Spanish Royal FAQs

Who is the present monarch of Spain?
King Juan Carlos is the present monarch.  He became King on November 22, 1975, upon the death of the Spanish dictator Francisco Franco.


What is King Juan Carlos' address?
The Private Secretary to HM The King
Palacio de La Zarzuela
Madrid (España)


What are the current laws of succession?
Since the adoption of the Spanish Constitution, Spain has followed male-preference primogeniture, in which a son comes before a daughter, regardless of birth-order.  There has been discussion of changing this to equal promgeniture but nothing has yet been changed.  See Line of succession to the Spanish throne.


What is the Spanish Royal Family’s last name?
The Spanish Royal Family’s last name is Borbón.  King Charles II designated his sister's grandson, Philippe de Bourbon, as his heir.  Philippe succeeded to the throne in 1700, as Felipe (Philip) V of Spain. 


How does one address the Royal Family?
The king is addressed as His Majesty The King.  The queen is styled Her Majesty The Queen and is most often referred to as Queen Sofía.  The children of the monarch are styled His/Her Royal Highness.


Can a member of the Spanish Royal Family marry whomever s/he chooses?
Members of the Royal Family must have the consent of the monarch and the Cortes.


How long has there been a monarchy in Spain?
The Kingdom of Spain was officially created in 1516.  Prior to that, King Ferdinand II of Aragon and Queen Isabella I of Castile married and ruled their separate kingdoms as one dominion.  Isabella left Castile to her daughter Joanna, and upon Ferdinand's death, Joanna also inherited Aragon.  Her son Charles was proclaimed King jointly with his mother, over Castile and Aragon.  Upon Joanna's death, Charles became the sole monarch and the two thrones were permanently joined.  After two brief periods of Republics, and a 39 year period of dictatorship under Francisco Franco, the monarchy was restored with the present King on the throne.


What does the Spanish flag mean?
The Spanish flag consists of three horizontal stripes - red, yellow, and red - with the yellow stripe being twice the size of the red stripes.  The red and yellow stripes come from the Coat of Arms of the Crown of Aragon, dating back to the early 1100s.

A second version includes the roayl coat of arms, and has become the de facto national flag.  The Spanish flag is not to be confused with the Royal Standard, used by the King of Spain.  The Royal Standard of Spain is a dark blue square with the King's coat of arms in the center.  The Prince of Astruias also has a personal Standard.  For more information see Flag of Spain.


What is the Royal Family’s coat of arms?
The King's coat of arms includes the arms of Castile, Leon, Aragon, Navarre and Granada, as well as an inescutcheon representing Bourbon-Anjou.  See Coat of Arms of the King of Spain.


How is King Juan Carlos related to other European Monarchs?

Belgium: King Juan Carlos and King Albert II are fourth cousins, once removed.  They are descendants of Franz Frederik, Duke of Saxe-Coburg-Saalfeld (Queen Victoria's grandfather).

Denmark: King Juan Carlos and Queen Margrethe II are third cousins. They are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Norway: King Juan Carlos and King Harald V are third cousins. They are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

Sweden: King Juan Carlos and King Carl XVI Gustaf are third cousins. They are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.

United Kingdom: King Juan Carlos and Queen Elizabeth II are third cousins. They are descendants of Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom.