Prince Felipe - Titles, Styles, Honours and Arms

Titles, Styles, Honours and Arms

• 30 January 1968 – 22 January 1977: His Royal Highness The Infante Felipe of Spain
• 22 January 1977 – present: His Royal Highness The Prince of Asturias
  • in former Crown of Aragon territories: 22 January 1977 – present: His Royal Highness The Prince of Girona
  • in former Kingdom of Navarre territory: 22 January 1977 – present: His Royal Highness The Prince of Viana

When Felipe was born, his father did not have any official title or post in Spain, but he was registered in the Civil Registry as Infante, with the style of Royal Highness. About a year after his birth, General Franco recognized Juan Carlos as successor to the Headship of State and bestowed him the title of Prince of Spain. Thus, Felipe became second-in-line in the line of succession to the vacant throne.

Juan Carlos became King in 1975, but no title was conferred to Felipe as heir apparent until 2 January 1977, when he was created Prince of Asturias, the title normally held by the heir to the Spanish throne, by a Royal Decree which also entitled him to use "the other historical titles corresponding to the heir of the Crown". Rarely used, the Prince's style and title in full is: His Royal Highness the Most Serene Infante Don Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia, Prince of Asturias, Prince of Girona, Prince of Viana, Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer. Although legally warranted since 1977, Felipe started to use in public the Aragonese-Catalan title of Prince of Girona on 21 April 1990, during a trip around Aragon, Catalonia and Valencia, becoming the first Bourbon to use this title. Later, he did the same thing with the Princedom of Viana in Navarre, and the titles of Duke of Montblanc, Count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer in their appropriate places. If Prince Felipe succeeds to the throne and uses his first given name as his regnal name, he would be known as Felipe VI (Philip VI).