Order of Civil Merit for 24 front-line workers who carried on during Covid crisis

KING Felipe VI has awarded the Order of Civil Merit medals to 24 individuals based all over Spain in recognition of their work on the front line during the Covid-19 pandemic. 

Commemorating the seventh anniversary of his becoming King – on June 19, 2014, when his father, Juan Carlos I, abdicated – HRH Felipe decorated residents in all of Spain's 19 autonomously-governed regions, the 15 on the mainland, the two sets of islands and the cities of Ceuta and Melilla, at a ceremony he presided in the company of his wife, Queen Letizia, their two daughters Leonor, 15 and Sofía, 14, and foreign affairs minister Arancha González Laya.

This is the third time Felipe VI has given Order of Civil Merit medals to ordinary civilians who represent everyday life in Spain – the first time was on his first anniversary of being King, and the second was on the fifth anniversary, in 2019.

For 2021, the Monarch wanted to focus the ceremony on the workforce – those who carried on during the most critical stage of the Coronavirus crisis, specifically during last year's lockdown when they had to continue working, even at personal risk to their health.

As well as healthcare staff, they include manufacturers, food producers and transport and distribution drivers.

Given that this year's event puts the ordinary member of the public at centre stage, no other political figureheads will be present beside the Royal family and the foreign affairs minister.

VIPs who will, however, be in attendance are the 20 school pupils who won the latest edition of the writing and art competition titled, 'What, to you, is a King?'

They are all aged between eight and 13, and were greeted by the Monarch at the El Pardo Palace in Madrid, before having their photo taken with Princess Leonor.

Survey shows 79% appreciate King Felipe VI and his work

A recently-released survey shows that nearly eight in 10 people living in Spain think King Felipe VI is doing a great job – of those questioned, 77% think his seven-year reign has been fraught with 'complications and difficulties'; 74% consider he has 'carried out his duties properly as head of State and in accordance with the Spanish Constitution; 71% say he 'treats all political leaders equally, irrespective of their ideology'; 78% say he is 'a person who inspires confidence and trust'; 79% believe the King 'makes an effort, as far as his duties permit, to strengthen and protect current Spanish Parliamentary democracy'; and an overwhelming 89% consider Felipe VI to be a person 'well-prepared, trained, qualified for and capable' in his rôle. 

The survey reveals that 78% believe Felipe VI 'correctly represents Spain's interests abroad' and 79% say he handles criticism and opposition well.

Queen Letizia gains two-thirds of the population's approval for the way she carries out her duties, or 65%, and King Felipe is considered by 66% to have 'done the right thing' in his relationship with his father Juan Carlos I as the latter's controversial activities came to light at different times.

Even the schoolgirl heir to the throne was the subject of an opinion poll, at the tender age of 15-and-a-half: Respondents were asked whether they felt Leonor would be ready, trained and prepared sufficiently to carry out her duties as head of State when the time came.

But she passed the scrutiny with flying colours, as 83% believed she would.

This said, only 65% thought she would become Queen of Spain – the reasons were not stated, as the survey only invited closed answers, although in light of her outstanding rating for future preparedness, it may have been that those who said 'no' did not believe there would be a monarchy by then.