To prepare for his future military role, Felipe joined the Spanish Army in 1985. Over the next two years, he completed military training in theSpanish Navy andSpanish Air Force. After finishing both civil and military studies, he undertook official duties representing his father at various national and international events, including charity foundations, cultural inaugurations, and diplomatic functions. During one such event, he met television journalistLetizia Ortiz Rocasolano, whom hemarried in 2004. They have two daughters:Leonor andSofía.
Felipe ascended the throne on 19 June 2014 following theabdication of his father.[6][7][8] His reign has been marked by his condemnation of the2017 Catalan independence referendum, which led to the2017–2018 Spanish constitutional crisis, as well as theCOVID-19 pandemic, and initiatives promoting greater transparency and modernization within the Spanish monarchy. According to a 2020 opinion poll, Felipe held moderately high approval ratings.[9] His reign has also been characterized by a renewed emphasis on constitutional monarchy, ethical leadership, and a modern public image of the Spanish monarchy in the post-Franco era.
His full baptismal name, Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos, was given in honor of significant relatives and ancestors: the firstBourbon king of Spain,Felipe V; his grandfathers,Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona andKing Paul of Greece; his great-grandfather,Alfonso XIII of Spain; and the customary Bourbons additionde Todos los Santos ("of all the Saints").[15]
His godparents were his paternal grandfather, the Count of Barcelona, and his paternal great-grandmother,Queen Victoria Eugenie.[14][15][16]
Shortly after his birth, Felipe wasstyledinfante. The dictatorFrancisco Franco died just over two months before Felipe's eighth birthday, after which Felipe's father ascended the throne, having been appointedPrince of Spain in 1969. Felipe made his first official appearance at his father’s proclamation as king on 22 November 1975.[12]
Juan Carlos, Prince of Spain (left), with his son Felipe and his brother-in-lawConstantine II of Greece (right) with his sonPavlos, 1968
In 1977, Felipe was formally proclaimedPrince of Asturias.[16][17][18] In May, nine-year-old Felipe was made an honorary soldier of the1st King's Inmemorial Infantry Regiment.[19] The occasion was marked on 28 May and was attended by the king, the prime minister and several other ministers in a ceremony at the infantry's barracks.[20][21] On 1 November the same year, he was ceremonially paid homage as Prince of Asturias inCovadonga.[22] In 1981 Felipe received the Collar of theOrder of the Golden Fleece from his father, the Chief and Sovereign of the Order.[15][23] On his 18th birthday on 30 January 1986, Felipe swore allegiance to theConstitution and to the King in the SpanishParliament as required by the constitution, fully accepting his role as successor tothe Crown.[12][24]
In 1999, the construction began on a new royal residence near theZarzuela Palace. This residence, known as the Prince's Pavilion (Spanish:Pabellón del Principe), became Felipe's private residence in the summer of 2002 and cost 4.23 millioneuros.[25]
As the heir to the throne, a carefully regulated and structured plan was laid out for Felipe's military training. In August 1985, a Royal Decree named Felipe as officer at theGeneral Military Academy inZaragoza.[27][28] He began his military training there in September.[29] He completed the first phase of his formation in October.[30] In July 1986, he was promoted to Cadet Ensign. He was also named as Midshipman.[31] In September 1986, he began his naval training at theNaval Military Academy inMarin (Pontevedra), joining the Third Brigade.[32] In January 1987, he continued his naval training on board thetraining shipJuan Sebastián Elcano.[33]
King Felipe VI in 2015 with theJEMAD AdmiralFernando García Sánchez,JEME GeneralJaime Domínguez Buj and the Commander of the 7th Reconnaissance Cavalry Group of the VII Light Infantry Brigade "Galicia" (L–R)
In July, he was named as Student Ensign at the General Air Academy inMurcia.[34] In September 1987, he began his air force training there[35] where he learned to fly aircraft.[36] In 1989, he was promoted to lieutenant in the Army, ensign in the Navy, and lieutenant in the Air Force. In 1992, he was promoted to captain in the Air Force.[37] In 1993, he was promoted to lieutenant in the Navy and captain in the Infantry of the Army.[38]
Further promotions in 2000 were commandant in the Army, corvette captain in the Navy, and commandant in the Air Force. Promotions in 2009 were lieutenant colonel in the Army, frigate captain in the Navy, and lieutenant colonel in the Air Force.
