Editing Monarchy of Spain (section)

==Crown, constitution, and royal prerogatives==<!-- Linked from [[Royal prerogative in the United Kingdom]] -->
{{Politics of Spain}}
The Crown of Spain (''la Corona de España''), with its roots in the Visigothic kingdom from the 5th century and subsequent successor states, is recognized in Title II ''The Crown'', Articles 56 through 65 of the [[Spanish Constitution of 1978]].<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> Constitutionally the monarch embodies and personifies the "indissoluble" unity and permanence of the [[Spain|Spanish State]], and represents the [[legal person]]ality of the State and by extension fulfills the role of "[[Father of the Nation]]". As a unifying figure for the nation, in 2010 King Juan Carlos worked towards "bridging the gap" between Spain's rival polarized political parties to develop a unified strategy in response to the country's on-going [[2008–2009 Spanish financial crisis|late-2000s economic crisis]].<ref name="Spanish King rebrands for recession" />

According to the Spanish Constitution voted in [[1978 Spanish constitutional referendum|referendum]], the sovereign power emanates from the people, so it is the very same people who give the king the power to reign:<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" />

{{quote|National sovereignty belongs to the Spanish people, from whom all State powers emanate.|Article 2(2) of the Spanish Constitution of 1978<ref>Spanish Constitution of 1978 (in English): {{cite web |url = http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978/Preliminary_Title |title = Spanish Constitution of 1978/Preliminary Title - Wikisource |access-date = 2010-10-10 |url-status = dead |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100904170406/http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Spanish_Constitution_of_1978/Preliminary_Title |archive-date = 4 September 2010 |df = dmy-all }}</ref>}}

The monarch "[[Reserve power|arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions]]" and assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State in international relations.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> 
The monarch exercises the functions expressly conferred on him by the constitution and the laws.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" />

{{quote|The King is Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence. He arbitrates and moderates the regular functioning of the institutions, assumes the highest representation of the Spanish State in international relations, especially with the nations of its historical community, and exercises the functions expressly conferred on him by the Constitution and the laws.|Title II ''the Crown'', Article 56, the Spanish Constitution of 1978{{NoteTag|{{langx|es|El Rey es el Jefe del Estado, símbolo de su unidad y permanencia, arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones, asume la más alta representación del Estado español en las relaciones internacionales, especialmente con las naciones de su comunidad histórica, y ejerce las funciones que le atribuyen expresamente la Constitución y las leyes.}}}}}}

Upon accession to the crown and being proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, the king swears an [[oath of office|oath]] to faithfully carry out his constitutional duties and to abide by the constitution and laws of the state. Additionally, the constitution gives the king the added responsibility to ensure that the constitution is obeyed. Lastly, the king swears to respect the rights of Spanish citizens and of the self-governing communities. The Prince of Asturias, upon reaching the age of majority, in addition to any regent(s) upon assuming the office, swears the same oath as that of the king along with a further oath of loyalty to the monarch.

{{quote|
# The King, on being proclaimed before the Cortes Generales, will swear to faithfully carry out his duties, to obey the Constitution and the laws and ensure that they are obeyed, and to respect the rights of the citizens and the Self-governing Communities.
# The Crown Prince, on coming of age, and the Regent or Regents, on assuming office, will swear the same oath as well as that of loyalty to the King.|Title II ''The Crown'', Article 61, the Spanish Constitution of 1978}}

The oath reads as follows:
{{quote|I swear faithfully to discharge my functions, to sustain and see to it that the Constitution and the Laws are sustained, and to respect the rights of the citizens and of the autonomous communities.|Oath of the king of Spain}}

[[File:Proclamacionfelipevi2.jpg|500px|thumb|right|Felipe of Bourbon and Greece takes the oath before the [[Cortes Generales]] during the proclamation ceremony at the [[Palacio de las Cortes, Madrid]] the 19th of June, 2014.]]

The 1978 Constitution, Title II ''The Crown'', Article 62, delineates the powers of the king, while Title IV ''Government and Administration'', Article 99, defines the king's role in the appointment of the prime minister and the formation of the council of ministers/government.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" /><ref name="King and Prime Minister">{{Cite web |url=http://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1978:_06 |title=Part IV Government and Administration |access-date=28 May 2009 |archive-date=20 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201120033049/https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1978%3A_06 |url-status=live }}</ref> Title VI ''Judicial Power'', Article 117, Articles 122 through 124, outlines the king's role in the country's [[Independence of the judiciary|independent judiciary]].<ref name="King and Judicary">{{Cite web |url=http://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1978:_08 |title=Título VI. Del Poder Judicial |access-date=12 June 2009 |archive-date=6 November 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201106162142/https://es.wikisource.org/wiki/Constituci%C3%B3n_espa%C3%B1ola_de_1978%3A_08 |url-status=live }}</ref> However, by [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|constitutional convention]] established by Juan Carlos I, the king exercises his prerogatives having solicited government advice while maintaining a politically [[non-partisan]] and independent monarchy. Receiving government advice does not necessarily bind the monarch into executing the advice, except where prescribed by the constitution. His acts shall always be countersigned in the manner established in section 64. Without such countersignature they shall not be valid, except as provided under section 65(2).<ref name="Spanish Constitution 78">[http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Hist_Normas/Norm/const_espa_texto_ingles_0.pdf] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121119090314/http://www.congreso.es/portal/page/portal/Congreso/Congreso/Hist_Normas/Norm/const_espa_texto_ingles_0.pdf|date=19 November 2012}} Section 56.3</ref>

