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The Supernumerary Knights of the Garter

The Order of the Garter ceremony will see two new royal knights join the procession for the first time. King Felipe VI of Spain and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands will be invested at Windsor following their recent appointments to the order. The Queen made King Felipe a Supernumerary Knight in 2017 and conferred the same honour on King Willem-Alexander in 2018. The two men will join a…
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European RoyalsSpain

King Juan Carlos bows out of public life

There was one final ovation. On a humid afternoon in early summer, in a place indelibly associated with royalty, King Juan Carlos of Spain stood on a balcony painted in the colours of his country’s flag to acknowledge the cheers of the crowd. They knew they were watching the end of an era. For this would be the king’s last official public appearance. Juan Carlos confirmed he would be…
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European RoyalsHistoryRoyal WeddingsSpain

Royal Wedding Flowers: Queen Letizia of Spain

Soft, striking and above all, symbolic. The wedding bouquet carried by the future Queen of Spain, Letizia Ortiz, at her royal wedding on May 22nd 2004 was filled with significance. From personal touches to nods to one of the oldest ruling dynasties in Europe, Letizia filled her posy with meaning. At the heart of her cascading bouquet were the iris and the lily, closely associated with the House…
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European RoyalsSpain

Questions over King Juan Carlos' health as he needs support to walk in public

King Juan Carlos of Spain’s health is in the spotlight again after he had to rely on support to walk into the Cathedral of Notre-Dame in Luxembourg for the funeral of Grand Duke Jean. Juan Carlos leaned on the arm of an aide as he made his way into the church on Saturday, accompanied by his wife, Queen Sofia. The king, who ruled Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014, also used a stick for…
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