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A Look at the Spanish Line of Succession

This summer, Royal Central is taking a look at who’s who in the lines of succession around the world. And our latest instalment takes us to Spain. By law, the line of succession there is limited to the descendants of King Juan Carlos I, a rule that remained unchanged following his abdication in 2014 in favour of his only son, Felipe. The law there also means brothers always outrank sisters. That’s not been an issue in the second generation but it remains an interesting anomaly as monarchies around Europe change their rules. There are ten people with rights to claim the throne – here’s the Spanish line of succession.

The current monarch is King Felipe VI who ascended the throne on June 19th 2014. He was born in 1968 as the youngest child of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía and became heir to the throne in 1975 on the restoration of the monarchy in Spain. He married Letizia Ortiz Rocosolano in 2004.

Casa de América/CC/Flickr

The line of succession to the throne of King Felipe VI of Spain is as follows:

  1. Leonor, Princess of Asturias

Leonor de Todos los Santos was born on October 31st 2005 in Madrid, the first child of Felipe and Letizia. She became heir to the throne on the accession of her father and holds the traditional title of first in line, Princess of Asturias.

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2. Infanta Sofía of Spain

Sofía de Todos los Santos was born on April 23rd 2007 in Madrid, the second child of the present monarch, King Felipe VI. She was third in line at the time of her arrival and moved up to second when her father became monarch.

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3. Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo

The eldest sister of King Felipe VI, Elena María Isabel Dominica de Silos de Borbón y de Grecia was born on December 20th 1963 in Madrid, the first child of Juan Carlos and Sofia of Spain. She married Jaime de Marichalar in March 1995 and was made Duchess of Lugo by her father on her wedding day. She divorced in 2009.

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4. Felipe de Marichalar y Borbon

Felipe Juan Froilan de Todos los Santos was born on July 17th 1998 in Madrid, the first child of Infanta Elena and Jaime de Marichalar. He is the eldest nephew of King Felipe VI.

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5. Victoria de Marichalar y de Borbon

Born in Madrid on September 9th 2000, Victoria Federica de Marichalar y Borbon is the second child of Elena and Jaime. She is the eldest niece of the current king, Felipe VI.

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6. Infanta Cristina of Spain

The second child and younger daughter of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, the scandal-plagued royal has retained her place in the succession despite calls for her to step aside. Cristina Federica Victoria Antonia de la Santísima Trinidad de Borbón y de Grecia was born on June 13th 1965 in Madrid and married Iñaki Urdangarin in Barcelona in October 1997. The couple have four children. Cristina is the second sister of King Felipe VI.

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7. Juan Urdangarin y de Borbon

The second eldest nephew of King Felipe VI, Juan Valentin de Todos los Santos was born on September 29th 1999 in Barcelona. He is the first child of Infanta Cristina and Iñaki.

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8. Pablo Urdangarin y de Borbon

Born on December 6th 2000 in Barcelona, Pablo Nicolas Sebastian de Todos los Santos is the second child of Cristina and Iñaki He is the third eldest nephew of King Felipe VI.

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9. Miguel Urdangarin y de Borbon

Infanta Cristina and Iñaki Urdangarin’s third child was born on April 30th 2002 in Barcelona. Miguel de Todos los Santos is the youngest nephew of King Felipe VI.

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10. Irene Urdangarin y de Borbon

The only daughter of Infanta Cristina and Iñaki was born in Barcelona on June 5th 2005. Irene de Todos los Santos is the younger niece of King Felipe VI.

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The line of succession ends with Irene. The current laws state that should the line run out then the Spanish Parliament, the Cortes, will decide who inherits the crown in line with the best interests of the country.

You can enjoy the other parts of our summer series on successions here.

About author

Lydia Starbuck is Jubilee and Associate Editor at Royal Central and the main producer and presenter of the Royal Central Podcast and Royal Central Extra. Lydia is also a pen name of June Woolerton who is a journalist and writer with over twenty years experience in TV, radio, print and online. Her latest book, A History of British Royal Jubilees, is out now. Her new book, The Mysterious Death of Katherine Parr, will be published in March 2024. June is an award winning reporter, producer and editor. She's appeared on outlets including BBC 5 Live, BBC Radio Ulster and BBC Local Radio and has also helped set up a commercial radio station. June is also an accomplished writer with a wide range of material published online and in print. She is the author of two novels, published as e-books. She is also a marriage registrar and ceremony celebrant.