{{Quote|
It is incumbent upon the King:
{{ordered list
|list_style_type= lower-alpha
| To sanction and promulgate the laws
| To summon and dissolve the [[Cortes Generales]] and to call for elections under the terms provided for in the Constitution.
| To call for a referendum in the cases provided for in the Constitution.
| To propose a candidate for President of the Government and, as the case may be, appoint him or her or remove him or her from office, as provided in the Constitution.
| To appoint and dismiss members of the [[Government of Spain|Government]] on the [[Prime Minister of Spain|President of the Government]]'s proposal.
| To issue the decrees approved in the [[Council of Ministers of Spain|Council of Ministers]], to confer civil and military offices, honours and distinctions in conformity with the law.
| To be informed of the affairs of State and, for this purpose, to preside over the meetings of the Council of Ministers whenever, he sees fit, at the President of the Government's request.
| To exercise supreme command of the [[Spanish Armed Forces|Armed Forces]]
| To exercise the right of clemency in accordance with the law, which may not authorize general pardons.
| To exercise the High Patronage of the Royal Academies.}}|Title II ''The Crown'', Article 62, the Spanish Constitution of 1978<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE">{{cite web |title = Spanish Constitution of 1978 |url = https://www.boe.es/legislacion/documentos/ConstitucionINGLES.pdf |publisher = Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE) |access-date = 5 January 2016 |archive-date = 4 March 2016 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160304214738/https://www.boe.es/legislacion/documentos/ConstitucionINGLES.pdf |url-status = live }}</ref>
|source=}}

===Styles, titles, and the fount of Honour===
{{Main list|List of titles and honours of the Spanish Crown}}
{{Further|Spanish nobility|List of military decorations#Spain}}
[[File:Estandarte Real de España.svg|thumb|right|220px|Royal Standard]]
The 1978 constitution confirms the title of the monarch is the ''King of Spain'', but that he may also use other titles historically associated with the Crown.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987" />{{NoteTag|name=Catholic Majesty|The King of Spain may also use the formal address of [[Catholic Majesty|His Catholic Majesty]], according to [[Almanach de Gotha]] page 336 (2000). However, according to Royal Decree published in 1987, the formal addressed used is ''His [[Majesty]]''.}}

According to Royal Decree 1368/1987, regulating the titles, treatments and honours of the royal family and the regents, the king and his wife, the [[queen consort]], will formally be addressed as "His Majesty and Her Majesty" (''Their Majesties'', Spanish: ''Su Majestad'', ''Su'' represents ''His or Her'') rather than the traditional "[[Catholic Majesty]]" (''Su Católica Majestad''). A [[prince consort]], the husband of a [[queen regnant]], will have the style "His Royal Highness" (''Su Alteza Real'').<ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987">[http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-1987-25284 Real Decreto 1368/1987, de 6 de noviembre, sobre régimen de títulos, tratamientos y honores de la Familia Real y de los Regentes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140813120048/http://boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-1987-25284 |date=13 August 2014 }}. Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE) no. 271, 12 November 1987, p. 33717. (Reference: BOE-A-1987-25284)</ref> The widows and widowers of monarchs are to retain these styles until they remarry.<ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987"/> The heir from birth shall hold the title of [[Prince of Asturias]] and the other titles historically associated with the heir apparent.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987"/> These additional titles include ''[[Prince of Viana]]'', historically associated with the heir apparent to the [[Kingdom of Navarre]]; with the titles ''[[Prince of Girona]]'' and ''[[Duchy of Montblanc|Duke of Montblanc]]'' historically associated with the heir apparent for the [[Crown of Aragon]], among others. Other children of the monarch, and the children of the heir apparent, shall have the title and rank of ''[[Infante]]'' or ''[[Infanta]]'' (prince or princess), and styled ''His or Her Royal Highness'' (''Su Alteza Real'').<ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987"/> Children of an Infante or Infanta of Spain "shall have the consideration of Spanish [[Grandee]]s", and the address of "Your Excellency".<ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987"/> The royal decree further limits the ability of any regent to use or create titles during the minority or incapacitation of a monarch.<ref name="Royal Decree 1368/1987"/> No further constitutional language prescribes titles or forms of address to the fourth generation, or great grandchildren, of a reigning monarch.

[[File:Knight's_Insignia_of_the_Order_of_the_Golden_Fleece_(Spain).png|thumb|left|150px|Knight's insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece]]

Following his abdication in 2014, [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|Juan Carlos I]] and his wife Sofía retain [[courtesy titles]] of King and Queen of Spain.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Goodman|first1=Al|last2=Mullen|first2=Jethro|last3=Levs|first3=Josh|title=Spain's King Juan Carlos I to abdicate|url=http://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/world/europe/spain-king-abdication/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|access-date=2 June 2014|agency=CNN|date=2 June 2014|archive-date=26 November 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201126211727/https://www.cnn.com/2014/06/02/world/europe/spain-king-abdication/index.html?hpt=hp_t2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name=Telegraph>{{cite web|title=Spain will have two kings and two queens|date=13 June 2014 |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10898873/Spain-will-have-two-kings-and-two-queens.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/spain/10898873/Spain-will-have-two-kings-and-two-queens.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=14 June 2014}}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref name="Royal Decree 470/2014">[http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2014-6477 Real Decreto 470/2014, de 13 de junio, por el que se modifica el Real Decreto 1368/1987, de 6 de noviembre, sobre régimen de títulos, tratamientos y honores de la Familia Real y de los Regentes] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210214003333/https://boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2014-6477 |date=14 February 2021 }}. Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE) no. 149, 19 June 2014, p. 46399–46400. (Reference: BOE-A-2014-6477)</ref>

