Editing Monarchy of Spain (section)

===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.