Felipe VI of Spain

Biography

Felipe VI, born Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia on January 30, 1968, in Madrid, is the king of Spain. He has been on the throne since June 19, 2014. He is the son of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía, who was born Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark. As the first son and third child, Felipe was born during the last years of Francisco Franco's rule, growing up as Spain moved towards democracy after Franco's death in 1975. He was declared Prince of Asturias in 1977 and officially recognized as heir to the throne in 1986, beginning his public duties soon after.

Felipe received a wide-ranging education, attending military academies and universities in different countries. He went to Santa María de los Rosales School in Madrid and later attended Lakefield College School in Canada. He trained at the General Military Academy, the Military Naval Academy, and the Academia General del Aire, covering all branches of Spain's armed forces. He also studied law at the Autonomous University of Madrid and earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service from the Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. This mix of military and academic training prepared him for the duties of a modern European monarch.

Once his studies were complete, Felipe took on more official duties, representing his father at national and international events such as diplomatic functions and charity activities. During an event, he met Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, a TV journalist, and they married on May 22, 2004. They have two daughters: Leonor, Princess of Asturias, born in 2005, and Infanta Sofía, born in 2007. Queen Letizia has become a well-known figure for her work in mental health and education.

Felipe became king on June 19, 2014, after his father, Juan Carlos I, stepped down. His reign has seen challenges, including the political crisis sparked by the 2017 Catalan independence vote. Felipe addressed the country, condemning the unauthorized vote as a threat to Spain's constitutional order, receiving mixed responses due to differing opinions on Catalan independence. His time as king has also been marked by the COVID-19 pandemic, where he and Queen Letizia have played active roles in promoting national solidarity. Felipe has worked on reforms for transparency and modernization within the monarchy, such as renouncing his inheritance from his father and revoking his father's royal stipend due to financial scandals involving Juan Carlos I.