The monarch's position as the [[fount of honour]] within Spain is codified in Article 62 (f); It is incumbent upon the monarch to "confer civil and military positions and award honors and distinctions in conformity of the law".<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Nobility and Grandee Titles">{{cite web|language=en|title=Nobility and Grandee Titles |publisher=Spanish Ministry of Justice |date=2008-01-04 |url=http://esede.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite/en/1215197183446/Tramite_C/1215326462418/Detalle.html |access-date=2009-05-31 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090803062402/http://esede.mjusticia.es/cs/Satellite/en/1215197183446/Tramite_C/1215326462418/Detalle.html |archive-date=3 August 2009 }}</ref> According to the Spanish [[Ministry of Justice (Spain)|Ministry of Justice]], nobility and grandee titles are [[Letters patent|created]] by the "sovereign grace of the king", and may be passed on to the recipient's heirs, who may not sell the title.<ref name="Spanish Nobility and Grandee Titles"/> Titles may revert to the Crown when their vacancy is observed.<ref name="Spanish Nobility and Grandee Titles"/> Succession of titles may follow one of several courses listed on the ''Title of Concession'' when the title is created.<ref name="Spanish Nobility and Grandee Titles"/> As a general rule, most titles are now inherited by absolute Cognatic Primogeniture (as of 2006), in which the first born inherits all titles regardless of gender. However, a title holder may designate his successor, ''Succession by Assignment'', or disperse his titles among his children – with the eldest getting the highest-ranking title, ''Succession by Distribution''.<ref name="Spanish Nobility and Grandee Titles"/>

During his reign between 1975 and 2014, King Juan Carlos awarded peerages to two of his former prime ministers who had retired from active politics: [[Adolfo Suárez]], who was created 1st [[Duke of Suárez]]; and [[Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo, 1st Marquess of la Ría de Ribadeo|Leopoldo Calvo-Sotelo]] who was created 1st [[Marquess of la Ría de Ribadeo]].<ref>{{cite news | date=30 January 2001 | title=No deben tolerarse las recompensas a torturadores (They should not tolerate rewards to torturers) | publisher=Amnesty International | url=http://www.es.amnesty.org/com/2001/com_30ene01b.shtm | access-date=6 June 2009 | archive-date=7 October 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111007162318/http://www.es.amnesty.org/com/2001/com_30ene01b.shtm | url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>"[http://www.cadenaser.com/articulo/espana/Aznar/pago/dinero/publico/lobby/Washington/conseguir/medalla/Congreso/EEUU/csrcsrpor/20040722csrcsrnac_6/Tes/ Aznar pagó con dinero público a un 'lobby' de Washington para conseguir la medalla del Congreso de EEUU] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111125083934/http://www.cadenaser.com/articulo/espana/Aznar/pago/dinero/publico/lobby/Washington/conseguir/medalla/Congreso/EEUU/csrcsrpor/20040722csrcsrnac_6/Tes/ |date=25 November 2011 }}" (Cadena SER)</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/politics/former-spanish-president-aznar-ldquomuslims-should-apologize-for-?itemId=B24_11616&cl=%2Feitb24%2Fpolitica&idioma=en|title=Aznar: 'Muslims should apologize for occupying Spain for 800 years'|publisher=YouTube|access-date=2008-01-03|archive-date=23 May 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090523032705/http://www.eitb24.com/portal/eitb24/noticia/en/politics/former-spanish-president-aznar-ldquomuslims-should-apologize-for-?itemId=B24_11616&cl=/eitb24/politica&idioma=en|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/09/22/internacional/1158945858.html|title=Aznar se pregunta por qué los musulmanes no se disculpan 'por haber ocupado España ocho siglos'|newspaper=El Mundo|access-date=2008-01-03|archive-date=7 January 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200107002238/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2006/09/22/internacional/1158945858.html|url-status=live}}</ref> All successive politicians remain active within politics.

The king grants not only military and civil orders, but also grants awards of distinction, customarily on the advice of government. The [[Order of the Golden Fleece]], one of the oldest surviving orders of chivalry, is the highest honor the king of Spain can bestow. The second in order the king may award is the [[Order of Charles III]] to "citizens who, with their effort, initiative and work, have brought a distinguished and extraordinary service to the Nation".<ref>[http://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2002-19803 Royal Decree 1051/2002] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201030130502/https://www.boe.es/diario_boe/txt.php?id=BOE-A-2002-19803 |date=30 October 2020 }}, 11 October, by which the Regulation of the Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Carlos III is passed. Boletin Oficial del Estado (BOE) no. 245, 12 October 2002, pg. 36085–36094. (Reference: BOE-A-2002-19803)</ref><ref>[http://juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/o080500-mp.html (Spanish) Order of 8 May 2000] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20041018183854/http://www.juridicas.com/base_datos/Admin/o080500-mp.html |date=18 October 2004 }} by which the Regulation of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III is adapted to the current circumstances and conditions.</ref> The [[Laureate Cross of Saint Ferdinand]] is Spain's highest military award for gallantry. Other [[Orders, decorations, and medals of Spain|orders, decorations, and medals]] include the [[Order of Isabella the Catholic]], the [[Order of Alfonso X]], the [[Royal and Military Order of Saint Hermenegild]], the [[Order of Saint Raimundo de Penafort]], the [[Order of Military Merit (Spain)|Order of Military Merit]], the [[Order of Naval Merit (Spain)|Order of Naval Merit]], the [[Order of Aerial Merit (Spain)|Order of Aerial Merit]], the [[Order of Civil Merit (Spain)|Order of Civil Merit]], the [[Order of Cultral Merit (Spain)|Order of Cultural Merit]], the [[Order of Calatrava]], the [[Knights of Santiago|Order of the Knights of Santiago]], the [[Order of Sant Jordi d'Alfama]], and the [[Order of Alcántara]], among others.

