La Familia Real Española

Below is a brief description about the Spanish Royal Family.  Read this carefully because on the next page you will be asked comprehension questions to be submitted to your teacher.

Spain is one of the countries left in the world with a monarchy. The current King of Spain is el Rey Felipe VI de Borbón. His wife is la Reina Letizia.

According to the Spanish Constitution, the King and Queen are the Head of State for Spain. The King moderates and arbitrates the regular working of institutions, assumes the representation of the Spanish government in international affairs, and performs other functions expressly given to him as King of the nation.

The queen also has important functions relevant to the nation and also to international affairs.

 

The King and Queen have several palaces in Spain, but they live at one called Zarzuela, near Madrid. The Palacio Real, in Madrid, is the former home of Spain's Kings and Queens. Now, the Palacio Real serves as a museum and is also the place where other diplomats and presidents are received by the Spanish government. In the picture at the right, you can see the beautiful gardens leading up to the entrance of the Palacio Real. Visitors can tour the Palacio to see the extravagantly decorated rooms full of Spain's history.

There is a cathedral just opposite the open courtyard in front of the Palacio Real. That cathedral is called Almudena and is the place where the King and Queen were married in May of 2004.

The King and Queen have two children. The eldest daughter is named Leonor. The second child of the King and Queen is named Sofia. Leonor is the Princesa de Asturias and is the first line for succession to the Spanish throne. The King also has two sisters. His older sister is named Elena. She was married to Don Jaime and has two children. His other sister is named Cristina and is married to Don Iñaki and has four children.