Felipe VI of Spain Family Tree: The Story Behind Spain's Modern King

Felipe VI Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia, born 30 January 1968 in Madrid, Spain, became King of Spain on 19 June 2014 when his father Juan Carlos I abdicated. The Spanish monarchy was restored in 1975 by his grandfather Alfonso XIII's heir Juan Carlos.

The Family's Roots: The Spanish House of Bourbon

The Spanish House of Bourbon (Casa de Borbón) descends from the French Bourbons via Philip V (grandson of Louis XIV), who became King of Spain in 1700.

His Parents

Father: Juan Carlos I, born 5 January 1938 — King of Spain from 22 November 1975 (after Franco's death) to his abdication on 19 June 2014. Restored the Spanish monarchy after the Franco era. Currently lives in self-imposed exile in Abu Dhabi since August 2020 amid financial scandals.

Mother: Sofía of Greece and Denmark, born 2 November 1938 — daughter of King Paul of Greece; sister of King Constantine II of Greece.

His Sisters

Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, born 20 December 1963 — elder sister; divorced from Jaime de Marichalar 2010; two children.

Infanta Cristina, born 13 June 1965 — middle sister; stripped of her title "Duchess of Palma de Mallorca" (2015) during the Nóos institute corruption case; married to former handball Olympic medalist Iñaki Urdangarin (convicted to 6 years, 2018; separated from Cristina 2022); four children.

His Wife: Queen Letizia

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, born 15 September 1972 — Spanish journalist; news anchor on TVE (Spanish public broadcaster); previously married briefly to literature teacher Alonso Guerrero. Felipe and Letizia married on 22 May 2004.

Their Daughters

Leonor, Princess of Asturias, born 31 October 2005 — daughter; Princess of Asturias (Crown Princess); attending the General Military Academy in Zaragoza (2023–26); will be the next Queen of Spain (Spain has equal primogeniture since 1978).

Infanta Sofía, born 29 April 2007 — daughter; currently in school in Wales (UWC Atlantic College).

The Spanish Bourbon Family Tree at a Glance

Family Origins: Spanish House of Bourbon.

Father: Juan Carlos I (b. 5 January 1938) — King of Spain 1975–2014 (abdicated).

Mother: Sofía of Greece and Denmark (b. 2 November 1938).

Sisters: Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo (b. 20 December 1963); Infanta Cristina (b. 13 June 1965).

Wife: Letizia Ortiz (b. 15 September 1972; m. 22 May 2004).

Daughters: Princess Leonor of Asturias (b. 31 October 2005); Infanta Sofía (b. 29 April 2007).

Maternal uncle: King Constantine II of Greece (1940–2023) — exiled to UK from 1967 until his death.

Paternal grandfather: Don Juan, Count of Barcelona (1913–1993) — exiled Spanish royal heir; never became king.

Maternal grandmother: Frederica of Hanover (1917–1981) — Queen of Greece.

King Felipe VI:

  • Born 30 January 1968, Madrid
  • Saint Mary's School, Lakefield, Ontario, Canada (1984–85)
  • Spanish military academies: army (1985–88); navy (1988); air force (1989)
  • Universidad Autónoma de Madrid (Law, 1993); Georgetown University, USA (International Relations, MA 1995)
  • Crown Prince of Asturias: until 19 June 2014
  • King of Spain: from 19 June 2014 (after Juan Carlos's abdication)
  • Has taken multiple difficult constitutional decisions, including the 2017 Catalan independence referendum crisis (his stern 3 October 2017 televised address) and the 2020s investigations of Juan Carlos
  • 2020: relinquished his future personal inheritance from Juan Carlos in light of the financial scandal

What the Spanish Bourbon Family Story Teaches Us

A king-father who restored the monarchy and then abdicated in 2014. A Greek-princess mother who is the sister of the last King of Greece. Two sisters, one of them stripped of her ducal title in a corruption scandal. A commoner-journalist wife. Two daughters, the elder of whom is the future Queen.

For every family — large or small, famous or otherwise — the Felipe VI story carries the same lesson. Royal families also have scandals — and how they are handled is part of the family record. Juan Carlos's 2020 self-exile and Cristina's title-stripping are on the Bourbon family record alongside the 2014 coronation. Write down what each family did with its own difficult chapters.

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