===Inviolability and lèse-majesté===
The Spanish monarch is personally immune from prosecution for acts committed by government ministers in the king's name.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" /> Although he is nominally chief executive, he is not  responsible for exercising his powers. His acts are only valid if countersigned by a minister, who then assumes political and legal responsibility for the act in question. This legal convention mirrors the concept of [[sovereign immunity]] which evolved in similar constitutional monarchies. The legal concept of sovereign immunity evolved into other aspects of immunity law in similar [[liberal democracies]], such as [[parliamentary immunity]], [[judicial immunity]], and [[qualified immunity]] in the United States. As the reigning monarch the king of Spain has absolute sovereign immunity, he cannot be charged in any court of law in the Spanish state. This immunity applies to both civil and criminal cases. Sovereign immunity is reserved exclusively for the current holder of the Office of King. It does not apply to any other member of the royal family. When Juan Carlos I abdicated the throne to his successor Felipe VI he automatically forfeited his constitutional sovereign immunity and can be charged in a court of law. However, special legislation was passed by parliament prior to his abdication that states he may only be tried by Spain's Supreme Court and no other.

{{quote|The Person of the King of Spain is inviolable and shall not be held accountable. His acts shall always be countersigned in the manner established in section 64. Without such countersignature they shall not be valid, except as provided under section 65(2).|Title II ''The Crown'', Article 56, the Spanish Constitution of 1978.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" />{{NoteTag|{{langx|es|La persona del Rey de España es inviolable y no está sujeta a responsabilidad. Sus actos estarán siempre refrendados en la forma establecida en el artículo 64, careciendo de validez sin dicho refrendo, salvo lo dispuesto en el artículo 65,2.}}}}}}

The concept of [[lèse-majesté]] (''lesa-majestad'') exists in Spanish [[jurisprudence]], which is the crime or offense violating the dignity of the [[head-of-state]] or the State itself. According to Article 56 of the 1978 Constitution the monarch and the dignity of the Spanish State are one and the same: "The King is Head of State, the symbol of its unity and permanence".<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" /> Breaching Spain's ''lèse-majesté'' laws may carry fines and up to two years in prison.<ref name="Spanish King Juan Carlos defends monarchy">{{cite news |title = Spanish King Juan Carlos defends monarchy |newspaper = [[The Daily Telegraph]] |date = 2007-10-04 |url = https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565021/Spanish-King-Juan-Carlos-defends-monarchy.html |archive-url = https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/1565021/Spanish-King-Juan-Carlos-defends-monarchy.html |archive-date=11 January 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live |access-date = 2009-05-27 |location=London |first=Fiona |last=Govan }}{{cbignore}}</ref> The concept is within the same legal sphere as legislation prohibiting [[flag desecration]] in other democratic countries. Additionally, ''lèse-majesté'' extends to any foreign heads-of-state visiting Spain, and other members of the royal family, and to the Spanish [[Prime Minister of Spain|President of the Government]] as the king's appointed officer.

The Spanish satirical magazine ''[[El Jueves]]'' was fined for violation of Spain's ''lèse-majesté'' laws after publishing an issue with a caricature of the [[Felipe, Prince of Asturias|Prince]] and [[Letizia, Princess of Asturias|Princess of Asturias]] engaging in [[sexual intercourse]] on their cover in 2007.<ref name="Spain royal sex cartoonists fined">{{cite news |title = Spain royal sex cartoonists fined |work = [[BBC News]] |date = 2007-11-13 |url = http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7092866.stm |access-date = 2007-11-13 |archive-date = 24 March 2012 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20120324124855/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/europe/7092866.stm |url-status = live }}</ref> In 2008, 400 Catalonia separatists burned images of the king and queen in Madrid,<ref name="King under fire 1"/> and in 2009 two Galician separatists were fined for burning effigies of the king.<ref name="Galician separatists" />

===Succession and regency===
[[File:Doña Urraca.jpg|thumb|right|Statue of [[Urraca of León and Castile|Queen Urraca]] in the [[Parque del Buen Retiro]] in [[Madrid]]. Urraca succeeded as queen in 1108.]]
According to Article 57 the Crown of Spain is inherited by the successors of King Juan Carlos I de Borbón through ''male preference [[primogeniture]]''.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" /> While drafting the new constitution, lawyer and liberal congressman [[Joaquín Satrústegui]] (1909–1992) insisted that the phrase "the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty" be included in the text to underscore that the monarchy was a historic institution predating the constitution or the prior regime.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> 

{{quote|The Crown of Spain shall be inherited by the successors of HM Juan Carlos I de Borbón, the legitimate heir of the historic dynasty. Succession to the throne shall follow the regular order of primogeniture and representation, the first line having preference over subsequent lines; and within the same line the closer grade over the more remote; and within the same grade the male over female, and in the same sex, the elder over the younger.|Title II ''the Crown'', Article 57 (1), the Spanish Constitution of 1978.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" />{{NoteTag|{{langx|es|La Corona de España es hereditaria en los sucesores de S. M. Don Juan Carlos I de Borbón, legítimo heredero de la dinastía histórica. La sucesión en el trono seguirá el orden regular de primogenitura y representación, siendo preferida siempre la línea anterior a las posteriores; en la misma línea, el grado más próximo al más remoto; en el mismo grado, el varón a la mujer, y en el mismo sexo, la persona de más edad a la de menos.}}}}}}

[[Male-preference cognatic primogeniture]] has been practiced in Spain since the 11th century in the various Visigothic successor states and codified in the ''[[Siete Partidas]]'', with women able to inherit in certain circumstances.<ref name="Visigothic Women">Klapisch-Zuber, Christine (1992). ''A History of Women'': Book II: "Silences of the Middle Ages". Cambridge, Massachusetts and London, England: The Belknap Press of Harvard University Press. 1992, 2000 (5th printing). Chapter 6, "Women in the Fifth to the Tenth Century" by Suzanne Fonay Wemple, p. 74. According to Wemple, Visigothic women of Spain and Aquitaine could inherit land and title and manage it independently of their husbands, and dispose of it as they saw fit if they had no heirs, and represent themselves in court, appear as witnesses (over the age of 14), and arrange their own marriages over the age of twenty.</ref> However, with the succession of Philip V in 1700, the first of the Spanish Bourbons, women were barred from succession until [[Ferdinand VII]] reintroduced the right and designated his elder daughter [[Isabella II of Spain|Isabella]] as his [[Early life of Isabella II of Spain|heir presumptive]] by 1833.

