Biography: Philip of Bourbon | Prince of Asturias (1977) and King of Spain from 2014.

(Philip of Bourbon and Greece; Madrid, 1968) Prince of Asturias (1977) and King of Spain from 2014, year in which initiated his reign as Felipe VI of Spain. Son of Juan Carlos I of Spain and Sofia of Greece, regained the title of Prince of Asturias inherent to the heir of the Royal House, after the historic tax bracket by the second Republic and the regime of general Franco; because of this title chairs awards granted by the eponymous Foundation, which annually distinguished personalities featured in the letters, Sciences, arts and politics.

Philip VI of Spain

Due to the plan of studies that followed, attended some courses in foreign centers; He studied the COU in Canada to refine the English and French languages. After primary and secondary studies, Felipe de Borbón started his military training in the General Military Academy of Zaragoza in 1985, where the following year he received the title of Knight Alférez of the weapon of infantry from the hands of his own father, King Juan Carlos. In September 1986 he joined the Academy Naval Militar de Marín, Pontevedra, and in January 1987 Juan Sebastián Elcano. embarked on the Jeanne In September of that year he completed his military education at the Academy General of the air of San Javier, Murcia. In all these military schools was a prominent student, as that would be in the civil field.

In 1986, upon reaching the age of majority, Prince Felipe swore the compliance to the Constitution to the Executive and legislative branches and representatives of all State institutions. In the following years, he continued his military and college studies. In 1993 he graduated in law, becoming the first Prince of the Spanish Crown who obtained a title of University graduate. Then he started a master's degree in international relations at the United States, and completed this in 1995, returned to Spain in order to fully assume its obligations as the heir of the Royal House. Since 1996, representing the Spanish Crown in all takes possession of Latin American Presidents. In 1997 he inaugurated the Euromed Forum III and in 1998 traveled to Central America to assess the damage caused by Hurricane Mitch.

In December 2003 the Royal House made public the commitment between Prince Philip and the young Spanish journalist Letizia Ortiz. It was a complete surprise, because the relationship had remained in the greatest of secrets. The wedding took place on 22 May 2004, at the Cathedral of the Almudena in Madrid. The link was attended by representatives of many royal houses, numerous heads of State and more than 1,700 guests; televised live, the Royal Wedding was one of the most important media of the Decade events.

With marriage to Letizia was closed, at age 36, prolonged singleness of Prince Felipe, one of the favorite foods of the press of the heart, which had been awarding them a series of girlfriends from 1990, which was mentioned repeatedly the Spanish Isabel Sartorius, the American Gigi Howard and the Norwegian model Eva Sannum (between 1997 and 2001). The truth is that some concern had been generated in certain circles about the monarchical continuity: many were those who wanted to see Prince Felipe married and with children. To try to calm these uncertainties, in 1998, at age 30, the Prince had granted to Spanish Television an interview which had been very conscious of the need for heirs to the throne.

After the wedding, Princess Letizia, who in just a few months had spent witness news outstanding protagonist of them, he accompanied Prince Philip in his busy schedule of official events. Shortly after the marriage made his first official trip (to Mexico, from 17 to 20 July 2004). October 31, 2005 was born the eldest daughter of Royal marriage: the infanta Leonor, heir to the throne of Spain. The second stem was also girl: Princess Sofia, who was born on April 29, 2007 and received the name of her paternal grandmother, Queen Sofia. The princes had to reconcile family life with all the burden of acts and official visits its range since then.

From 2010, a series of incidents that undermined the prestige of the Crown and the deteriorating health of Juan Carlos I gave rise to rumors that pointed to a possible abdication. 2011 started a judicial process against the son-in-law of the monarch, Iñaki Urdangarín, accused of misuse of public funds; the own Infanta Cristina had to testify before the judge, and came to be imputed. No less forceful was the blow received the image of the monarchy when, in 2012, it emerged that King Juan Carlos I, which had ordered austerity and sacrifices to the Spaniards, were hunting elephants in Botswana.

Finally, on June 2, 2014, Juan Carlos I announced his decision to abdicate in favour of Prince Crown, thus initiating the reign of Felipe de Borbón, which happened to be called Felipe VI of Spain. Although in a dynastic sense opens a new stage in the history of Spain, major changes, except for an improvement in the image of the institution, not expected, in fact, given the relative charisma that Felipe and Letizia still in comparison with the other members of the Royal family. It should not be forgotten that the King of Spain is merely representative figure; wanted it his father, Juan Carlos I, who received from Franco, the head of State and brought back that power the Spanish people driving the transition to democracy.

Extracted from the website: Biografías y Vidas