Since 19 June 2014, after his accession to the throne, he acquired the rank ofCaptain General (Commander-in-chief) of all the Spanish armies (Army,Navy andAir Force). During the 2016Pascua Militar, the Chief of the Defence Staff,Fernando García Sánchez, on behalf of theArmed Forces, gave the monarch a personalizedcommand baton, which symbolizes the loyalty of the armies to the king and the command he has over them.[39] The piece, made by some jewelers fromLeón, is made of cherry wood and the tips are adorned with silver pieces.[40]
King Felipe VI, Queen Letizia and their two daughters, the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia, in June 2019
Felipe's bachelor years were a source of interest to the Spanish press for several years. His name was linked with several eligible women, but only two notable girlfriends: Spanishnoblewoman Isabel Sartorius, around 1989 to 1991, daughter of theMarquess of Mariño, who was viewed unfavorably by the Royal Family due to her mother's cocaine addiction,[44] and Norwegian model Eva Sannum, who modeled underwear.[45]
Although there were some engagement rumors in the previous weeks, on 31 October 2003, a TV program calledCon T de Tarde announced unexpectedly that the Prince of Asturias was datingLetizia Ortiz Rocasolano,[46] a television journalist who had been married previously.[47] The following day, theRoyal Household made official their engagement.[48] According to the Royal House, they met in late 2002.[48] The official hand petition was made on 6 November 2003 at theRoyal Palace of El Pardo.[49] Felipe proposed with a 16-carat diamond engagement ring with a white gold trim and gifted her with a pearl and sapphire necklace.[50] Ortiz marked the occasion by giving him white gold and sapphire cufflinks and a classic book,El doncel de don Enrique el doliente byMariano José de Larra.[51]
The wedding, which was officiated by the archbishop of Madrid and president of theSpanish Episcopal Conference,Antonio María Rouco Varela, took place on the morning of 22 May 2004 in theAlmudena Cathedral, with representatives of royal families from all over the world and most heads of state from Latin America present.[12] In Spain alone, the royal wedding was watched by more than 25 million viewers, the most watched television event in the history ofSpanish television.[52][53]
Felipe undertook his constitutional duties as heir to the throne, hosting many official events in Spain and participating in all events of different sectors and aspects of Spanish public life. Since October 1995, Felipe has represented the Crown on a series of official visits to theSpanish regions, starting with Valencia.[12] Felipe has held regular meetings with constitutional bodies and state institutions keeping up-to-date with their activities.[15] He also attends meetings of the various bodies of theGeneral State Administration and of theAutonomous Communities Administrations as required by his national and international constitutional obligations. In particular, he has held meetings with people of his generation who have built successful careers in political, economic, cultural and media circles. As part of his military training, Felipe trained as a military helicopter pilot.[15] On occasions when King Juan Carlos I was unable to attend, Felipe presided over the annual presentation of dispatches to officers and non-commissioned officers in the Armed Forces as well as participating in military exercises held by the three Armed Services.[15]
Prince Felipe arriving for the third inauguration ofRafael Correa, 2013
Since January 1996, Felipe has represented Spain at many Latin American presidents' inauguration ceremonies.[15] As Prince, he visited every country in Latin America except Cuba, which he visited as King in 11–14 November 2019. He made over 200 foreign trips in total.[54]
Felipe has also played an active role in promoting Spain's economic, commercial and cultural interests and the Spanish language abroad. He frequently represents Spain at world economic and trade events (e.g. Expotecnia, Expoconsumo, and Expohabitat), and is especially interested in promoting the creation of Centres and University Chairs to advance the study of Spain both historically and in the present-day at major foreign universities.
In addition to his official activities, Felipe serves as honorary president of several associations and foundations, such as the Codespa Foundation, which finances economic and social development inIbero-America and other countries,[15] and the Spanish branch of the Association of European Journalists, comprising outstanding communications professionals. Most noteworthy is the Prince of Asturias Foundation, where he presides annually at the international awards ceremony of the highly prestigiousPrincess of Asturias Awards (formerly the Prince of Asturias Awards).[55][56]
Felipe was appointed a "UN-Eminent Person" by UN Secretary GeneralKofi Annan in 2001, during itsInternational Year of Volunteers,[57] and continues to make contributions internationally towards enhancing the importance of voluntary work.
Felipe ascended the throne at the stroke of midnight on 19 June; his father had given his sanction to the organic law effecting his abdication just hours earlier.[6] The next morning, after receiving theCaptain General's sash from his father (symbolizing the transfer of royal and military power),[61] he was formally sworn in and proclaimed king in a low-key ceremony held in the Cortes. He swore to uphold the Constitution before formally being proclaimed king by Posada.[62] Upon his accession, he became the youngest monarch in Europe, being nine months younger than KingWillem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
As king, Felipe has fairly extensivereserve powers on paper. He is the guardian of the Constitution and is responsible for ensuring it is obeyed and followed. It was expected that he would follow his father's practice of taking a mostly ceremonial and representative role, acting largely on the advice of the government. He indicated as much in a speech to the Cortes on the day of his enthronement, saying that he would be "a loyal head of state who is ready to listen and understand, warn and advise as well as to defend the public interest at all times".[62] While he is nominally chief executive, he is not politically responsible for exercising his powers. Per the Constitution, his acts are not valid unless countersigned by a minister, who then assumes political responsibility for the act in question.
