Surnames and titles of the Spanish royal family

The kings of Spain are entitled to use the surname of “de España” (of Spain). However, this is used only for monarchs who have reigned, and is not extended to their consorts or to any other members of the royal family. Besides, the kings of Spain have many other ceremonial titles such as: King of Castile, of León, of Aragon, of the Two Sicilies (Naples and Sicily), of Jerusalem, of Navarre, of Granada, of Toledo, of Valencia, of Galicia, of Majorca, of Seville, of Sardinia, of Córdoba, of Corsica, of Murcia, of Menorca, of Jaén, of the Algarves, of Algeciras, of Gibraltar, of the Canary Islands, of the East Indies and West Indies and of the Islands and Mainland of the Ocean Sea; Archduke of Austria; Duke of Burgundy, of Brabant, of Milan, of Athens, of Neopatras and of Limburg; Count of Habsburg, of Flanders, of Tyrol, of Roussillon and of Barcelona; Lord of Biscay and of Molina. These titles can be divided into two categories: • A “título de pretension” (claim title) is one that refers to a territory which is not ruled by the monarch, but which is used by a monarch as a form of claim to sovereignty. The title of “King of Gibraltar” is an example of titulo de pretension. • A “título pro memoria” (memory title) is one that refers to a territory over which is not rules by the monarch, but which is used by a monarch in an honorary way for historical and sentimental reasons. Memorandum titles are used under the “non præjudicando” formula inspired by the law principle of “ius usus inocui”, considering that it is harmless and does not entail any harm to other sovereigns, including the ruler of the territory to which the title refers.

The inoffensive nature of the memory title differentiates it from the claim title, which also refers to a territory lost in the past but always in a vindictive way.

Heads of a Royal House as a pretender to a throne are not entitled to use the name of the country as a title, using instead o “título de señalamiento” (title of assignment)

The children of a reigning monarch of Spain can use the title of infante or infanta (but not to the specification infante or infant de España). It is generally not used by members of the royal family who are entitled to other titles, such as Prince of the Asturias, for the heir to the throne, or having a title of assignment as unreigning head of the royal house.

For all members of the royal family the rules for surnames in Spain are applicable, mainly using the combined first surnames of each of the parents.

In applying these rules, king Juan Carlos I is entitled to be called Juan Carlos I de España even after his abdication. His surname which according to Spanish law includes the first surnames of his parents is de Borbón y Borbón-Dos Sicilias. However his consort, Queen Sofia cannot be called Sofia de España, her correct surname being de Grecia y Dinamarca.

As his father Juan did not reign, calling him Juan de España (or Juan of Spain) is incorrect as he never used this title and it would even be illegal according to Spanish legislation. His correct surname is de Borbón y Battenberg and his “título de señalamiento” is conde de Barcelona (count of Barcelona). He could be correctly referred to as: Juan, Conde de Barcelona). Except king Felipe VI, no other members of the Spanish royal family are entitled to use the name of “de de España”. Thus, his daughters cannot be called Leonor of Spain or Sofia of Spain, but should be referred to as Leonor de Borbón y Ortiz, princesa de Asturias (in this case the title of Infanta being redundant with the title of Princess of the Asturias) and Infanta Sofía de Borbón y Ortiz.

References

(see also Family name)