What a difference nine years make: King Felipe VI marks anniversary

IT DOESN'T feel like nearly a decade since Prince Felipe of Asturias became King in the most austere coronation ceremony in Spain's history – but the monarch has just celebrated his ninth anniversary on the throne.

This date nine years ago represented a total transformation for the life of acclaimed reporter Letizia Ortiz, too: Her marriage to Felipe in 2004 would trigger her journey from reading the news on national TV to being declared Queen Consort.

The Prince of Asturias became King Felipe VI after his father, Juan Carlos I, abdicated in June 2014 – but as the nation was still feeling the effects of a long recession, the Royal Household decided it would not be appropriate for the new head of State to be crowned amid the usual pomp and circumstance.

HRH Felipe had a simple 'proclamation', or a formal swearing-in session, where he pledged allegiance to the Constitution, and no crowns or diamond-studded tiaras were involved.

This massively scaled-down milestone event came just a couple of months after his daughter, Princess Leonor's deliberately-Spartan First Communion: Whilst Spanish families typically spend around €4,000 for their child's confirmation, including presents for the youngster, their own new outfits, professional photographs, and a huge party in a hired hall for the extended family, Leonor only had a meal at home with her parents, grandparents, and sister Sofía.

Families in Spain spend high sums on buying or hiring children's outfits for their First Communion – miniature wedding-type gowns for girls, and sailor suits for boys – but Princess Leonor had her church service jointly with her classmates and in school uniform.

Royal anniversary marks crossroads for King's daughters...and general elections

Fast-forward nine years, Princess Leonor, the then eight-year-old heir to the throne has just finished her final sixth-form exams at the prestigious UWC Atlantic college in Wales, where she was one of the few students who were not on a full scholarship, and has less than three months of relative freedom before she starts three years of military training in the Army, Navy and Air Force – all this, and she will not turn 18 until October 31.

The Infanta Sofía had just turned seven when her dad became King, and spent his proclamation being gently chided by her mum, Queen Letizia, for fidgeting and swinging her legs; she is now getting ready to spend two years living and studying away from home, in another country with a national language that is not her native tongue.

Sofía, named after Felipe VI's mother, Queen Sofía, was 16 on April 29, and has just received confirmation of her place at the UWC Atlantic – although she will be starting there after her elder sister has already left.

And as well as the huge family changes with the new chapters awaiting his daughters, Felipe VI celebrated his ninth anniversary as King mired in preparations for a general election.

Whilst the Royals are apolitical, King Felipe will be closely involved in the snap election on July 23 – it will be his duty to hold meetings with all party leaders separately, and then formally invite the head of the most-voted outfit to form a government.

Public processions with military forces to mark the date

The anniversary of the coronation, even when it is not a key year – such as a jubilee – is frequently celebrated in public, with commemorative acts in the Descubrimiento ('Discovery') Gardens in Madrid's Plaza de Colón ('Columbus Square').

Everyone from the State chief prosecutor (Álvaro García Ortiz, at present), to the Guardia Civil is involved, with formal parades, marching bands and national authorities in attendance.

The Air Force, Army and Navy took part in a procession, in full uniform, since the King of Spain is always automatically the supreme head of the military.

Since the mid-19^th century, there has not been a reigning Queen – this will be Leonor, when the time comes, who will become the highest-ranking military chief as she takes over from her father.

Also present at the event were the chairmen of the General Judicial Power Council (CGPJ), Rafael Mozo; of the Supreme Court, Francisco Marín Castán; and of national defence, Admiral-General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón.

All three of these raised the Spanish flag as a symbolic act to mark the anniversary of the proclamation.

Although the date is usually commemorated, this has only happened three times in the past for King Felipe VI – on his first and fifth anniversaries, in 2015 and 2019, and then in 2021 when it became a 'post-pandemic special': The Monarch presented the Order of Civil Merit, a type of knighthood, to anonymous citizens in every region in Spain for their social commitment during the Covid crisis.

Jordanian Royal family and Spanish football team

As part of King Felipe's packed agenda for his ninth anniversary, he and Queen Letizia will be hosting the Jordanian Royal family on a State visit to Spain.

A formal lunch at Madrid's Royal Palace – one of the only working monarchic residences open to tourists – with representatives from Spain's government among the guests will be followed by a trip to the southern city of Córdoba for a formal evening meal at the Alcázar.

Here, King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein and Queen Rania of Jordan will discuss their Aqaba process – a meaningful attempt to achieve peace in the Middle East.

Both Royal couples have already met up informally ahead of the lunch and dinner meetings, with the Kings comparing notes on the bilateral relations between Spain and Jordan along with other international current affairs.

Meanwhile, both Queen Consorts, Letizia and Rania, have been spending time touring national heritage sites at the palace complex.

On a more 'civilian' note, one of the main activities for King Felipe on his anniversary was meeting Spain's national football team.

They paid a visit to the Zarzuela Palace, where HRHs Felipe and Letizia and their daughters live, following their victory in Rotterdam, The Netherlands, the evening before against Croatia in the Nations' League.