Editing Monarchy of Spain (section)

===King as Commander-in-Chief===
[[File:Emblem of the Spanish Armed Forces.svg|thumb|upright|Emblem of Spanish Armed Forces]]
The role of the Crown in the [[Spanish Armed Forces]] is rooted in tradition and patriotism as demonstrated in the symbols and the history of the military. The role of the Spanish monarch in the chain of command of the forces is established by the constitution of 1978, and other statutory law – Acts of Parliament, Royal Decrees etc.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/>

{{quote|It is incumbent upon the King ... to exercise Supreme Command of the Armed Forces.|Title II ''The Crown'', Article 62 (H), the Spanish Constitution of 1978.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/>}}

{{quote|The King exercises Supreme Command of the Armed Forces and other powers regarding national defense that are provided for in the constitution and other laws.|Title 1 ''the Crown'', Article 3, National Defense Act, November 17, 2005<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2005-18933 |title=BOE.es Ley Orgánica 5/2005, de 17 de noviembre, de la Defensa Nacional. |pages=37717–37723 |access-date=21 May 2016 |archive-date=15 December 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191215063450/https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2005-18933 |url-status=live }}</ref>{{full short|date=November 2018}}}}

However, Title IV of the constitution vests the administration of the armed forces and formulation of national defense policy with the [[President of the Government of Spain|President of the Government]], a civil officer who is nominated and appointed by the king, confirmed by the elected Congress of Deputies and, as such, is representative of the Spanish people.

Royal Decree 1310 of 5 October 2007<ref>see [https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2007-17490 BOE.es Real Decreto 1310/2007, de 5 de octubre] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191210082054/https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2007-17490 |date=10 December 2019 }}</ref>{{full short|date=November 2018}} requires the National Defence Council to report to the monarch, and that the king is to be the Chairman of the Council when he attends its sessions. The National Defence Council is Spain's highest advisory body on security and defense matters and performs the same basic function as the [[U.S. National Security Council]]. King Juan Carlos chaired the first full meeting of the council on 10 November 2007, at which the newly proposed National Defence Directive was reviewed along with the ongoing war missions in Afghanistan, Kosovo, Bosnia and Lebanon.<ref>[[Agence France-Prese|AFP]], 10 October 2007.</ref>{{full short|date=November 2018}}

[[File:TRJE15 (22010401483).jpg|thumb|left|upright=1.4|King Felipe VI attends a NATO exercise in [[Zaragoza]], 2015]]
As Commander-in-Chief of the armed forces, the king holds the highest-ranking office in the military chain of command. The king's ranks include Captain General of the Army, the Navy and the Air and Space Force.<ref>see [https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2007-19880 Ley 39/2007, de 19 de noviembre, de la carrera militar] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214203742/https://www.boe.es/buscar/act.php?id=BOE-A-2007-19880 |date=14 February 2021 }}, article 2(1)</ref>{{full short|date=November 2018}} The king is the only officer in the military to hold this 5-star General rank. The king takes a keen interest in all aspects of military policy as evidenced by "his direct participation in the life of the Spanish Armed Forces".<ref>National Defense Directive 1/2000</ref>{{full short|date=November 2018}} The king's participation in Spanish military life stems from his constitutional duty to "arbitrate and moderate" the regular working of state institutions. Serving in the armed forces is considered an expectation of the heir apparent, Juan Carlos and Felipe VI served in the various branches of the armed forces before they became kings. The monarch has made his desire for a strong rapport with the armed forces clear in speeches to his officer corps:

{{quote|I do not feel a stranger in your company, and my functions are not limited to being your king and to holding the Supreme Command of the Armed Forces. I am also your companion&nbsp;... I feel one more among you&nbsp;... because my youth has been formed, as yours and with many of you, in military academies where virtues are praised and qualities infused which are not modified by time or by the changes that may occur in society&nbsp;... In my heart, in all my being, side by side with my love for the country, palpitates military spirit, and I feel always identified with my companions in the army, with your concerns, your sorrows, your satisfactions and your hopes. So when I see you joyful, I am joyful. When I feel You sad, I am sad. And all, absolutely all of your worries, all absolutely all of your problems gravitate on your king and Captain General-your companion-with the same intensity that is felt by you.{{quote without source|date=November 2018}}|Juan Carlos Easter Military Address, 1980{{nonspecific|date=November 2018}}}}