Latest news with #KingFelipe
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
Princess Leonor receives naval military honour from her proud father King Felipe - as future Queen of Spain joins Flag Pledge Ceremony in Pontevedra
Princess Leonor of Spain received the Navy Merit Grand Cross and a warm hug from her proud father King Felipe at Flag Pledge Ceremony today. The future queen, 19, attended the solemn Flag Pledge (Jura de Bandera) and delivery of Dispatches of Employment ceremony at the prestigious Naval Military Academy in Marín, Pontevedra, Spain. In a poignant moment symbolising her growing role within the Spanish monarchy, Leonor received the honour from the hands of her father. The award acknowledges her commitment and connection to Spain's armed forces and marks a significant milestone in her royal journey. The Navy Merit Grand Cross is a high-level military decoration awarded for distinguished service within the Navy. Leonor's mother Queen Letizia and younger sister Princess Sofia beamed as they proudly watching the ceremony. Leonor looked graceful and poised as she proudly donned the crisp white uniform, donning a shirt with epaulettes, which she tucked into a pair of belted smart trousers. Leonor wore her long dark blonde tresses in a practical sleek braided low bun, which sat elegantly below her sailor cap. She was seen marching alongside her fellow aspiring officers keeping a stern expression and the level of professionalism one would expect from a marine. The princess spent a year with the Spanish army before training to be a marine and will then move onto her final rotation at the General Air Academy. As she is the heir to the throne, Leonor will one day take the title of Commander in Chief of the armed forces, alongside being the Queen of Spain. She therefore has to spend three years in each section of defence and has already spent a year at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza. At the start of the year, Leonor set sail from Cadiz, Spain, for her navy training cruise. Felipe and Letizia watched proudly she took part in a departure ceremony before setting sail from Cadiz. The Princess is following in the footsteps of her father King Felipe as well as her grandfather Juan Carlos, who all attended military training with every of the three armed services in the country. Navy Captain Pedro Cardona Suanzes, director-commandant of the Naval Military School in Marín, previously described the daily routine of the midshipmen to the Spanish newspaper La Vanguardia. He said that their life is 'non-stop' adding that there are constant tasks for them to do, from the minute they wake up until they go to bed in the evening. The captain said the day starts at 6.45am. They then shower, make their beds and go and get breakfast all before 7.30am - when their white uniforms are inspected to be 'spotless'. During the week, all students must be in bed before 10.45pm to ensure they get their full eight hours of sleep. On weekends, pupils are allowed to wake up two hours later than usual, at 8.45am and first-years are allowed to stay up until 1.30am in the morning. Before she started her three-year training, Leonor revealed her enthusiasm for becoming a cadet at the Princesa de Girona Foundation award ceremony in Girona last year. She said at the time: 'I have just finished high school and I am about to start a new stage with a period of military training. 'I am happy because I know how much the Spanish value our armed forces... it is an important moment in my life and I feel very excited and determined to continue learning and giving my best effort.' This is the adorable moment Queen Letizia and Princess of Leonor threw royal protocol to the wind as they were reunited after months apart It comes after another adorable moment Queen Letizia and Princess of Leonor throw royal protocol to the wind as they were reunited after months apart. The Spanish royals were reunited at the Port of Fuerte Amador in Panama City in May, after Letizia flew more than 8,000 miles across the globe to see her beloved daughter. Princess Leonor had been away from her family and friends as she embarks on a navy training course around the world. She and her mother Letizia had not seen each other since January, when she set sail aboard the Juan Sebastian de Elcano. Moving video footage from the Spanish Royal Household captured the moment they were finally reunited, with Leonor running across the port to greet her mother. She was soon embraced in an effusive hug that was so powerful that Leonor had to take her hat off, while the Queen had tears in her eyes. They were then pictured excitedly catching up, as Leonor, who previously graduated from UWC Atlantic in South Wales, has been on a whirlwind adventure. Letizia's visit to Panama was an unofficial trip, sources at Zarzuela Palace told Spain's Hola! Magazine. And their moving reunion was made all the more special - as this weekend Mother's Day is celebrated in Spain. While Leonor was smartly kitted out in her naval uniform, her mother had chosen to wear matching shades of white in casual jeans, T-shirt and white trainers. For the Crown Princess's training cruise, she is sailing through two oceans, and visiting 10 ports and eight countries in America, according to La Vanguardia. She will stay in her stopover in Panama until May 6, where she's been enjoying exploring. The Princess of Asturias, as she is also known, participated in a visit to Panama Viejo, took a short walk to the Cathedral Tower and visited several rooms of the Museum (of Panama Viejo), which has a commemorative plaque of the visit of His Majesty the King 2019. Her Royal Highness and the Queen participated in the reception on board that traditionally takes place and had lunch at the El Nacional restaurant in the old town in Panama. Leonor has so far been to Peru, Chile, Brazil and Uruguay. She is soon due to pass through Colombia and the Dominican Republic, before concluding her journey in New York. The 19-year-old has been serving on the 'Juan Sebastián de Elcano' as a first midshipman. Letizia's welcome marked the first visit the heir to the throne has received from family and loved ones since she set sail on January 11, when she set sail in Cadiz. Meanwhile, her parents smiled and waved goodbye, while King Felipe documented the milestone by snapping photographs of Leonor.
