King of Spain | |
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Spanish: 'Rey de España' | |
Incumbent | |
Felipe VI since 19 June 2014 |
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Details | |
Style | His Majesty |
Heir presumptive | Leonor, Princess of Asturias |
First monarch | Charles I |
Formation | 1516; restored 1978 |
Residence |
Royal Palace of Madrid (official) Palace of Zarzuela (private) |
Website | The Spanish Monarchy |
The Monarchy of Spain (Spanish: Monarquía de España), constitutionally referred to as the Crown (la Corona), is a constitutional institution and historic office of Spain. It used to be also called the Hispanic Monarchy (Monarquía Hispánica).
The monarchy comprises the reigning monarch, his or her family, and the royal household organization which supports and facilitates the monarch in the exercise of his royal duties and prerogatives. The Spanish monarchy is represented by King Felipe VI, his wife Queen Letizia, and their daughters Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofia.
The Spanish Constitution of 1978 reestablished a constitutional monarchy as the form of government for Spain. The 1978 constitution affirmed the role of the King of Spain as the personification and embodiment of the Spanish State and a symbol of Spain's enduring unity and permanence. Constitutionally, the king is the head-of-state and commander-in-chief of the Spanish Armed Forces. The constitution codifies the use of royal styles and titulary, royal prerogatives, hereditary succession to the crown, compensation, and a regency-guardianship contingency in cases of the monarch's minority or incapacitation. According to the constitution, the monarch is also instrumental in promoting relations with the "nations of its historical community". The King of Spain serves as the president of the Ibero-American States Organization, purportedly representing over 700,000,000 people in twenty-four member nations worldwide. In 2008, Juan Carlos I was considered the most popular leader in all Ibero-America.