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Queen Sofia of Spain has been recognized for her decades of service to Spain and the Crown. It's been revealed that King Felipe awarded his mother the Order of the Golden Fleece, days before she turned 86 last fall.
An official state bulletin, published on Jan. 10, reads (translated to English): "Royal Decree 1116/2024, of October 29, by which the Collar of the Insigne Order of the Golden Fleece is awarded to Her Majesty Queen Sofia of Greece."
The King said (translated to English), "Wishing to give testimony of My Royal appreciation to Her Majesty Queen Sofia and publicly recognize her dedication and commitment to the service of Spain and the Crown, Having heard the Council of Ministers,I hereby grant my mother, Her Majesty Queen Sofia, the Collar of theInsigne Order of the Golden Fleece. Given in Madrid, on October 29, 2024."
© Carlos Alvarez/Getty ImagesQueen Sofia, the daughter of King Paul of Greece and Queen Frederica, married Spain's Juan Carlos I, in 1962. She and the former King shares three kids: Felipe and daughters, Infanta Elena and Infanta Cristina.
Past recipients of the Insigne Order of the Golden Fleece include Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and the late Queen Elizabeth II. A royal decree in 2015 granted the Collar of the Insignia Order of the Golden Fleece to Queen Sofia's granddaughter, Princess Leonor. King Felipe formally presented Leonor, his firstborn, with the Order of the Golden Fleece on his 50th birthday in 2018. At the time, His Majesty said (translated to English): "Today, the Princess of Asturias receives the Collar of the Golden Fleece, deeply rooted in the history of Spain and Europe. An Order that for centuries has been awarded –among others and singularly– to the Prince or Princess of Asturias from a very young age, so that over time they gradually learn about the traditions and duties of the Crown and understand the responsibilities that they will one day have to assume."
"The Illustrious Order of the Golden Fleece was born in the ancient Duchy of Burgundy, in the Late Middle Ages, and more than half a millennium ago it was integrated into the Crown of Spain with the Habsburg dynasty. And thus, with the Hispanic Monarchy, it managed to achieve its enormous prestige and worldwide projection," Felipe added. "It was created to reward and represent the values of excellence, service and loyalty. Throughout its history it has evolved and adapted to the times, always maintaining its essence and constituting, at the same time, a reference point for Spain's historical European projection. Today, membership of the Order represents the highest recognition, reserved for excellent life and professional careers linked to great services to Spain and the Crown."
