The King has awarded the Order of the Golden Fleece, the highest decoration granted by the Crown, to Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, former president of Portugal, as a token of his personal and institutional appreciation. It is the first distinction by Felipe VI to a foreign personality since his proclamation, following the granting of the Golden Fleece to the Princess of Asturias, Queen Sofía, former Prime Minister Felipe González, and the fathers of the Constitution Miquel Roca i Junyent and Miguel Herrero y Rodríguez de Miñón.
Read more Cristina Narbona, president of the PSOE: “Our tolerance towards corruption is zero”
In the royal decree, approved on Tuesday by the Council of Ministers and published this Wednesday in the Official State Gazette (BOE), it states: “Wishing to give a relevant testimony of My Royal appreciation for His Excellency Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa, former president of the Portuguese Republic and, as a token, of the traditional friendship between Spain and Portugal. Having heard the Council of Ministers. I hereby appoint him Knight of the distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece.” And signed by Felipe R and the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez.
On January 20, after two failed attempts, Rebelo de Sousa made his last official visit to Spain, two weeks before the inauguration of his successor, Antonio José Seguro. At the lunch offered by the Kings at the Royal Palace, Felipe VI highlighted that Rebelo had been much more than the head of state of a neighboring country: “You are, President, a friend of Spain and of the Spanish people. And in that capacity, as a very dear friend, we welcome you today, and we will always welcome you.”
In the ten years that Felipe VI and Rebelo de Sousa coincided as heads of state, a personal relationship was forged that transcended the institutional. The Kings made a state visit to Portugal in November 2016, and in April 2018, it was Rebelo who led the highest-ranking diplomatic visit. Felipe VI traveled to his inauguration in March 2016, and bilateral meetings have been repeated on numerous occasions, in addition to coinciding in international forums such as last January 21 when both heads of state intervened at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Strasbourg on the occasion of the celebration of the 40th anniversary of the joint entry of Spain and Portugal into the then European Community, now the EU.
The closeness and affection between Rebelo de Sousa and King Felipe has been evident on all occasions they have met, and proof of that friendship was the choice of Portugal as Princess Leonor’s first international destination. She was received at the Betlem Palace in July 2024, months after reaching legal age. At that time, the Portuguese president showed special deference to the Crown Princess and, just a few months ago, repeated those signs of affection with Infanta Sofía, who made a courtesy visit to the Portuguese president at the beginning of her stay in the Portuguese capital where she is pursuing university studies.
Read more Callao Square becomes a movie theater
Leonor, Sofía, Felipe González, Miquel Roca and Miguel Herrero
The first Order of the Golden Fleece granted by Felipe VI was to his daughter and heir, Princess Leonor. The Royal Decree of concession is dated October 31, 2015, the day Leonor turned 10, but the imposition ceremony did not take place until January 30, 2018, coinciding with the King’s 50th birthday.
On October 29, 2024, a few days before Queen Sofía turned 86, the King granted his mother the Order of the Golden Fleece, although the Royal Decree was not published until January 9, 2025, and the imposition did not take place until last November 21.
On that date, in addition to Queen Sofía, the King bestowed the Golden Fleece upon former Prime Minister Felipe González, and the two still-living fathers of the Constitution, Miquel Roca i Junyent and Miguel Herrero y Rodríguez de Miñón. The three politicians were distinguished, according to the royal decree of October 21, 2025, for their role in the democratic transition.
The ceremony for the delivery of the Golden Fleeces took place at the Royal Palace, coinciding with the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the re-establishment of the monarchy in the person of Juan Carlos I.
Read more Madrid sets up 51 points to observe the solar eclipse that will be visible in 93 localities