The debate on amending the Crown's succession law came to the forefront on 31 October 2005, when [[Infanta Leonor]] was born to the current King and Queen of Spain. Amending the law to [[absolute primogeniture]] would allow the first-born to inherit the throne, whether the heir be male or female. The Zapatero administration of the day proclaimed its intention to amend the succession law; however, with the birth of the king's second daughter the issue was postponed. Paving the way, in 2006 King Juan Carlos issued a decree reforming the succession to noble titles from male preference primogeniture to absolute primogeniture.<ref name="Spanish Nobility and Grandee Titles" /> Since the order of succession to the Crown is codified in the Constitution, its reform mandates a complicated process that involves a dissolution of parliament, a constitutional election, and a referendum.

If all lines designated by law become extinct, the constitution reserves the right for the Cortes Generales to provide for the succession "in the manner most suitable for Spain".<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE"/> The 1978 constitution disinherits members of the royal family (as well as their descendants) from succession if they marry against the expressed prohibition of the monarch and the Cortes Generales.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" /> Lastly, Article 57 further provides that "Abdications and renunciations and any doubt in fact or in law that may arise in connection with the succession to the Crown shall be settled by an organic act".<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" />

Constitutionally, the current heirs of Felipe VI are:<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE" /><ref>Title II the Crown, Article 57 (1), the Spanish Constitution of 1978.</ref>
# [[Leonor, Princess of Asturias|The Princess of Asturias]], elder daughter of the King
# [[Infanta Sofía of Spain|The Infanta Sofía]], younger daughter of the King
# [[Infanta Elena of Spain|The Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo]], elder daughter of King Juan Carlos I.
# [[Felipe Juan Froilán de Marichalar y de Borbón]], son of Infanta Elena.
# [[Victoria Federica de Marichalar y de Borbón]], daughter of Infanta Elena.
# [[Infanta Cristina of Spain|The Infanta Cristina]], younger daughter of King Juan Carlos I.
# [[Juan Valentín Urdangarín y de Borbón|Juan Urdangarín y de Borbón]], eldest son of Infanta Cristina.
# [[Pablo Nicolás Sebastián Urdangarin y de Borbón|Pablo Urdangarín y de Borbón]], middle son of Infanta Cristina.
# [[Miguel Urdangarín y de Borbón]], youngest son of Infanta Cristina.
# [[Irene Urdangarín y de Borbón]], daughter of Infanta Cristina.

The constitution outlines the [[Regent|regency]] of the monarchy and guardianship of the person of the monarch in the event of his minority or incapacitation.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE"/> The office of Regent(s) and the Guardianship of the monarch (whether the monarch is in his minority or incapacitated) may not necessarily be the same person. In the event of the minority of the monarch, the surviving mother or father, or oldest relative of legal age who is nearest in line to the throne, would immediately assume the office of Regent, who in any case must be Spanish.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE"/> If a monarch becomes incapacitated, and that incapacitation is recognized by the Cortes Generales, then the Prince of Asturias (the heir apparent), shall immediately become Regent, if he is of age. If the Prince of Asturias is himself a minor, then the Cortes Generales shall appoint a Regency which may be composed of one, three, or five persons.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE"/> The person of the king in his minority shall fall under the guardianship of the person designated in the will of the deceased monarch, provided that he or she be of age and of Spanish nationality.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE"/> If no guardian has been appointed in the will, then the father or mother will then assume the guardianship, as long as they remain widowed. Otherwise, the Cortes Generales shall appoint both the Regent(s) and the guardian, who in this case may not be held by the same person, except by the father or mother of direct relation of the king.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78"/><ref name="Spanish Constitution of 1978 BOE"/>

===King, the government, and the Cortes Generales===
[[File:Constitucion espanola 1978.JPG|thumb|right|250px|A copy of the Spanish Constitution, signed by [[Juan Carlos I of Spain|King Juan Carlos]], is held at the Palace of the [[Spanish Congress|Cortes]].]]
The constitution defines the government's responsibilities.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> The government consists of the [[Council of Ministers of Spain|President of the Government and ministers of state]]. The government conducts domestic and [[Foreign relations of Spain|foreign policy]], civil and military administration, and the [[Spanish Armed Forces|defense of the nation]] all in the name of the king. Additionally, the government exercises executive authority and statutory regulations.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> The most direct prerogative the monarch exercises in the formation of Spanish governments is in the nomination and appointment process of the [[Prime Minister of Spain|President of the Government]] (''Presidente del Gobierno de España'').<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /><ref>{{cite web |url = http://www5.poderjudicial.es/secp10-11/Documentaci%C3%B3n%20Ingl%C3%A9s/FILES%20AND%20LINKS/Plain%20language/style%20guide%20european%20commission.pdf |title = The English Style Guide (Fifth edition: 2005 Revised: March 2009) |publisher = European Commission Directorate-General for Translation |date = 2009-03-01 |access-date = 2007-11-13 |archive-date = 24 October 2020 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20201024140735/http://www5.poderjudicial.es/secp10-11/Documentaci%C3%B3n |url-status = live }}</ref>{{NoteTag|The President of the Government is usually known as the ''prime minister'' in many English language publications as the title ''president'', outside of academic and business circles, has a republican connotation absent in the Spanish ''presidente''.}} Following the [[Elections in Spain|General Election]] of the [[Cortes Generales]] (''Cortes''), and other circumstances provided for in the constitution, the king meets with and interviews the [[List of political parties in Spain|political party leaders]] represented in the Cortes, and then consults with the [[Congress of Deputies (Spain)|Speaker of the Congress]] (who, in this instance, represents the ''whole'' of the Cortes Generales).