A poll conducted byEl País, however, indicates that a majority of Spaniards wish Felipe would play a greater role in politics, with 75% of the 600 people surveyed stating they would approve if he personally pushed the political parties to reach agreements on national problems.[63] According to anEl Mundo newspaper poll, Felipe had a greater approval than his father prior to his reign.[64]
During his ascension speech, Felipe pledged a "renewed monarchy for a new time".[68] A few days later after this, Felipe and Letizia became the first Spanish monarchs to receive and recognizeLGBT organisations at the Palace.[69] Felipe also changed the protocol in order to allow people to take the oath of office without a crucifix or Bible.[70] This did not mean, in any way, a change in his relations with theCatholic Church or religion, in fact, on their first overseas trip as king and queen, Felipe VI and Letizia metPope Francis in theApostolic Palace on 30 June 2014. They subsequently met withCardinal Secretary of StatePietro Parolin and Under-Secretary for Relations with StatesAntoine Camilleri. The visit followed one by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía on 28 April.[71]
The king also established a difference between theroyal family and the King's family, leaving his sisters and their descendants outside the royal family and, therefore, not carrying out institutional representation of theCrown (although they do it occasionally).[72] In July 2014, the king banned the royal family from working outside theRoyal Household and he established an external audit made by theOffice of the Comptroller General of the State.[73][74]
Following orders from the king, since 1 January 2015, the Spanish royal family cannot accept "expensive gifts" when "they exceed social or courtesy uses".[75] In February 2015, Felipe announced he would cut his annual salary by 20% as a result of the economic recession and hardships continuing to hamper Spain.[76]
In June 2015, Felipe VI stripped his sister,Infanta Cristina, of her royal title ofDuchess of Palma de Mallorca, after the tax fraud allegations surrounding her and her husband,Iñaki Urdangarín.[77][78] While her husband was eventually sentenced to six years in prison, she was acquitted of all charges.[79]
In 2017, the Crown opened for the first time the gardens of the royal family's vacation palace, theMarivent Palace, at the request of the regional government of theBalearic Islands.[80] The public can enjoy the gardens as long as the royal family is not there.[80]
In February 2024, the king appointed a new Private Secretary, diplomatCamilo Villarino, at that time Head of the Cabinet of theHigh Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,Josep Borrell.[81] Villarino replacedJaime Alfonsín, private secretary to Felipe for almost 30 years, both as prince and king.[82] Alfonsin remains in the Household as private counselor.[82] Likewise, in April 2024 the king appointed a new private secretary to the Queen,State lawyer María Dolores Ocaña Madrid,[83] replacing theduke of Abrantes. At the end of 2024, the king concluded the renewal of the senior positions of his Household, appointing two other women: parliamentary clerk Mercedes Araújo Díaz de Terán was appointed Secretary-General; diplomat Carmen Castiella Ruiz de Velasco was appointed Diplomatic Counselor.[84]
On 15 March 2020, following the revelation inThe Daily Telegraph that Felipe VI appeared as second beneficiary (after his father) of the Lucum Foundation, the entity on the receiving end of a €65 million donation byAbdullah bin Abdulaziz, King of Saudi Arabia,[85] theRoyal Household issued a statement declaring (a) that Felipe VI would renounce any inheritance from his father to which he could be entitled, and (b) that Juan Carlos would lose his public stipend from the part of theGeneral State Budget dedicated to the Royal Household.[86][87][88][89] The renunciation of the inheritance is a mere declaration of intent, since theSpanish Civil Code prevents accepting or rejecting an inheritance until the death of the person who bequeaths takes place.[90] The Royal Household also implied that Felipe VI already had prior knowledge of the Lucum Foundation and his condition as beneficiary of the latter since April 2019.[89]
After this controversy, in April 2022 theCouncil of Ministers approved a Royal Decree elaborated by theRoyal Household that puts the King's house completely under the 2013 Transparency Act and the 2015 Senior Officials Act. This implies, on the one hand, a greater control of the Crown's finances, since theCourt of Auditors will be able to audit its accounts; on the other hand, the disclosure of the wealth of the king and of the senior officials of the Household.[91][92]
On 25 April 2022, in a move towards greater transparency, Felipe VI made public his personal assets for the first time, revealing them to be valued at 2.6 millioneuros (US$2.8 million). The Spanish royal palace stated that his wealth is in savings, current accounts and securities, as well as art, antiques and jewelry; and that he has no real estate or financial dealings abroad.[93] It also noted that Felipe VI had paid tax on all his financial earnings.[94] This amount makes him one of theleast wealthy monarchs in the world,[95] despite previous estimates of his fatherJuan Carlos I's wealth being estimated between $2–2.3 billion.[96][97]
The King receiving the credentials from the Philippines ambassadorPhilippe Lhuillier, 2017
