May
2008 Issue
The heir to the Spanish throne prepares for his destiny all
while making a difference in Washington.
It would be tough to be the youngest in the family. Constantly
overlooked, consistently searching for ways to stand out from
your older siblings. But this may not be the case if you’re
6’5” and the next in line to the Spanish throne.
Born Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón
y de Grecia, Prince Felipe’s official title is Prince
of Asturias, a name designated in Spain to the heir to the
throne.
In an era where monarchal rule in Europe is all but dissolved,
the Spanish monarchy is one of the few royal families that
is recognized as a ceremonial and political power.
As a young schoolboy, Felipe was known to elude his security
detail and cause more than his fair share of sophomoric humor
and mischief. Similar to other royals such as Prince William
and Prince Harry in the House of Windsor, Felipe’s love
life has been the center of headlines since he reached adolescence.
In his youth, Felipe was linked to a variety of proper suitors,
from Aristocrat Isabel Sartorius to Norwegian model Eva Sannum.
The Prince had a 5-year courtship with Sannum and his relationship
with Sartorius would end by 1992.
Felipe threw the nobility and supermodel’s aside and
wound up with the best of both worlds. In TV journalist, Letizia
Ortiz, Felipe connected with someone who was self-driven and
well known to the people of Spain as she entered their homes
each evening as one of the nation’s most trusted news
anchors.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia
Ortiz comes from a long line of journalist in her family. Her father describes
her as, “very responsible with a good head on her shoulders.” Her
face became even more recognizable after the attacks of September 11, 2001 as
she reported on the devastating acts with continuous coverage. She would also
gain high marks for her coverage of the lead up to the war in Iraq in 2003. Ironically,
earlier that year Prince Felipe said, "I won't abandon my aim to marry someone
I'm in love with. Someone with whom I have an honest, profound relationship on
which to base a family, common values and interests that will allow us to share
a family and professional life… to serve Spain in the best way possible."
Although Letizia has won numerous prizes in the field of reporting, at 34,
she’s
now in line to be the next Queen of Spain. Not bad for a journalist from a
middle-class family.
The pair met in 2002 when she was reporting on an oil tanker spill and Felipe
was there to review the damage. They would go on to be married in May 2004 after
keeping their 2-year relationship primarily out of the headlines. Four years
and two daughters later, the two currently reside in the New Pavilion of the
Zarzuela Palace in Madrid, which contains 11 bedrooms and a 20-car garage.
Even though he’s been destined for the throne since birth, it could’ve
been easy for the Prince to sit back and wait for his day to come. Instead, his
resume reads like one of a potential foreign minister or secretary of state.
His academic journey led him to Autonomous University of Madrid, where he earned
his law degree and a Master of Science degree from Georgetown University’s
Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service.
With his academic prowess intact, Felipe was ready to take on the responsibilities
that awaited him back in Spain. When Felipe succeeds his father to the throne,
he and King Juan Carlos I will be the first consecutive monarch in Spain since
May 1886. The example that he lives by will set the standard for his descendants
in generations to come. He’s set himself apart by actively visiting the
Spanish Autonomous Communities, a “self government” infrastructure
that represents the various nationalities within Spain. This unusual brand
of governing was first implemented in 1978, three years after the second Spanish
Republic was declared.
Prince Felipe with Spanish President
Vicente Alberto Álvarez
Areces
©
Mikel González
Many of these communities were overlooked and neglected during the 20th Century,
when Spain was governed by the looming rule of dictatorship. Aside from sitting
on various corporate boards, state visits to Africa, the Middle East, Europe,
and Latin America, the Prince’s biggest impact maybe taking place in
Washington, D.C.
His alma mater, Georgetown University’s Edmund Walsh School of Foreign
Service established the Prince of Asturias Chair in an effort to promote Spanish
culture in American academia. The Visiting Scholar selected for the position
must be a specialist in fields related to political science such as public
policy and international relations.
“We are tremendously grateful for the ENDESA Foundation’s remarkable
gift establishing the Prince of Asturias Distinguishing Visiting Professorship
in
Spanish Studies,” Georgetown University President, Leo J. O’Donovan
said. “It builds upon Georgetown’s strengths in international education
and will contribute much to the world’s understanding of Spanish politics,
culture and society.”
The current Prince of Asturias Professor is Albert Carreras of the Universitat
Pompeu Fabra in Barcelona, Spain. Carrera’s responsibilities include
teaching courses at Georgetown on the undergraduate and graduate levels, participating
in academic activities in the Georgetown University and Washington, D.C. areas,
as well as research and organizing academic activities.
The Chair at Georgetown is the tip of Felipe’s involvement in the spread
of Spanish influence on the global scene. In 2001, then U.N. Secretary General
Kofi Annan named Felipe an “Eminent Person” making him a spokesperson
for international volunteer workers.
Fmr. U.S. Vice-President Al Gore receiving
the Prince of Asturias Award from Prince Felipe and Princess
Letizia in 2007. © EFE
He has also found time to head up several foundations including
the Codespa Foundation, a financer of the Spanish branch of
the Association of European Journalist. He is also Honorary
President of the Principe de Asturias Foundation. Aside from
handing out the awards annually presented through the foundation,
he is also responsible for making sure that the foundation
stays on the track of its aims in the fields of development
projects, the environment, universities, and the integration
of young adults in businesses and the overall global workplace.
There’s no rush for Felipe to ascend to the throne, but
there is no doubt that when his time comes, he will not only
be a leader in name, but a leader of real influence for the
good of the global community.
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