Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
King Felipe has awarded his mother with Spain’s highest honour as the 50th anniversary of her becoming queen approaches.
In an official State Bulletin published on 10 January 2025, King Felipe decreed that Queen Sofía would be awarded the Collar of the Insigne Order of the Golden Fleece. The Spanish King declared that he was awarding his mother the honour “to bear witness to My Royal appreciation” and to “publicly recognize her dedication and commitment to the service of Spain and the Crown.”
Though the bulletin was published this month, King Felipe granted his mother the honour on 29 October 2024.
Queen Sofía is the first Spanish queen consort to receive the Order of the Golden Fleece since its creation in 1430. Spain’s highest honour is reserved for royalty and heads of state, and includes amongst its members King Juan Carlos, King Carl XVI Gustaf, King Harald, King Albert II, Grand Duke Henri, Queen Margrethe, Princess Beatrix, Emperor Emeritus Akihito, and Princess Leonor.
The Order of the Golden Fleece is one of the most prestigious in the world, with the collar made of solid gold. Two branches of the Order of the Golden Fleece exist today: one administered by King Felipe in Spain and the other administered by Archduke Karl von Habsburg, head of the House of Habsburg-Lorraine, in Austria.
Queen Sofía married the then heir to the Spanish throne, Juan Carlos, in 1962. Following the death of the fascist dictator, Francisco Franco in 1975, Juan Carlos became king and Queen Sofía became the first queen consort in 44 years.