Theelections in 2015 resulted in no party winning enough seats to form a government. No agreements with the different parties were successful. After months of talks with the different party leaders, and with there being no apparent candidate in a position of support in forming a government, the king issued a royal decree dissolving parliament withnew elections being called in June.[98] This marked the first time since the transition to democracy that an election was called under Article 99.5 of theConstitution, wherein the initiative for issuing the dissolution of the Cortes belonged to the King and not to the Prime Minister.[99]
After the second elections, some socialist MPs abstained in order to make it easy for the conservative prime minister,Mariano Rajoy, to form a new government.[100] The king swore in the new cabinet on 4 November 2016.[101]
On 3 October 2017, as huge protest rallies and a general strike took place in Catalonia following the2017 Catalan independence referendum that was deemed illegal by Spanish authorities, Felipe delivered an unusually strongly worded televised address, watched by more than 12 million people across the country,[102] in which he condemned the actions of the referendum organizers for acting "outside the law", accusing them of "unacceptable disloyalty" and of "eroding the harmony and co-existence within Catalan society itself". He also warned the referendum could put the economy of the entire north-east region of Spain at risk.[103][104][105]
Reactions to Felipe's speech were mixed. Party officials from thePP,PSOE andCiudadanos applauded the King's "commitment to legality" and the "defense of the Constitution, the [regional]Statute, the rule of law and the territorial integrity of Spain",[106][107] whereas leaders fromUnidos Podemos andCatalunya en Comú criticized it "as unworthy as it was irresponsible", paving the way for a harsh intervention of the Catalan autonomy.[108] Some PSOE leaders were upset that the King had not made any call to understanding or dialogue between the Spanish and Catalan governments.[109]
After the speech, where Felipe ordered the "legitimate powers of the State" to ensure "constitutional order",[110] the Spanish government started the process to applyarticle 155 of the Constitution, which gives special powers to the central government to intervene in a Spanish region.[111][112] On 27 October 2017, theSpanish Senate approved government proposal to impose direct rule in the region with the support of conservative and socialist votes.[113] The Spanish government dismissed all Catalan authorities, dissolved the regional parliament and called forearly elections in 2017.[114]
Conservative government fall and political instability
Felipe VI during his opening speech of theCortes Generales in 2020
In May 2018, theAudiencia Nacional issued a ruling finding the ruling party,People's Party, guilty as beneficiary of some corruption cases.[115] The left-wing opposition, led by socialistPedro Sánchez, called for avote of no confidence against the conservative prime minister. TheCongress of Deputies approved the motion on 1 June 2018,[116] and the King appointed Sánchez as new prime minister on 2 June.[117] The socialist minority government lasted for a year and a half, and fell in February 2019 after the government failed to pass the budget.[118]
Although the Socialists won theApril 2019 general election, the political scenario was left wide open.[119] The socialist prime minister refused to agree with the leaders of left-wing populistPodemos,[120] and the King dissolved Parliament.[121] TheNovember general election had the same result as in April, so the prime minister agreed to a coalition.[122] Felipe swore in the new coalition cabinet on 13 January 2020.[123]
Felipe VI with the heads of state and government of Portugal and Spanish Prime Minister in July 2020
On 18 March 2020, a widespreadcacerolada from the balconies of some cities across Spain took place, in an attempt to counter-program the TV discourse of Felipe VI on theCOVID-19 pandemic in that country. The intent was to force Juan Carlos I to donate to public healthcare the €100M he had allegedly obtained through kickbacks from Saudi Arabia, which was ultimately dismissed.[124][125] Despite the attempt to boycott the speech, it was seen by more than 15 million citizens, making it the most watched speech by a monarch in the history of Spain.[126][127] In July, he led a memorial paying tribute to victims of the pandemic at theRoyal Palace.[128]
In December 2021, Felipe VI warned against virus complacency during the pandemic, stating that "the risk has not disappeared."[129]
In the context of theCOVID-19 pandemic, King Felipe had to isolate himself in quarantine for testing positive for coronavirus on several occasions between 2020 and 2022.[130][131][132] While he was isolated,Queen Letizia replaced him in those events for which she was constitutionally authorized (awards delivery,[133] lunches, event openings,[134] etc.) but not in those activities tightly related to constitutional responsibilities (such as the working meeting with the president of Bosnia and Herzegovina,Željko Komšić, in 2022, which had to be postponed[135]).[136]
The daughter ofFrancisco Franco,Carmen Franco was createdDuchess of Franco. After the death of the 1st Duchess of Franco, succession of the ducal title with accompanying Grandeeship had been requested by her eldest daughterMaría del Carmen Martínez-Bordiú y Franco.[137] Under Spanish nobiliary law, her eldest daughter Maria is first in line, but does not succeed automatically; with the application to the Crown and the issue of the Royal Letter of Succession, and after an announcement period of thirty days, succession only legally enters into force after a tax is paid.
