Spanish Monarchy
The Royal Family of Spain consists of the current King, Juan Carlos, his wife, Queen Sofia and their direct descendants. The Spanish royal family belongs to the ancient House of Borbón. Queen Sofia was born a princess of Greece and Denmark in 1938.
The King's son and heir, Felipe, bears the title Prince of Asturias and his wife the title of Princess of Asturias. They have two children.
The Spanish Monarchy has a checkered history and can be traced back to the Visigoth Kingdom, a kingdom which occupied southwestern France and the Iberian Peninsula from the 5th to 8th century AD. Over the centuries there has been a number of Monarchy's and Republics in Spain with the current monarchy emerging from the Republic 'created' by General Franco. The present King's grandfather was the last King of Spain. General Franco was not in favour his father, who was exiled.
In some ways, the King of Spain's official role is more to do with the maintenance of democracy and law and order, rather than the ceremonial opening of buildings and similar events, as performed by most other European Kings and Queens. One of his tasks is to keep good relations between Spain and the former Spanish colonies in America, now all self-governing and independent.
The Spanish King, is rated as one of the most popular and respected persons in Spain by the vast majority of the Spain population, not just as a person, but as the person who brought about, and maintains democracy in the country - often by using his charm, knowledge and wit. He does not get involved in party politics. Despite this, he has been described as the 'poorest King in Europe' with a state income only just higher than that given to the ruling family of Luxemburg.
There are a number of Royal palaces in Spain, mostly dating back to previous Monarchs, but they are all now state owned, but made available to the current King for state occasions, etc. He prefers to live in a smaller residence on the outskirts of Madrid.
Both the King and his Queen enjoy sports, in particularly sailing, skiing and other water sports, with the Queen having been in the Greek sailing team at the 1960 Summer Olympics. The King is well known for having a game of snooker after diner.
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