Don Felipe, together with Doña Letizia and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Doña Sofía, awards the Golden Fleece to Her Majesty Queen Doña Sofía, for “her dedication and devotion to the service of Spain and the Crown.” Felipe González, Miguel Herrero y Rodríguez de Miñón, and Miquel Roca i Junyent will also be decorated.
Today, November 21, Spain commemorates a historic event: the 50th anniversary of the parliamentary monarchy, established after Franco's death and consolidated with the 1978 Constitution.
A Golden Fleece steeped in tradition: from the 15th century to 21st-century Spain
The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece, created in 1430 by Felipe III, Duke of Burgundy, is one of the most prestigious distinctions in the world. It passed to the Spanish royal family through Emperor Carlos V and I, and since then Spanish monarchs have acted as Sovereigns and Grand Masters of the Order.
The collar that is awarded is a unique piece: an ornament bearing the arms of Burgundy from which hangs the emblematic Golden Fleece, symbol of the myth of Jason.
According to the Royal Household, since its foundation, around 1,200 necklaces have been awarded, mostly to men, although since the reign of Juan Carlos I, European sovereigns such as Beatrix of the Netherlands, Margrethe of Denmark and Elizabeth II of UK have also received them.
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