los dems supuestos constitucionales en

que as proceda, el Rey, previa consulta con los representantes designados por los grupos polticos con

representacin parlamentaria, y a travs del Presidente del Congreso, propondr un candidato a la

Presidencia del Gobierno.

2. El candidato propuesto conforme a lo previsto en el apartado anterior expondr ante el Congreso de los

Diputados el programa poltico del Gobierno que pretenda formar y solicitar la confianza de la Cmara.

43. ^ (Spanish) Video: Rodrguez Zapatero is sworn in to his second term (http://www.youtube.com/watch?

v=dM3AZ47GZ0w) (RTVE's Canal 24H, April 12, 2008)

44. ^ Juro/Prometo, por mi conciencia y honor, cumplir fielmente las obligaciones del cargo de Presidente del

Gobierno con lealtad al Rey, guardar y hacer guardar la Constitucin como norma fundamental del Estado, as

como mantener el secreto de las deliberaciones del Consejo de Ministros.

45. ^ An exception to these weekly meetings is in August, while the king is on holiday in Majorca. Then the President

or the Vice President travel to Majorica to meet with the king.

46. ^ Title II Article 56 the monarch is the "arbitrator and moderator of the regular functioning of the institutions",

"arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones"

47. ^ (Spanish)"Don Juan Carlos, sobre el matrimonio gay: 'Soy el Rey de Espaa y no el de Blgica' "

(http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/05/12/espana/1115917538.html). El Mundo. 2006-05-13. Retrieved 2007-

01-08.

48. ^ El Consejo General del Poder Judicial estar integrado por el Presidente del Tribunal Supremo, que lo

presidir, y por veinte miembros nombrados por el Rey por un periodo de cinco aos. De estos, doce entre Jueces y

Magistrados de todas las categoras judiciales, en los trminos que establezca la ley orgnica; cuatro a propuesta

del Congreso de los Diputados, y cuatro a propuesta del Senado, elegidos en ambos casos por mayora de tres

quintos de sus miembros, entre abogados y otros juristas, todos ellos de reconocida competencia y con ms de

quince aos de ejercicio en su profesin.

49. ^ Juan Carlos' had a special relationship with Pope Paul VI whose death greatly affected the king.

50. ^ "Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation"

(http://www.maec.es/en/MenuPpal/Ministerio/Paginas/postingTXT(17-2)Ministerio.aspx). Spanish Ministry of

Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. 2009-01-27. Retrieved 2009-12-09.

51. ^ The king's speeches are generally reflective of the king's views and reviewed by the king before an event. When

confirming with the Foreign Ministry, the speeches are reviewed so that they are largely general in nature and

politically neutral in terms of specific polices followed by the government

52. ^ King Juan Carlos calls for an immediate cease fire in Gaza (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64dUYeK08Aw)

53. ^ Agence France Prese 10/10/2007

54. ^ National Defense Directive 1/2000



55. ^ Given at military Easter address 1980

56. ^ Wiki article on Villespin

57. â b c d e "Spaniards say King Juan Carlos plays valuable role" (http://news.notiemail.com/noticia.asp?

nt=11858901&cty=200). World News. 2008-02-01. Retrieved 2009-05-31.

58. ^ Centro de Investigaciones Sociolgicas (http://www.cis.es/cis/opencms/EN/index.html) Official website

59. ^ Wiki article on the CIS

60. ^ Burnett, Victoria (2008-10-17). "Spaniards A royal pain for the Spanish monarchy"

(http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/17/world/europe/17iht-sofia.4.17905851.html). New York Times. Retrieved

2009-12-02.

61. ^ Prof. Dr. Juan Dez Nicols, is a Professor of Sociology since 1971 and co-founder (1963-69) and last Director

General (1976-77) of the former Instituto de la Opinin Pblica, as well as the first Director General (19771979)

of the present Centro de Investigaciones Sociolgicas (CIS), both within the public administration. During the

political transition to democracy (19731982) he occupied several high public offices, he has been President of the

Spanish Federation of Sociology (1995-98), President of the Forum for the Social Integration of Immigrants

(19992002) and Vice-President of Members and Finances of the International Sociological Association (ISA).

Currently he is Elected Member of the European Academy of Sciences and Arts, member of the High-Level

Advisory Group on Dialogue between Peoples and Cultures of the Mediterranean (personally appointed by the

President of the European Commission), member of the Executive Committee of the World Values Survey

Association, and member of different scientific and advisory committees.

62. â b c d e Govan, Fiona (2008-03-29). "King Juan Carlos of Spain gives heir a correspondence course in ruling"

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1583174/King-Juan-Carlos-of-Spain-gives-heir-a-correspondence-

course-in-ruling.html). The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 2009-06-01.

63. â b c d e Govan, Fiona (2008-03-29). "King Juan Carlos of Spain's letters to his son"

(http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1583175/King-Juan-Carlos-of-Spain-gives-heir-a-correspondence-

course-in-ruling.html). The Daily Telegraph (London). Retrieved 2009-06-01.

64. ^ "Spanish TV head fired for cutting jeering king footage" (http://www.expatica.com/es/news/spanish-

news/Spanish-TV-head-fired-for-cutting-jeering-king-footage_52648.html). Expatica. 2009-05-15. Retrieved 2009-

06-01.

65. ^ Goodman, Al (2008-01-04). "Not so happy birthday for Spain's king"

(http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/01/04/spain.juancarlos/index.html). CNN. Retrieved 2009-12-10.

66. ^ Conservative radio talk show host Federico Jimenez Losantos of the Cadena COPE radio network, owned and

operated by Spain's Roman Catholic Church, called for Juan Carlos to abdicate for his tacit approval of a perceived

liberal agenda.

67. â b c d e f g h i j k "Chastened King Seeks Redemption, for Spain and His Monarchy"

(http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/29/world/europe/juan-carlos-i-seeks-redemption-for-spain-and-monarchy.html?

pagewanted=all)

68. â b c Tremlett, Giles (2011-12-11). "Spanish royal family hit by fraud scandal"

(http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/dec/08/spanish-royal-family-hit-fraud-scandal). The Guardian (London).




69. ^a b c d e f g "Spanish royals under fire" (http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2012/04/16/spanish-monarchy-

scandal.html). The Da

monarchy of spain

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