In 2018, theIzquierda Unida party sent a letter to Felipe VI asking that title be repressed as a violation of Spain's Historical Memory Law but the power to make or unmake nobility resides solely in the Spanish monarch and is not covered by that law.[138] The Dukedom was granted to the heir apparent, María del Carmen Martínez-Bordíu y Franco, the eldest daughter of the late Duchess, on the same year, as published in theOfficial State Gazette on 4 July 2018.[139]
Thecoalition government formed in 2020 led to almost a completelegislature of stability, however, in May 2023,local andregional elections were held. The result of these elections could not have been worse for the government; although theSocialist Party held up well, losing just 400,000 votes compared to the 2019 regional and local elections, the parties to its left collapsed[141] and, in many regions and cities, disappeared, causing the Socialists to lose most of their regional and local power.[142][143]
After this disastrous result, the Socialist prime minister,Pedro Sánchez, requested the king to dissolve Parliament and call early elections with the aim of "clarifying the [will of the] Spanish people about the political forces that should lead this new phase and the policies to be applied".[144][145] As happened in the regional and local elections, the People's Party led byAlberto Núñez Feijóo won theelection, but he fell short of a majority to form a new conservative government.[146] In general, this was considered a victory for Sánchez, who still had a chance to renew its coalition government.[146]
After meeting with political parties represented in parliament,[147] and after verifying that neither Sánchez nor Núñez Feijóo had a sufficient majority to form a government, on 22 August 2023 the king asked the winner of the elections, Alberto Núñez Feijóo, to form a government.[148] As expected, Núñez Feijóo failed to gather enough support to govern and the Congress of Deputies rejected his candidacy.[149] Following new meetings with political parties on early October,[150] the king nominated acting prime minister Pedro Sánchez.[151] After obtaining the support ofSumar and the pro-independence and regionalist political parties, the Congress of Deputies re-elected Sánchez on 16 November 2023[152] and the king swore in the new cabinet on 21 November 2023.[153]
On 3 November 2024, King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Prime Minister Sánchez and Valencian presidentCarlos Mazón were violently confronted during a meeting with victims of theOctober 2024 Spain floods inPaiporta in theValencian Community, who threw mud and objects at them and injured two bodyguards.[154] Although the Prime Minister had to be evacuated, the monarchs remained there listening to the complaints and requests of the residents.[155] After the incident, the visit to neighboring towns was postponed,[156] but the Royal Household confirmed that they would return "in the next few days".[157] The king returned to the region on November 12 to check the efforts of the Armed Forces in the disaster[158] and, in November 19, the monarchs resumed the visit canceled two weeks earlier.[159]
In 2024 Felipe marked his 10th anniversary of his accession and, for this occasion, the king renewed his motto: "Servicio, compromiso y deber" (English: "Service, commitment and duty").[160][161][162] As was customary during his reign, it was announced that the events to celebrate this anniversary would be discreet.
The celebrations began in theRoyal Palace, when the royal family presided, from the interior balcony of the palace, over theRoyal Guard changing.[163] Subsequently, and after greeting the citizens who approached the palace, the king presented theOrder of Civil Merit to 19 anonymous citizens, each from aSpanish region, as well as from the autonomous cities ofCeuta andMelilla.[164] This event ended with a lunch for the invited authorities and the recipients. Before the start of lunch, thePrincess of Asturias andInfanta Sofía surprised the king with an improvised speech to congratulate him on the anniversary.[165]
In the afternoon, the monarch's daughters visited theRoyal Collections Gallery with 40 young people who, at some point, won the contest "What is a King to you?", organized annually by theRoyal Household and two private foundations that promotes the monarchy.[166] On this occasion, the monarchs surprised the attendees by attending the event when it was not planned.[167] To conclude the celebrations, public concerts were held in the Royal Palace, including one of the violinistAra Malikian, as well as a projection of images on the façade of the palace attended by the royal family.[168]
After a year of celebrations across the country, the anniversary concluded on 18 June 2025 with another concert in Madrid'sPlaza Mayor, performed by the Royal Guard.[169]
On 19 June 2025, on the 11th anniversary of the proclamation of the sovereign, the Royal Household announced the creation by King Felipe of his first nobility titles.Jaime Alfonsín, former secretary of the king was createdMarquess of Alfonsín andGrandee of Spain, while former tennis playerRafael Nadal was createdMarquess of Llevant de Mallorca, swimmerTeresa Perales was created Marchioness of Perales, singerLuz Casal was created Marchioness of Luz y Paz, biochemist Carlos López Otín was created Marquess of Castillo de Leres and photographerCristina García Rodero was created Marchioness of Valle de Alcudia.[170]
As King of Spain, most of the sports have a tournament in his honor,Copa del Rey (English:King's Cup), which he normally attends and delivers the trophy to the winner. Also, since the reign ofAlfonso XIII (1886–1931), the King exercises high patronage over thesports federations. Most of them hold the title of "royal" granted by the ruling monarch; the latest federation to receive this honor was theRugby Federation in 2023.[175]
La Rambla, the site of the van attack; pictured in 2011
On the afternoon of 17 August 2017, 22-year-old Younes Abouyaaqoub drove a vaninto pedestrians onLa Rambla street inBarcelona, Catalonia, Spain, killing 13 people and injuring at least 130 others, one of whom died 10 days later on 27 August. Abouyaaqoub fled the attack on foot, then killed another person in order to steal the victim's car to make his escape.[183][184][185]
