Felipe de Borbón repeated the message several times prior to the swearing in of the Constitution

Princess Leonor faces the last few meters of her career to come of age. It will be next October 31, the date on which the Constitution is sworn in. She will follow the same roadmap as her father. Same settings and even the same carpets and tapestries in the Cortes. These were the preparations for the swearing in of the Constitution of the then Prince Philip on January 30, 1986, the date on which he turned 18: two months before, the protocols were studied and the floral arrangements that adorned the facades of the Congress and Royal Palace were designed. from Madrid. Security measures were also tightened. One day before his birthday, through TVE, and with the Army cadet uniform, the son of Don Juan Carlos and Doña Sofía recorded his first message: “I ask everyone to lend me their encouragement to help me be worthy heir to the Crown of Spain”. Some words that the public has now rescued and that the Prince, very young, had to repeat on several occasions until she was convinced by his intervention. Top right photo credit: Congress.

Don Felipe, on his big day, wore a morning suit. He was tailor-made. The fact that he was an intern at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza made the adjustment tests prior to the event difficult. That day, he wore his first ceremonial morning suit. He was paired with a pearl gray tie. 29 TVE cameras followed the parade from the Royal Palace to Congress. He pronounced the words of the oath and a wave of camera clicks accompanied the historic moment. “I swear to faithfully carry out my duties, to keep and ensure that the Constitution and the laws are kept.respect the rights of citizens and autonomous communities and loyalty to the King”.

The kings, Juan Carlos I and Doña Sofía, were present; the president of Congress, Gregorio Peces-Barba, the president of the Senate, José Federico de Carvajal, and the president of the Government, Felipe González. Behind Juan Carlos was the head of the King’s Household, Nicolás Cotoner y Cotoner. There was also the general secretary of the House, Sabino Fernández Campo, a position he held until 1990. As of that year, he was named head, replacing Cotoner and Cotoner. On behalf of the Royal Family, there were also his sisters, the Infantas Elena and Cristina, and his grandfather, Don Juan, Count of Barcelona. The infantas were dressed long, like their mother. The King, like his son, in a morning suit. Both wore the Golden Fleece. Photo: Congreso.

After the event, the procession took him back to the Royal Palace where more than a thousand guests were waiting for him. The Government and the Crown, united, awarded him the great collar of the order of Charles III, which his father imposed on him. At that moment, and hugging him, he gave her two kisses. The order of Charles III is the highest civil decoration to recognize services provided to the State. There were President Felipe González, who said: “This democratic and free Spain is betting on its constitutional future in the person of your royal highness”; and also, Vice President Alfonso Guerra. Queen Sofia, very excited, gave her son two kisses. Young Felipe kissed his mother’s hand.

“I was very impressed. It can even be seen in my voice.”

After that day, TVE recorded these words from Felipe himself in an interview: “Facing an audience, the Parliament, impressed me a lot. It can even be seen in my voice. It was a very important moment that I always try to remember to realize that I have taken an oath and I have to fulfill what I have sworn.”