Reuters
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Reuters
'My history is being stolen': scandal-prone Spanish former king to publish memoirs
MADRID, June 30 (Reuters) - Spain's former king Juan Carlos will publish his memoirs by year end in an unprecedented move by a Spanish monarch, publishing house Planeta said on Monday. Once revered for his role in Spain's transition to democracy, Juan Carlos was forced to abdicate in 2014 following a series of scandals that included an affair with Danish national Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and the shooting of an elephant in Botswana. He is now seen as a liability for his son, King Felipe. Spanish prosecutors investigated allegations of fraud laid against the former king in Spain and Switzerland, but dropped the probe due to insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations. The former king's lawyer said at the time that prosecutors had failed to prove the existence of any wrongdoing or criminal behaviour. "Reconciliation," written in first person, aims to highlight his fundamental contributions to the success of Spain's young democracy during his almost 40-year reign, overshadowed by his self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi and some of his own mistakes, the publisher said. "My father always advised me not to write my memoirs. Kings do not confess. And certainly not publicly. Their secrets remain buried in the shadows of palaces. Why am I disobeying him today? Why have I changed my mind? Because I feel that my history is being stolen from me," Planeta quoted the former king as saying. The 87-year-old ex-monarch moved to Abu Dhabi in 2020 and has not participated in any official act with the Spanish royal family since. He only returns to Spain for short visits, mainly to sail his yacht, Bribon - Spanish for "rascal" - on its northwestern coast. The memoirs will tell in detail the private side of a public life, Planeta said, in a book "rich in anecdotes that do not shy away from the most significant episodes of our recent history, nor from the joys and sorrows of his intimate and personal life."
Khaleej Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Khaleej Times
'My history is being stolen': Scandal-prone Spanish former king to publish memoirs
Spain's former king Juan Carlos will publish his memoirs by year end in an unprecedented move by a Spanish monarch, publishing house Planeta said on Monday. Once revered for his role in Spain's transition to democracy, Juan Carlos was forced to abdicate in 2014 following a series of scandals that included an affair with Danish national Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Sayn and the shooting of an elephant in Botswana. He is now seen as a liability for his son, King Felipe. Spanish prosecutors investigated allegations of fraud laid against the former king in Spain and Switzerland, but dropped the probe due to insufficient evidence and the statute of limitations. The former king's lawyer said at the time that prosecutors had failed to prove the existence of any wrongdoing or criminal behaviour. "Reconciliation," written in first person, aims to highlight his fundamental contributions to the success of Spain's young democracy during his almost 40-year reign, overshadowed by his self-imposed exile and some of his own mistakes, the publisher said. "My father always advised me not to write my memoirs. Kings do not confess. And certainly not publicly. Their secrets remain buried in the shadows of palaces. Why am I disobeying him today? Why have I changed my mind? Because I feel that my history is being stolen from me," Planeta quoted the former king as saying. The memoirs will tell in detail the private side of a public life, Planeta said, in a book "rich in anecdotes that do not shy away from the most significant episodes of our recent history, nor from the joys and sorrows of his intimate and personal life."
