Felipe VI

Felipe VI (, full name: Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia; born 30 January 1968) is the King of Spain. He became king in 2014 following the abdication of King Juan Carlos. 

He is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos I, and Queen Sofía. In 2004, Felipe married TV news journalist Letizia Ortiz, with whom he has two daughters, Leonor (his heir presumptive) and Sofía. 

In accordance with the Spanish Constitution, as monarch, he is head of state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces with the military rank of Captain General, and also plays the role of the supreme representation of Spain in international relations.

 Early life 
Felipe was born at ORPEA Madrid Loreto in Madrid. He is youngest child and only son of former King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain. He had two sisters Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo and Infanta Cristina of Spain. He was baptized at Palace of Zarzuela in Madrid.   

Felipe VI has studied at Centro Privado de Enseñanza Santa María de los Rosales. He accepted his high school education at Lakefield College School, and then studied Law and Economics at Autonomous University of Madrid. After that, he studied Foreign Service at Georgetown University.  

 Prince of Asturias 
In 1977, he was given the title Prince of Asturias, the official title of the heir to the Spanish throne.

He received military training at General Military Academy and served in the military from 1986 to 2014.  

King Felipe VI married Queen Letizia of Spain at Almudena Cathedral at 2004. They have two children together, Leonor, Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia of Spain. 

 Reign 
On 2 June 2014, King Juan Carlos I announced that he would abdicate in favor of Felipe. Felipe became king on 19 June 2014 at 0:00 CET and was named Felipe VI. A few days later after becoming king, Felipe became the first Spanish monarch to receive and recognize LGBT organisations at a royal palace. Felipe also changed the protocol in order to allow people to take the oath of office without a crucifix or Bible.

As King of Spain, Felipe VI performs a mainly ceremonial role with some reserved constitutional powers. In 2015, the general election resulted in no party winning a majority. King Felipe then dissolved parliament and called for another election.

In 2017, the regional government of Catalonia held an independence referendum and declared independence from Spain. The Spanish authorities deemed the referendum illegal. King Felipe delivered a televised speech in which he condemned the referendum for acting outside of the law.

In 2022, King Felipe and his wife attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II and also attended the coronation of Charles III the following year.

Titles and styles
30 January 1968 –1 November 1977: His Royal Highness   Infante Felipe of Spain
1 November 1977-19 June 2014: His Royal Highness  The Prince of Asturias
22 January 1977-19 June 2014: His Royal Highness  The Prince of Girona, His Royal Highness  The Prince of Viana, The Duke of Montblanc, The Count of Cervera, Lord of Balaguer, Infante of Spain 
19 June 2014 – present: His Majesty  The King of Spain

Notes

References

Category:1968 births
Category:Living people
Category:Current national leaders
Category:People from Madrid
Category:Spanish monarchs
Category:Spanish royalty
Category:Princes and Princesses of Asturias
Category:Knights Grand Cross of the Order of the Lion of the Netherlands
Category:Felipe VI
Category:21st-century Spanish monarchs