Felipe VI replaces Jaime Alfonsín: the quiet man who commanded the new era of the House

Jaime Alfonsin68 years old, says goodbye to the leadership of the King's House and passes the baton to Camilo Villarino March. He leaves after almost 30 years of service. This was announced by Zarzuela through a statement that was distributed this Friday the 19th in the afternoon.

Jaime Alfonsín has commanded the House since he was appointed Head on June 23, 2014 by Royal Decree 542/2014 with that same date. With these words it was published in the BOE: “I have come to appoint Mr. Jaime Alfonsín Alfonso as Head of My House.” So, The man from Lugo replaced Rafael Spottorno when the President of the Government was Mariano Rajoy. His leadership, therefore, has been linked to the reign of Don Felipe, since his appointment occurred only four days after the monarch's proclamation, on June 19 of that year. It also happens that He leaves this position in 2024 when the monarch prepares his tenth anniversary on the Throne.

As the statement announcing Alfonsín's replacement states, “Your Majesty wishes to continue counting on your valuable and loyal advicefor which he will appoint you as a Private Counselor and, in this capacity, he will continue to provide you with the advice you require and will perform the functions entrusted to him.” State Attorney, his time in the Ministry of the Presidency; in the Supreme Court and in the Legal Advisory of the Commission of the European Union, helped Alfonsín to forge a career of extensive experience in law and training, after serving as professor of European Union Law at ICADE and professor of Tax Law at the Autonomous University of Madrid.

He joined Zarzuela in December 1995 as Head of the Secretariat of the then Prince of Asturias.. Always at Don Felipe's side since he was Prince of Asturias, the lawyer by training has been by his side ever since. Discreet, serene and reserved, Jaime Alfonsín is the calm man. The man who always knows how to act and when. Manage silence with the prudence and wisdom of an expert man. The head of the then Prince's Secretariat managed Don Felipe's courtship with Doña Letizia until the engagement and state wedding were announced in November 2003.

Alfonsín has also known how to handle the change of era of the monarchy. The abdication of Juan Carlos I, with Spottorno at the head, was prepared in a small cabinet integrated with Rajoy and Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba. They were some intense days in the Royal Family until the abdication was announced on June 2, 2014.

With the end of Juan Carlismo, the new stage began in the institution. An era of exemplarity, transparency and good governance unprecedented until now with the publication of the King's assets in 2022: 2.5 million euros. During his reign, he withdrew the assignment from his father Juan Carlos and put up a firewall to allow her to continue doing his work. After the outbreak of the Nóos case, he reduced the Royal Family to six people (the Kings, their daughters and the emeritus); and in 2015 she revoked the title of Duchess of Palma from her sister Cristina. Everything to safeguard the institution.