Nine hours after the Barcelona attack, five men thought to be members of the same terrorist cell drove into pedestrians in nearbyCambrils, killing one woman and injuring six others. All five of those attackers were shot and killed by police.[186]
The King of Spain going to lay a wreath with the President of Catalonia and the Mayor of Barcelona
The day after the attacks, a minute's silence led by King Felipe VI, Catalan presidentCarles Puigdemont, and Barcelona mayorAda Colau was observed atPlaça de Catalunya, which ended with applause and chants of "No tinc por" ("I am not afraid").[190] During the following days candles and flowers were left at theJoan Miró mosaic at La Rambla, in memory of the victims. The King andQueen also left a wreath in the name of the Crown.[191]
On 26 August 2017, a large crowd marched down thePasseig de Gràcia in Barcelona in a protest against the terror attacks. The march was called by the city council and Catalan government. Some people booed the King of Spain and displayed signs blaming the Head of State for the Spanish arms sales. Other demonstrators displayed Spanish and Catalan flags.[192][193][194][195]
Since his proclamation as king on 19 June 2014, Felipe VI has visited, as of 15 October 2025[update], 61 sovereign countries on four continents, in 149 official visits abroad (The number of countries includes Puerto Rico, which has the status of "Commonwealth of the United States"). The first international trip was to theVatican City on 30 June 2014, to meet with the Pope.[71] The last one was a State visit to China, from 9 to 13 November 2025.[196]
Most of his visits have been to European countries (24 countries in 86 visits), followed by American countries (19 countries in 39 visits), Asian (13 countries in 17 visits) and African (5 countries in 7 visits). He has never visited an Oceanian country as a king; as prince of Asturias, he visited Australia and New Zealand in 1990.[197]
King Felipe and Brazilian presidentLula da Silva greeting during Da Silva's 2023 inauguration
Like his father did, Felipe VI has maintained an important presence and influence in the countries of Latin America, Portugal and Brazil. As King of Spain, he represents Spain in all theIbero-American Summits, normally calling for the "unity" of the region and the strengthening of relations with Spain and theEuropean Union.[198][199] In this sense, Spain is also the main contributor to theIbero-American General Secretariat, headquartered in Madrid. This organization is mainly financed by Spain, with more than 60 per cent of the budget as of 2016.[200] Felipe VI has attended all the summits since he ascended the throne. For the 2021 Ibero-American summit inAndorra la Vella, Felipe became the first Spanish monarch to visit neighbouringAndorra, a principality whose co-prince is the Spanish Bishop of Urgell.[201]
Also, as he did as prince of Asturias, Felipe has kept the tradition of attending the inauguration of Latin American leaders. As of January 2024, he has attended more than 80 presidential inaugurations.[202][203]
Relaxed talk between the heads of State and Government of Spain and Portugal in July 2020
During the reign of Felipe VI, good relations between Spain and Portugal have continued. After his visit to the Vatican, Felipe dedicated his second foreign visit to Portugal, in July 2015.[204] There, he met with PresidentAníbal Cavaco Silva and Prime MinisterPedro Passos Coelho, and stated that the relationship between the two countries was "not only the relationship of good neighbors, but of brother countries" and remembered that his grandfather,Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, chose Portugal to live while in exile.[204] He also made it clear that he intended to keep the good relationship between the neighbor countries.[204]
After the election ofMarcelo Rebelo de Sousa as new president of Portugal, he made his first official visit to a foreign country to Spain in March 2016.[205] The king, who had attended the inauguration of Rebelo de Sousa early that month,[206] and the Portuguese leader, had established a very good relationship, being described as a true friendship.[207][208][209] In addition to courtesy and institutional visits, it is very common to see both leaders in each other's countries as well as attending various events led by the other. Examples of this good relationship are the support that the Portuguese president gave to the king when the monarch was awarded with theWorld Peace & Liberty Award from theWorld Association of Jurists in 2018,[210] the private visit that Rebelo de Sousa made to Spain in 2020 to visit thePrado Museum, and having a private lunch with the monarch atZarzuela Palace,[211] as well as in 2021, when they were seen eating on a public terrace near the Royal Palace of Madrid.[212] Also, Rebelo de Sousa welcomedLeonor, Princess of Asturias in Lisbon in her first international trip.[213]
From 11 to 14 November 2019, on the occasion of the 500th anniversary of the founding of the city ofHavana by the Spanish, Felipe and Letizia made a state visit to Cuba.[214] This was the fifth royal visit to the island afterInfanta Eulalia, Duchess of Galliera in 1893,Infante Alfonso, Count of Covadonga in 1937,Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona in 1948 andKing Juan Carlos in 1999.[215] However, King Felipe's visit was the first state visit in history.[216] The visit was harshly criticized by the conservative opposition, as well as by the Cuban opposition and human rights associations which considered the visit a legitimization of the regime.[217]
The King and Queen of Spain along with the Mexican president,Enrique Peña Nieto, and his wife
Felipe has had a good relationship with Mexico, coinciding in his first years of reign with presidentEnrique Peña Nieto, who favored this relationship.[223][224] Felipe made a state visit to the North American country in 2015.[225] However, things worsened with the rise to power ofAndrés Manuel López Obrador. López Obrador was inaugurated as Mexican president in December 2018, an inauguration attended by the King,[226] and from the beginning, the Mexican president expressed disapproval for what Spain and its companies represented.
