To make the 7th anniversary of their proclamation as King and Queen of Spain, Felipe VI and Letizia presided over the delivery of Order of Civil Merit along with their daughters Princess of Asturias, Leonor, and Infanta Sofia at the Royal Palace of Zarzuela in Madrid.
The Order of Civil Merit was instituted by King Alfonso XIII, by Royal Decree of June 25, 1926, to reward “the civic virtues of officials at the service of the State, as well as the extraordinary services of Spanish and foreign citizens in the good of the Nation ”. The preamble to the order states that “its purpose is to reward merits of a civil nature, acquired by personnel dependent on any of the public Administrations” or “by persons outside the Administration, who render or have rendered relevant services to the State. , with extraordinary work, profitable initiatives, or with exemplary perseverance in the fulfilment of their duties.”
The Order of Civil Merit recognises those who carry out their life and ordinary professional work in an exemplary way, at the service of society. This year many faces are those who worked during the COVID-19 pandemic to work for the society and public. The selection, with criteria of representation and territorial and sectoral balance, is the result of the Crown’s contact with society and has been carried out with the institutional contribution of all the administrations and also of many other entities, organizations, associations and representative groups in different fields, labour, economic, social, educational and cultural.
24 individuals and organizations received the Royal honour this year.
Speaking at the event, King Felipe said, “Your example unites us, excites us and makes us proud; you are a mirror in which we must all look at ourselves; of course the King. And to continue building a Spain with your example, with the example of a strong and serene, civic and supportive society, is a commitment and a project that should unite us all “.
After the event, The Royal Family held a meeting with the winning children of the school contest “What is a King for you?”
This Saturday marks 7 years of King Felipe VI’s enthronement. He ascended the throne on 19 June 2014 upon the abdication of his father, Juan Carlos I. King Juan Carlos signed the Instrument of Abdication on June 18 in 2014 in the same room where Felipe today presented the Order of Civil Merit.
The €390 midi dress features a fitted waistline and flared skirt. It has french sleeves and a box neckline.
Letizia paired the dress with her Tous earrings
and Carolina Herrera slingback pumps.
Her Karen Hallam ring was not missing either.
Princess Leonor was wearing a €259 grey Vitoria dress from Spanish label Vogana with Carolina Herrera slingback pumps that Letizia wore but with a lower heel. Thanks to Nuria for the id.
Infanta Sofia wore a tweed pink dress with pearl detailing with her Carolina Herrera flats.