Reuters
10-06-2025
- Business
- Reuters
China's vice president visits Spain as mutual courtship blossoms
MADRID, June 10 (Reuters) - China's Vice President Han Zheng arrived in Spain on Tuesday for a four-day trip during which he will meet with King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez, a further sign of increasingly close economic and political ties. Han's visit is taking place two months after Sanchez visited Beijing for the third time in as many years. There, he sought to woo China's President Xi Jinping as global trade reels from U.S. President Donald Trump's tariffs policy. The Socialist premier has been vying to position Madrid as an interlocutor between China and the European Union, as well as to attract more Chinese investment in advanced technology such as batteries, electric vehicles and hydrogen. Last year, auto maker Stellantis and Chinese battery maker CATL announced plans to build one of Europe's largest EV battery factories in Spain. However, not all is idyllic in Spain's relations with China. Beijing's anti-dumping inquiry into EU pork launched last year in retaliation for Brussels' tariffs on Chinese EVs hit Spain, a top exporter, hard. Sanchez's last visit to China, however, clinched expanded access for Spanish exports of pork stomach - a product widely consumed in China but not previously authorised. Han will meet with Sanchez on Wednesday morning in Madrid, Sanchez's office said, while King Felipe will receive the Chinese official on Thursday, according to the royal household's agenda. The Spanish monarch is also scheduled to visit China later this year to commemorate the signing of a strategic partnership 20 years ago. After his meetings with Sanchez and Spain's king, Han is set to travel to Seville to meet Andalusia's regional leader, Juan Manuel Moreno, who last year secured over 2.5 billion euros ($2.86 billion) of Chinese investments in the southern Spanish region. According to projections by tourism lobby Turespana, the number of visitors to Spain from China is expected to surge by 36% this summer compared to last year, making Spain the European destination with the biggest growth in tourists from the Asian nation. ($1 = 0.8749 euros)
Daily Mail
26-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Daily Mail
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain play proud parents as they hug Infanta Sofía, 18, on her graduation day from 'hippie Hogwarts' school
Infanta Sofía of Spain has celebrated her graduation from Wales's 'hippie Hogwarts' school with her proud parents, Queen Letizia and King Felipe. The 18-year-old royal picked up her graduation certificate from UWC Atlantic College in Llantwit Major this weekend and was joined by her royal mother and father in joyful family scenes - while her sister Leonor, 19, sent a sweet video message from her naval . While King Felipe, 57, and Queen Letizia, 52, made the journey to the Welsh county of Vale of Glamorgan, her older sister Crown Princess Leonor, 19, was not at the celebration. At the 'Leaver's Celebration' Sofía posed for family pictures in a smart and stylish bright red, one shoulder jumpsuit while her mother wore a pillarbox red suit over a plain black top. Felipe wore a grey double breasted suit over a white shirt which he paired with an eye-catching pink spotted tie. In sweet photos posted on Instagram by the Royal Household, Sofía held up her diploma certificate and was embraced tightly by her proud parents. Felipe was also spotted taking photos on his phone of Queen Letizia with her arms around their youngest daughter as the family celebrated the happy occasion. Elsewhere, Sofía was pictured standing with her classmates as she waited to pick up her certificate, before shaking hands with her tutor to accept it. During the ceremony to mark the completion of her International Baccalaureate studies, the graduate was showered with praise by her tutor who highlighted her personal and educational achievements, The Times reports. He said: 'Sofía's journey has been marked by her perseverance and remarkable personal growth; she has gone from being an empathetic and affectionate listener by nature to being an accredited "supportive companion". A true friend in difficult times… we will miss Sofía's warmth and vibrant spirit very much.' Sofía's older sister Leonor also attended so-called 'Hippie Hogwarts', dubbed so thanks to its alternative approach to education. Future queen Leonor graduated in 2023 and is now in the second year of her three years of military training before she attends university. The older princess is currently aboard Juan Sebastián de Elcano engaged in naval training so was unable to attend Sofía's celebration in person, although the sisters were no doubt in touch on the special day. Leonor sent her younger sibling a sweet video message from the high seas to congratulate her sister on graduating - while also wishing her a belated happy birthday after she turned 18 on April 29. Leonor's touching video was shared on Instagram by the Royal Household and began with her and her fellow trainees singing happy birthday to Sofía, which was on 29 April but they were unable to share the clip nearer to the date due to technical issues. After the birthday song a montage of clips and pictures of the sisters from their childhood up until the present day were shown. The adorable snaps showed the two sisters as young royals accompanying their parents at official engagements and also included more candid at home videos of them as toddlers. The most recent