At the beginning of 2019, the Mexican president asked Felipe VI for an apology on behalf of the Crown and Spain for the events that occurred during theSpanish conquest of the Americas.[227][228] TheRoyal Household did not respond to this request, forwarding the letter from the Mexican president to the Government. In a release, the Spanish government "firmly rejected" López Obrador's arguments and encouraged both governments to "work together" to "intensify the already existing relations of friendship and cooperation".[229] This request for an apology and the criticism for not answering has been reiterated by the Mexican president on various occasions between 2020 and 2022.[230][231][232]
After this incident, neither the Royal Family nor the King's Household have spoken about the issue or intervened in any way in the relations between Spain and Mexico, leaving it in the hands of the Government.
In 2024, incoming Mexican presidentClaudia Sheinbaum officially banned Felipe VI from attending her inauguration on 1 October, citing his failure to respond to López Obrador's letter. In response, the Spanish government said that it would boycott the event altogether.[233]
As King of Spain, Felipe has defended the historic claim of Spain over Gibraltar. In September 2014, he addressed theUnited Nations General Assembly for the first time and, although he made some reference to the territorial integrity of the states, he did not directly mention Gibraltar.[234]
Two years later, in another speech at the UN General Assembly podium, the king referred to Gibraltar as the "only existing colony in European territory" and he invited the UK to "put an end to this anachronism with a agreed solution between our two countries that restores the territorial integrity of Spain and is beneficial for the population of the colony and Campo de Gibraltar".[235][236]
The last time the King mentioned the Gibraltar dispute was on his state visit to the United Kingdom.
From 12 to 14 July 2017, the King and Queen of Spain made a state visit to the United Kingdom,[237][238] which had been postponed twice: the first in March 2016, due to the political crisis in Spain and the second in May 2017, due to thesnap general election in Britain.
On Wednesday morning the 12th,Charles, Prince of Wales, andCamilla, Duchess of Cornwall, came to receive the King and Queen. From there, they proceeded toHorse Guards Parade, where they were officially received by QueenElizabeth II andPrince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh,[238][239] with military honours and ordnance salutes. The hymns of the two countries were played and the King reviewed the Guard formed there. Next, they moved to Buckingham Palace where they visited the Picture Gallery. In the afternoon Felipe went to the Parliament of the United Kingdom where he addressed a few words at the joint session and held an informal meeting with the leader of the Labour opposition,Jeremy Corbyn. During his speech before parliament, he mentioned the status of Gibraltar, saying that "I am certain that this resolve to overcome our differences will be even greater in the case of Gibraltar, and I am confident that through the necessary dialogue and effort our two governments will be able to work towards arrangements that are acceptable to all involved".[240] In the evening, the State Dinner, hosted by Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip in honor of the King and Queen of Spain, took place in the Gala Hall ofBuckingham Palace.
On Thursday the 13th, there was a Spanish-British business meeting (UK-SPAIN Business Forum) atMansion House, with the presence of the Mayor of theCity of London,Andrew Parmley, and an important business delegation from both countries. Later, the party visitedWestminster Abbey accompanied byPrince Harry. There, the King made an offering at theTomb of the Unknown Warrior. At mid-morning, they went to theSpanish Embassy in London, where they received representatives of the Spanish community in the capital and where, previously, they had held a brief meeting with the families of Ignacio Echeverría and Aysha Frade, murdered in the terrorist attacks in London. Later, the King visited10 Downing Street, where he had a working lunch with the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom,Theresa May, in which they discussed matters of bilateral interest. Thursday's day was completed with a gala dinner offered by the Mayor of London in honor of the King and Queen, atGuildhall.
On Friday the 14th, Felipe and Letizia were officially bid farewell by Elizabeth and Philip, at the gates of Buckingham Palace. Subsequently, Felipe and Letizia moved to theFrancis Crick Institute, a biomedical research center that houses the largest individual biomedical laboratory in Europe.[241][242] Later they went to Oxford to visit the Weston Library, where they were shown a manuscript of the Codex Mendoza, they saw a copy of a Ptolemy, with the coat of arms of the Catholic Monarchs and an original copy of a first edition ofDon Quixote.[243] At noon, Oxford University hosted a luncheon in his honour. To conclude, they held a meeting at Exeter College with representatives of the university's academic community, including professors, postgraduate students and doctoral students linked to Spain.