{{quote|{{ordered list |list_style_type = lower-alpha
| After each renewal of the Congress and the other cases provided for under the Constitution, the King shall, after consultation with the representatives appointed by the political groups with parliamentary representation, and through the Speaker of the Congress, nominate for the Presidency of the Government.
| The candidate nominated in accordance with the provisions of the foregoing subsection shall submit to the Congress the political program of the Government he or she intends to form and shall seek the confidence of the House.}}|Title II ''Government and Administration'', Article 99 (1) & (2), the Spanish Constitution of 1978.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="King and Prime Minister" />{{NoteTag|{{langx|es|Artículo 99.
# Después de cada renovación del Congreso de los Diputados, y en los demás supuestos constitucionales en que así proceda, el Rey, previa consulta con los representantes designados por los grupos políticos con representación parlamentaria, y a través del Presidente del Congreso, propondrá un candidato a la Presidencia del Gobierno.
# El candidato propuesto conforme a lo previsto en el apartado anterior expondrá ante el Congreso de los Diputados el programa político del Gobierno que pretenda formar y solicitará la confianza de la Cámara.}}}}
}}

[[File:Solemne apertura de la XIV Legislatura 07.jpg|thumb|King Felipe VI addressing Parliament in the [[Solemn Opening of the Parliament of Spain|opening session]] of the [[14th Cortes Generales]] ]]

Constitutionally, the monarch may nominate anyone he sees fit as is his prerogative. However, it remains pragmatic for him to nominate the person most likely to enjoy the confidence of the Cortes and [[Government of Spain|form a government]], usually the political leader whose party commands the most seats in the Cortes.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> For the Crown to nominate the political leader whose party controls the Cortes can be seen as a royal endorsement of the democratic process, a fundamental concept enshrined in the 1978 constitution. By [[Constitutional convention (political custom)|political custom]], the king's nominees have all been from parties who hold the most seats in the Cortes. The king is normally able to announce his nominee the day following a General Election.

The king's nominee is presented before the Cortes by the Speaker where the nominee and his political agenda are debated and submitted for a [[Vote of Confidence]] (''Cuestión de confianza'') by the Cortes.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> A simple majority confirms the nominee and his program.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> After the nominee is deemed confirmed by the Speaker of the Congress of Deputies, the king appoints him as the new President of the Government in a ceremony performed at the ''Salón de Audiencias'' in the [[Palacio de la Zarzuela|la Zarzuela Palace]], the official residence of the king.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> During the inauguration ceremony, the President of the Government takes an [[oath of office]] over an open Constitution next to the [[Bible]]. The oath as taken by President Zapatero on his second term in office on 17 April 2004 was:<ref name="zapatero_sworn">{{in lang|es}} {{YouTube|dM3AZ47GZ0w|Rodríguez Zapatero is sworn into his second term}} ([[RTVE]]'s [[24 Horas (Spanish TV channel)|Canal 24H]], 12 April 2008)</ref>

{{quote|I swear, under my conscience and honor, to faithfully execute the duties of the office of President of the Government with loyalty to the King, obey and enforce the [[Constitution of Spain|Constitution]] as the main law of the State, and preserve in secret the deliberations of the [[Council of Ministers of Spain|Council of Ministers]].|Oath of office of President [[Rodríguez Zapatero]], given before the king 17 April 2004, La Zarzuela.{{NoteTag|{{langx|es|Juro/Prometo, por mi conciencia y honor, cumplir fielmente las obligaciones del cargo de Presidente del Gobierno con lealtad al Rey, guardar y hacer guardar la Constitución como norma fundamental del Estado, así como mantener el secreto de las deliberaciones del Consejo de Ministros.}}}}
}}

However, if no overall majority was obtained on the first vote of confidence, then the same nominee and program is resubmitted for a second vote within forty-eight hours.<ref name="King and Prime Minister"/> Following the second vote, if confidence by the Cortes is still unreached, then the monarch again meets with political leaders and the Speaker, and submits a new nominee for a vote of confidence.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> If, within two months, no candidate has won the confidence of the Cortes then the king dissolves the Cortes and calls for a new General Election.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" /> The king's royal decree is countersigned by the Speaker of the Congress.<ref name="King and Prime Minister" />

In the political life of Spain, the king would already be familiar with the various political leaders in a professional capacity, and perhaps less formally in a more social capacity, facilitating their meeting following a General Election. Conversely, nominating the party leader whose party maintains a plurality and who are already familiar with their party [[manifesto]] facilitates a smoother nomination process. In the event of [[coalition government|coalitions]], the political leaders would customarily have met beforehand to hammer out a coalition agreements before their meeting with the king. Once appointed, the President of the Government forms an administration whose ministers are appointed and removed by the king on the president's advice. No minister may take up his appointment until after they give their oath of office to obey the constitution with loyalty to the king.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" />

