{"id":47677,"date":"2025-11-21T19:17:17","date_gmt":"2025-11-21T19:17:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/47677\/"},"modified":"2025-11-21T19:17:17","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T19:17:17","slug":"king-felipe-honors-his-mother-queen-sofia-in-historic-ceremony","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ny\/47677\/","title":{"rendered":"King Felipe Honors His Mother Queen Sofia in Historic Ceremony"},"content":{"rendered":"

Queen Sofia of Spain made history on Thursday when her son, King Felipe, presented her with the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. It was the first time in the 600-year history of the prestigious award that a Spanish queen consort has received the distinction. The ceremony took place at the Royal Palace of Madrid as part of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the restoration of the Spanish monarchy since the death of the nationalist dictator Francisco Franco.<\/p>\n

\"CeremonyCasa de S.M. el Rey<\/p>\n

Queen Sofia receives the insignia of the Order of the Golden Fleece.<\/p>\n

Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofia joined the King for the presentation, which recognized the former queen\u2019s decades of service to the crown and the public. The Order of the Golden Fleece, also known as the Badge of the Order of the Golden Toison, is one of the oldest and most prestigious chivalric orders in Europe. Founded in 1430 by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, it later passed to the Habsburgs and ultimately to the Spanish crown. King Felipe is the current grand master of the Spanish branch.<\/p>\n

\"CeremonialCasa de S.M. el Rey<\/p>\n

King Felipe clasps his mother\u2019s hands after presenting the award.<\/p>\n

Historically, the order has been reserved for Spanish kings, heirs, members of the nobility, and foreign sovereigns. The Royal House<\/a> notes that approximately 1,200 collars have been awarded since its creation, overwhelmingly to men. A few women have been included, primarily Spanish and European queens regnant. In recent decades, European monarchs including Queen Elizabeth, Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, and Queen Margrethe of Denmark have been awarded with these Collars.<\/p>\n

\"OnTim Graham\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Queen Elizabeth, seen wearing the award, with King Juan Carlos I at the Oriente Palace in 1988.<\/p>\n

The insignia presented to Queen Sofia carries centuries of symbolism. According to The Royal Watcher<\/a>, the badge is in the \u201cform of a sheepskin, is suspended from a jeweled collar of firesteels in the shape of the letter B, for Burgundy, linked by flints.\u201d The links include the Latin mottos \u201cPretium Laborum Non Vile,\u201d meaning \u201cno mean reward for labors,\u201d and \u201cNon Aliud,\u201d translated as \u201cI will have no other.\u201d The decoration is traditionally worn on a scarlet ribbon for men or on a bow for women.<\/p>\n

\"KingCarlos Alvarez\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Queens past and future: Crown Princess Leonor lends an arm to her grandmother.<\/p>\n

\"KingCarlos Alvarez\/\/Getty Images<\/p>\n

Queen Sofia stands with Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Princess Sofia during a reception after the ceremony at the Royal Palace.<\/p>\n

As the first queen consort to receive the award, Queen Sofia was chosen in recognition<\/a> for “her dedication and dedication to the service of Spain and the Crown,” per the royal household. She became queen on November 22, 1975 when her husband, Juan Carlos I <\/a>ascended the throne after Franco\u2019s death. However, the former king did not attend the ceremony, consistent with his retirement from institutional events since his abdication and self-imposed exile in 2014. However, several government officials were present, including Spanish Prime Minister Pedro S\u00e1nchez.<\/p>\n

\"Play\"Ceremony\"Headshot<\/p>\n

Rachel King (she\/her) is a news writer at\u00a0Town & Country. Before joining\u00a0T&C, she spent nearly a decade as an editor at\u00a0Fortune. Her work covering travel and lifestyle has appeared in\u00a0Forbes,\u00a0Observer,\u00a0Robb Report, Cruise Critic, and\u00a0Cool Hunting, among others. Originally from San Francisco, she lives in New York with her wife, their daughter, and a precocious labradoodle. Follow her on Instagram at\u00a0@rk.passport<\/a>.<\/p>\n