Felipe VI - Royalty
Age: 58
Country: Spain Occupations:
Royalty
Felipe VI is the current King of Spain, having ascended to the throne on June 19, 2014, following the abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos I.
Background and Early Life
Born in Madrid on January 30, 1968, Felipe is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía. As heir apparent, he held the title of Prince of Asturias and received extensive military and academic training. He studied law at the Autonomous University of Madrid and earned a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. An avid athlete, he also represented Spain in sailing at the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, serving as his country's flag bearer.
Family
In 2004, he married Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, a former award-winning television journalist. The couple has two daughters:
Leonor, Princess of Asturias (born 2005), who is the heir presumptive to the Spanish throne.
Infanta Sofía (born 2007).
Reign and Role
As Spain's head of state, Felipe VI performs primarily constitutional and ceremonial duties, representing the nation internationally and serving as the supreme commander of the Spanish Armed Forces. His reign has been defined by efforts to modernize the monarchy, increase financial transparency within the royal household, and restore public trust following political scandals involving other members of the royal family.