Spanish Royal Family: Key Members and Their Roles
The Spanish royal family, led by King Felipe VI, has been a central part of Spain's national identity since the Bourbon dynasty returned to power in 1975. Felipe VI ascended the throne in 2014 after his father Juan Carlos I abdicated amid scandals. Queen Letizia, a former TV anchor, married Felipe in 2004. Their eldest daughter, Princess Leonor (20), is heir to the throne and recently completed military training; she will study political science at Charles III University of Madrid. Her sister, Infanta Sofia (19), studies political science and international relations at Forward College. King Emeritus Juan Carlos I, now 87, helped transition Spain to democracy but faced tax fraud allegations. Queen Sofia, also 87, occasionally appears at official events. The family's popularity was evident when they greeted the 2026 FIFA World Cup-winning team.
Key facts
- King Felipe VI is the current king and head of state of Spain, ascended in 2014.
- Queen Letizia was a television presenter before marriage.
- Princess Leonor, 20, is heir to the throne and completed military training in July 2026.
- Infanta Sofia, 19, studies at Forward College in Lisbon, Paris, and Berlin.
- King Emeritus Juan Carlos I abdicated in 2014 after scandals including tax fraud.
- Queen Sofia is the wife of Juan Carlos I and occasionally attends royal events.
- The family greeted the 2026 FIFA World Cup-winning Spanish team.
- Leonor took a public oath to the constitution on her 18th birthday in 2023.
Entities
Institutions
- Spanish Royal Family
- House of Bourbon
- Zarzuela Palace
- Spanish Armed Forces
- Charles III University of Madrid
- Forward College
- El Español
Locations
- Spain
- Madrid
- Zarzuela Palace
- Almudena Cathedral
- Lisbon
- Paris
- Berlin
- Italy
- Greece
- Greek Islands
- Athens
- Botswana