Family photo of the international leaders who attended the Fifth World Holocaust Forum in 2020
Felipe, like his father before him, has supported the initiatives of Spanish institutions to normalize relations with the Jewish people and religion. In 1990, he awarded theSephardic Jewish communities with thePrince of Asturias Award.[244]
In December 2015, the King hosted a solemn ceremony in theRoyal Palace to celebrate the approval by theCortes Generales and the subsequent sanction by the Sovereign of the law that grantedSpanish nationality to theSephardic Jews expelled from Spain in 1492 due to theAlhambra Decree.[245] At his speech, Felipe thanked the Sephardic Jews for preserving their language,Ladino, and for teaching their own children "to love this Spanish homeland". He also welcomed them "back home", adding that they had "returned home forever."[246] The Jewish associations thanked the gesture, declaring that they were no longer "Spaniards without a homeland."[247]
In January 2020, the King attended the Fifth World Holocaust Forum atJerusalem. Felipe, who claims the title ofKing of Jerusalem as one of the historictitles of the Spanish crown, was the only international leader to speak at the opening dinner.[248] In his speech, he stated that "there is no room for indifference in the face of racism, xenophobia, hatred and antisemitism"[249] and that "forgetting the Holocaust would be extremely dangerous and an utter disrespect to the memory of the victims."[248]
On 9 October 2023, King Felipe condemned "with all firmness" theHamas-led attack on Israel, called for "doing everything possible to avoid greater suffering, destruction, hopelessness and the loss of more human lives" and affirmed that Spain "remains faithful to its commitment to peace and stability in the region".[250] Later that month, during the 2023Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony, Felipe referred tothe ongoing conflict asking for unity to resolve it and recalled that in 1994, Israeli prime ministerYitzhak Rabin and Palestinian leaderYasser Arafat received the Prince of Asturias Award for International Cooperation for their "effort to create conditions of peace in the region" after theMadrid Conference of 1991 and the 1994Oslo I Accord.[251] On 11 January 2024, the King, in a meeting with thediplomatic corps in Spain, called for the release ofwar hostages and defended the "establishment of thePalestinian State next to Israel" to stop the "cycle of violence".[252]
King Felipe and prime minister Pedro Sánchez talking during the 80th session of theUNGA
During his State Visit to Egypt, King Felipe criticized the "unbearable" humanitarian crisis in theGaza Strip, which "has caused unspeakable suffering of hundreds of thousands of innocent people"[253] and supported a "viable Palestinian state that coexists in peace and security with Israel". The Palestinian state would be formed by "Gaza, theWest Bank andEast Jerusalem".[254] He defended a similar position during his speech at thegeneral debate of the eightieth session of the United Nations General Assembly, asking for the "massacre" to be stopped and pushed for thetwo-state solution.[255]
Juan Carlos became King in late November 1975, but no title was conferred on Felipe asheir apparent until 1977, when he was madePrince of Asturias, the traditional title normally held by theheir to the Spanish throne. The royal decree granting him this title also entitled him to use "the other historical titles corresponding to the heir of the Crown".[17] Felipe started using the Aragonese title ofPrince of Girona publicly on 21 April 1990, during a trip around Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia, becoming the first Bourbon to use this title.[257]
Upon ascending the throne, Felipe assumed the same titles held by his father. If the former Kingdoms of Aragon and Navarre had separate naming styles, he would also be known as Felipe V of Aragon and Felipe VIII of Navarre along with Felipe VI of Castile.[258]
Felipe's arms as heir to the throne (left) and as king (right)
As heir to the Spanish throne, Felipe's arms were the Spanish coat of arms with alabel of three pointsazure (blue).[259] The first quarter represents Castile, the second León, the third Aragon, and the fourth Navarre; below are the arms of Granada. In the centre, on aninescutcheon, were the ancestral arms of the sovereign House of Bourbon-Anjou. Surrounding the shield was the collar of theOrder of the Golden Fleece and surmounting it was the heraldic crown of the heir to the throne, decorated with fourhalf-arches.
Following his accession to the throne, the label on his arms was removed and the crown of the heir was changed to that of the monarch's (eight half-arches instead of four).[260] These arms differ from those of his father's as king, as they omit theCross of Burgundy, the yoke, and the sheaf of five arrows.
^The English-language version of the Official Royal Family website is rendered as "Borbon", while in Spanish it is rendered as "Borbón". In English, the house is traditionally calledHouse of Bourbon.
^End of active service and start of special regimen of honorary service.[2]
^Most English-language media refer to the king asFelipe VI, although a few sources have rendered his name asPhilip VI.[3] In thelanguages of Spain, his name is:
^Title II, Article 56, Subsection 1, Text: The King is the Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence. He arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions, assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State in international relations. El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, símbolo de su unidad y permanencia, arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones, asume la más alta representación del Estado español en las relaciones internacionales, especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histórica, y ejerce las funciones que le atribuyen expresamente la Constitución y las leyes.
^In addition, he was also allowed to use "other titles and designations traditionally used by the heir to the throne" (i.e. Prince of Girona and Prince of Viana).[17]
The generations indicate descent fromCarlos I, under whom the crowns of Castile and Aragon were united, forming the Kingdom of Spain. Previously, the title Infante had been largely used in the different realms.
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