images showed the close sisters enjoying sporting events and posing for casual mirror selfies. At the end of the video Leonor addressed her younger sister directly on the deck of the naval boat while dressed in her uniform. Sofía received high praise from one of her tutors as she accepted her certificate during the formal part of the ceremony Who is UWC's founder Kurt Hahn? Kurt Matthias Robert Martin Hahn CBE was a German educator. He founded several schools in Germany and the UK, including Prince Charles' former boarding school Gordonstoun, and the United World Colleges. Hahn's educational philosophy was based on respect for adolescents, whom he believed to possess an innate decency and moral sense, but who were, he believed, corrupted by society as they aged. He believed that education could prevent this corruption, if students were given opportunities for personal leadership and to see the results of their own actions. This is one reason for the focus on outdoor adventure in his philosophy. Hahn founded the institutions as a practical response to the search for new and peaceful solutions in a post-war world riven by political, racial and economic divisions. Hahn had been invited to address the NATO Defence College, where he saw former enemies from several nations working together towards a common goal. With a number of colleagues Hahn realised how much more could be done to overcome the hostility of the Cold War if young people from different nations could be brought together in a similar way. He envisaged a college for students who were already grounded in their own cultures but impressionable enough to learn from others. Drawn from all nations, the students would be selected purely on merit and potential, regardless of race, religion, nationality and background. In Spanish, Leonor said: 'Hi Sofía, I couldn't be there in Wales today to be with you on your graduation day, but I wanted to take this opportunity to congratulate you. 'I'm so proud of you, and I'll see you back home soon to celebrate. Enjoy yourselves and lots of kisses.' Sofía's celebration comes after two years of studying at the prestigious school which is based in the medieval St Donat's Castle, surrounded by 122 acres of woodlands and within walking distance from the ocean. When the Spanish royal family announced that Sofía would be attending the Welsh boarding school it was noted that she would be enrolling in courses that covered 'both science and arts,' as wells taking part in more creative opportunities such as theatre, music, and sports. In the announcement the family also confirmed that they would be covering the £68,000 fee for Sofía's two year course with their personal finaces. The statement read: 'The cost of the international baccalaureate that the Infanta Sofía will take will also be paid in full personally by Their Majesties the King and Queen with their annual allowance.' UWC Atlantic College was founded by German educationalist Kurt Hahn in 1962 and has been dubbed Hippie Hogwarts for it's progressive approach to education. The school is one of 18 which make up the The United World College Movement, which according to it's website 'is a global education movement that makes education a force to unite people, nations and cultures for peace and a sustainable future.' At the school's helm as co-presidents are The Queen and Queen Noor of Jordan so it comes as no surprise that the student cohort and it's alumni includes several other royals. King Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands, studied at the College from 1983 to 1985. His daughter Princess Alexia of the Netherlands followed in his footsteps and graduated in 2023, the same year as Leonor. Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, the daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, enrolled at the school in 2018 but had her time at the castle cut short due to Covid-19 and was forced to continue her studies online at home. Meanwhile Princess Raiyah of Jordan, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Noor also attended the institution before going on to study Japanese at The University of Edinburgh. Students at the school are housed in eight purpose-built boarding houses which accommodate roughly 48 students each. St Donat's Castle is the main building of the College and houses the Tudor Great Hall, the Gothic Dining Hall, the Bradenstoke Hall used for assemblies and performances and an extensive 25,000-book Library. While some teaching does take part in the castle many classes are held in modern academic blocks which were built in the 1960s-80s. Unlike most students those at UWC only have lessons for half the day. The first class begins at 8am and teaching wraps up by lunchtime. The school covers all the usual core subjects such as Economics, English Literature, Mathematics, History, and the Sciences but also boasts a wide range of optional courses including Design Tech, Visual Arts, Film studies, Music and Global Politics. Alongside their studies students at Hippie Hogwarts must also undertake a minimum of two hours of community service, two hours of physical activity and a further two hours of creative activity each week. The schools website says it seeks to 'inspire changemakers' and looks for students who 'can navigate the complexity of life and (reach) beyond easy answers.' According to The Times Spanish media has reported that Sofía is likely to go on to attend university rather than begin military training like her sister did after completing her studies at UWC.
