King Felipe to receive Order of the Garter from Queen Elizabeth II

A formal ceremony will be held at Windsor Castle, said to be the Queen's favourite residence, exactly two days before the fifth anniversary of Felipe VI's coronation, which followed his father Juan Carlos I's abdication on June 2, 2014.

The Rex Emeritus himself will be present when his son is awarded the oldest honour ever granted by a British Royal leader.

In practice, the Order of the Garter was bestowed upon Felipe VI in July 2017, during his and his wife, Queen Letizia's State visit to the UK, and the Spanish monarch wore this medal during the banquet offered in the couple's honour at Buckingham Palace.

But tradition dictates that the Order is formally bestowed during a ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor following a procession by the Most Noble Order of the Garter, the most prestigious order of chivalry in England, which was founded in 1348 by King Edward III.

The distinction is awarded for courage and loyalty and takes its inspiration from the legendary King Arthur's Knights of the Round Table.

King Juan Carlos I received the Order in 1989 and, aside from his son, five other Spanish kings hold it – Felipe I, Carlos I, Alfonso XII and Juan Carlos I's grandfather Alfonso XIII – as does former British prime minister Sir John Major.

Males who hold the Order of the Garter are known as Knights Companion, and women who do are referred to as Ladies Companion.

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will also receive the Order of the Garter on June 17, which will be presented in person by Queen Elizabeth II herself.

The 93-year-old monarch and her son Charles, Prince of Wales are the only two ex officio members of the Order of the Garter.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia feature alongside Queen Elizabeth and her husband, Prince Philip – who will be 98 on Monday – during the Spanish monarchs' State visit to the UK two years ago.