As early as 1975, Juan Carlos expressed his view that his role in the government of a "crowned democracy" would be for him to counsel and orient an administration's "thrust in action", but for the government to take the initiative without the need for it to involve the king unnecessarily in its decisions.<ref name="Self Made Monarch"/> Therefore, Juan Carlos abstained from presiding over cabinet meetings except under special occasions or circumstances.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> Generally, the king presides over cabinet meetings once or twice a year (more regularly if needed) to be directly informed by ministers of non-partisan national and international concerns.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> However, the king does meet weekly, usually on Tuesday mornings, with the President of the Government.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" />{{NoteTag|An exception to these weekly meetings is in August, while the king is on holiday in Majorca. Then the President or the Vice President travels to Majorica to meet with the king.}} During the [[2008–2009 Spanish financial crisis|late-2000s economic recession]] which gripped the nation, the king discreetly used his influence to facilitate a bi-partisan response to the crisis.<ref name="Spanish King rebrands for recession" />

Governments and the Cortes sit for a term no longer than four years when the president tenders his resignation to the king and advises the king to dissolve the Cortes, prompting a General Election. It remains within the king's prerogative to dissolve the Cortes if, at the conclusion of the four years, the president has not asked for its dissolution, according to Title II Article 56.{{NoteTag|Title II Article 56 the monarch is the "arbitrator and moderator of the regular functioning of the institutions" ({{langx|es|arbitra y modera el funcionamiento regular de las instituciones}})}} The president may call for earlier elections, but no sooner than a year after the prior General Election. Additionally, if the Government loses the confidence of the Cortes, then it must resign. In the event that a president dies or becomes incapacitated while in office, then the government as a whole resigns and the process of royal nomination and appointment takes place. The vice president would take over the day-to-day operations in the meantime, even while vice president himself may be nominated by the king.

===Royal assent, judiciary, and promulgation of the laws===
The constitution vests the sanction ([[royal assent]]) and promulgation (publication) of the laws with the king, while Title III ''The Cortes Generals'', Chapter 2 ''Drafting of Bills'' outlines the method with which bills are passed. According to Article 91, within fifteen days that a bill has been passed by the Cortes Generales, the king shall give his assent and [[Boletín Oficial del Estado|publish]] the new law. Article 92 invests the king with the right to call for referendum on the advice of the president and the previous authorization of Congress.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" />

No provision within the constitution invests the king with the ability to veto legislation directly; however, no provision prohibits the king from withholding royal assent, effectively a veto. When the media asked King [[Juan Carlos]] if he would endorse the 2005 bill legalizing [[Same-sex marriage in Spain|gay marriages]] (the implication being that he may not endorse the bill), he answered {{Lang|es|"Soy el Rey de España y no el de Bélgica"}} ("I am the King of Spain, not of Belgium") – a reference to King [[Baudouin of Belgium]] who had refused to sign the Belgian law legalising [[abortion]] in Belgium.<ref>{{cite news |title=Don Juan Carlos, sobre el matrimonio gay: 'Soy el Rey de España y no el de Bélgica' |newspaper=El Mundo |date=2006-05-13 |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/05/12/espana/1115917538.html |access-date=2007-01-08 |language=es |archive-date=18 December 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201218170102/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2005/05/12/espana/1115917538.html |url-status=live }}</ref>

According to Title VI of the constitution, Justice in Spain "emanates from the people and is administered on behalf of the King by judges and magistrates members of the Judicial Power".<ref name="King and Judicary" /> It remains a royal prerogative for the king to appoint the twenty members to the [[General Council of the Judicial Power of Spain]] (Spain's Supreme Court), and then appoint the [[President of the Supreme Court (Spain)|President of the Supreme Court]] nominated by the General Council, according to Article 122, Subsection 3, of the constitution.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="King and Judicary" /> However, by convention the king's nominations have been with the advice of the government of the day.

{{quote|The General Council of the Judicial Power shall consist of the President of the Supreme Court, who shall preside over it, and of twenty members appointed by the King for a five-year period, of which twelve shall be judges and magistrates of all the judicial categories, under the terms provided for by the organic act; four nominated by the Congress and four by the Senate, elected in both cases by three-fifths of their members amongst lawyers and other jurists of acknowledged competence with more than fifteen years of professional practice.|Title VI ''Judicial Power'', Article 122 (3).<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" />{{NoteTag|{{langx|es|Consejo General del Poder Judicial estará integrado por el Presidente del Tribunal Supremo, que lo presidirá, y por veinte miembros nombrados por el Rey por un periodo de cinco años. De estos, doce entre Jueces y Magistrados de todas las categorías judiciales, en los términos que establezca la ley orgánica; cuatro a propuesta del Congreso de los Diputados, y cuatro a propuesta del Senado, elegidos en ambos casos por mayoría de tres quintos de sus miembros, entre abogados y otros juristas, todos ellos de reconocida competencia y con más de quince años de ejercicio en su profesión.}}}}
}}

Additionally, the king appoints the State Public [[Prosecutor]] on the advice of the government, according to Article 124.<ref name="King and Judicary" /> The king may grant clemency in accordance with the law; however, the king may not authorize a general pardon of government ministers who have been found criminally liable or guilty of treason by the Criminal Article of the Supreme Court, according to Articles 62 and 102.<ref name="King and Judicary" />

===King and international diplomacy===
[[File:OEI map.svg|thumb|right|300px|Members of the Organization of Ibero-American States. King Felipe VI serves as president.]]
Constitutionally the king accredits Spanish ambassadors to international states and governments, and foreign representatives to Spain are accredited before him. However, the government of the day manages diplomatic policy on behalf of the monarch.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Title II" /> Additionally, it remains the responsibility for the monarch to express the state's assent to international commitments and treaties, which must be in conformity with the Spanish constitution.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Title II" />

