Who is the King of Spain as Felipe spotted supporting Alcaraz at Wimbledon
The Wimbledon 2025 men's singles final came to an intense end yesterday, July 13, as Spanish player Carlos Alcaraz lost to Italy's Jannik Sinner. But Alcaraz was proud to see one very special audience member in the Royal Box- King Felipe VI of Spain.
Beating Alcaraz in four sets after losing the first, Sinner walked away with his first Wimbledon title to become a four-time Grand Slam champion. The King of Spain was spotted alongside the Prince and Princess of Wales and their children George and Charlotte in the Royal Box, as well as other famous faces such as Nicole Kidman and Kiera Knightley.
Hola magazine reports that after losing the game, Alcaraz thanked the Spanish monarch for his support, saying: "I don't want to leave without saying, I just have to say thank you, you know, to the King of Spain [for] coming here for support. For me, it's just an honour having you in the stands supporting, flying here to watch the final."
But as the Spanish King makes headlines for his Wimbledon appearance, questions are being raised on his background and involvement in the monarchy. Here's everything you need to know about King Felipe of Spain.
Who is King Felipe VI of Spain?
King Felipe VI, also known as Felipe Juan Pablo Alfonso de Todos los Santos de Borbón y Grecia (quite the mouthful), is the current Spanish monarch, and he has been King since 2014.
The 57-year-old was born on January 30, 1968 in Madrid, according to Britannica, and he is the son of Juan Carlos, who was the Spanish King from 1975 until he abdicated the throne and Felipe took over.
Felipe had served as an officer in the army, navy and air force for Spain, and was certified as a helicopter pilot before he advanced in the royal ranks.
He also has a degree in law and a masters in international relations from Georgetown University in Washington DC.
In 2004 he married TV news presenter Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano and the couple became known for their modest lifestyle.
When Felipe took the throne, his wife became the first commoner in Spanish history to become Queen, and the royal pair have two children- Leonor, born in 2005, and Sofía, born in 2007.
He became King at a difficult time for the Spanish royal family, who had been plagued by scandals in the years preceding his rise to the throne.
The biggest challenge faced by Felipe in his reign has been the preservation of a shared Spanish identity, which has been increasingly complicated due to vocal demands for independence in Catalonia and a separatist movement in the Basque Country.
Why was the Spanish King at Wimbledon?
The King of Spain has supported Spanish player Alcaraz on several occasions throughout his tennis career, including in 2023 when he won his first Wimbledon title, although he was absent for the 22-year-old's second win last year.
But the Spanish King also has a personal history with competitive sports.
In fact, before his days as King, Felipe was a member of the Spanish Olympic sailing team at the 1992 Games in Barcelona.
He finished sixth in the Soling event, which is a race involving a specific type of 27-foot racing keel-boats.
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