After a year of anticipation, Queen Mother Sofía will finally receive the highest honor of the Spanish kingdom from her son, King Felipe VI. The formal Order of the Golden Fleece ceremony will take place on November 21 at the Royal Palace in Madrid. This event will not only recognize Doña Sofía’s decades of service, but also form part of the celebration of the 50th anniversary of the restoration of monarchy and democracy in Spain.
King Felipe originally signed the decree to honor his mother on October 24, 2024, but last year’s ceremony was called off. The king felt it was inappropriate to hold a celebration while the country was mourning victims of the devastating floods that struck Valencia and parts of Castilla-La Mancha. Now, at 87, Queen Sofía will finally receive this well-deserved award, recognizing her lifelong devotion and service to the Crown.
A rare distinction: women recipients of the Order
The Order of the Golden Fleece, established in 1430, was an exclusively male privilege for centuries. Around 1,200 decorations have been awarded in its history, but this tradition changed only in the late 20th century. In 1985, King Juan Carlos I made a historic decision to admit women monarchs. Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands and Queen Margrethe II of Denmark were the first women to receive the honor. Their awards symbolized reconciliation and strengthened bonds among Europe’s monarchies as Spain’s young democracy emerged.
Three years later, in 1988, Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom was awarded the order. This gesture continued the longstanding tradition of exchanging the highest honors between the Spanish and British crowns. The next woman to join this elite circle represented the new generation of the Spanish monarchy. In 2015, on her 10th birthday, the order was bestowed upon the heir to the throne, Princess Leonor of Asturias. Now, Doña Sofía will become the fifth and complete this distinguished list.
Recognition for a lifetime of devotion
The upcoming ceremony promises to be especially moving. King Felipe VI will personally place the order’s collar around his mother’s neck, in the presence of Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Infanta Sofía. According to the official bulletin, this award is a mark of “royal respect” and a public acknowledgment of her “loyalty and selflessness in service to Spain and the Crown.” The event will highlight not only the formal status, but also the deeply personal relationship between mother and son.
On the same day, other prominent figures who have played a significant role in Spain’s recent history will also receive this high distinction. Alongside Queen Sofía, honors will be awarded to former Prime Minister Felipe González and two “fathers” of the constitution — Miguel Herrero y Rodríguez de Miñón and Miquel Roca. After the palace ceremony, celebrations will continue in the Congress of Deputies, giving the occasion even greater national significance.