During his reign, Juan Carlos followed a foreign policy during the first decade of his kingship coined ''Reencounter and Reconciliation'', which greatly improved Spain's standing on the world stage.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> The king reconciled long standing historic tensions with the Netherlands and cultivated relationships with France and Germany which led directly to Spain's entry into the [[European Community]] and into NATO.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> Following the tensions between Franco and the Papacy over the reforms of the [[Second Vatican Council]], Juan Carlos' personal relations with successive popes greatly improved diplomatic relations between the [[Holy See]] and Spain, and with [[Pope Paul VI]] blessing Juan Carlos' democratic reforms.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" />{{NoteTag|Juan Carlos' had a special relationship with [[Pope Paul VI]] whose death greatly affected the king.}} According to historian Charles Powell, it was the king's goal to win Spain's full acceptance by other European powers.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> The king, a self-described ''[[Pan-European identity|Europeanist]]'', was awarded the prestigious [[Charlemagne Award]] in 1982 for his steadfast work towards democracy and for supporting European unity.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" /> The constitution gives the monarch special responsibility in promoting Spanish relations with members of its historic community, the nations formerly part of the [[Spanish Empire]] and also relations with Portugal and Brazil.<ref name="Wiki Source Spa Constitution 78" /><ref name="Title II" /> Fulfilling this responsibility, the king of Spain serves as president of the twenty-three member [[Ibero-American States Organization]]. With his support of democracy, various elements within Ibero-America political society have sought the king's advice on how to transition from a dictatorship to a democracy.<ref name="Self Made Monarch"/> For his efforts, by 2008 the king was voted the most popular leader in all of the [[Ibero-America]]n community.<ref name="most popular leader in Ibero-America">{{cite news |date=2008-10-07 |title=Uribe is the Ibero-American leader best valued by the citizens of his country |trans-title=Uribe is the Ibero-American leader best valued by the citizens of his country |url=http://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/09/internacional/1215635605.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201213023652/https://www.elmundo.es/elmundo/2008/07/09/internacional/1215635605.html |archive-date=13 December 2020 |access-date=2009-12-01 |newspaper=[[El Mundo (Spain)|El Mundo]] |language=es}}

The Spanish monarchy has its roots in the [[Visigothic Kingdom]] of [[Toledo, Spain|Toledo]] founded after the [[fall of the Western Roman Empire]]. Then, the [[Kingdom of Asturias]] fought the [[Reconquista]] following the [[Umayyad conquest of Hispania]] in the 8th century. A dynastic marriage between [[Isabella I of Castile]] and [[Ferdinand II of Aragon]] (the "[[Catholic Monarchs]]") united [[Spain]] in the 15th century. The [[Spanish Empire]] became one of the first [[Global power|global powers]] as Isabella and Ferdinand funded [[Christopher Columbus]]'s exploratory voyage across the Atlantic Ocean. The sea route he established paved the way for the Spanish conquest of much of the Americas.

As of 2023, the official budget for the Spanish monarchy is 8.4&nbsp;million euros, one of the lowest public expenditures for the institution of monarchy in Europe.<nowiki><ref></nowiki>{{Cite web |last=RTVE.es |date=2022-10-06 |title=La Casa Real mantiene congelado su presupuesto para 2023 |url=https://www.rtve.es/noticias/20221006/gobierno-congela-presupuesto-casa-real-2023/2405221.shtml |access-date=2023-11-27 |website=RTVE.es |language=es}}</ref>

The monarch is assisted in his diplomatic missions by the [[Ministry of Foreign Affairs (Spain)|Foreign Ministry]], and high-ranking members of the Foreign Ministry are made available to the king when he is abroad representing Spain.<ref name="ec.europa.eu">{{cite web |title = Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation |publisher = Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation |date=2009-01-27 |url = http://www.maec.es/en/MenuPpal/Ministerio/Paginas/postingTXT(17-2)Ministerio.aspx |access-date=2009-12-09 |url-status=dead |archive-url = https://archive.today/20130213042448/http://www.maec.es/en/MenuPpal/Ministerio/Paginas/postingTXT(17-2)Ministerio.aspx |archive-date=13 February 2013 |df=dmy-all }}</ref> The royal household coordinates with the Foreign Ministry to ensure successful diplomatic engagements. Additionally, other members of the royal family, most notably the Prince of Asturias, may represent the Spanish State internationally. Though the Spanish monarchy is independent of the government, it is important that royal speeches are compatible with government foreign policy to project a unified diplomatic effort. To achieve balance, royal household [[speechwriter]]s confer with the Foreign Ministry to ensure that the official speeches strike the desired diplomatic tone between the king's views and government policy.<ref name="Self Made Monarch" />{{NoteTag|The king's speeches are generally reflective of the king's views and reviewed by the king before an event. When confirming with the Foreign Ministry, the speeches are reviewed so that they are largely general in nature and politically neutral in terms of specific policies followed by the government.}}<ref>{{YouTube|64dUYeK08Aw|King Juan Carlos calls for an immediate cease fire in Gaza}}</ref> When necessary and appropriate, the king and his government may focus on two different aspects in a diplomatic engagement. The king may emphasize one aspect, such as the promotion of democracy and historic relations; while the government focuses on the details of strategic planning and bilateral coordination.

The king and members of the royal family have represented Spain in Europe, Latin America, in the United States and in Canada, nations in the Middle East and North Africa, in China, Japan, the [[Philippines]], Australia, New Zealand and many countries in [[sub-Sahara Africa]]. The king and Prince of Asturias have addressed many international organizations which include the [[United Nations]], the institutions of the [[European Union]], the [[Council of Europe]], the [[Organization of American States]], [[UNESCO]], the [[International Labour Organization]], and the [[Arab League]]. Since 2000, Felipe has represented Spain in half of all diplomatic engagements.

===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}}}}