The changing of the guard

Felipe VI assumed the throne of Spain at the stroke of midnight after his father, Juan Carlos I, abdicated in the early evening of June 18th 2014.  But while the actual moment of his accession was private, the first day of his reign was filled with events to mark the occasion.  First thing in the morning, he met his father at the Zarzuela Palace, where King Juan Carlos presented King Felipe VI with the sash of the head of the Armed Forces - a role that now belongs to the new king.

Felipe VI assumes the role of head of the Armed Forces of Spain as king and his father presented him with the sash that signifies his new role

The two queens of Spain were also present at the ceremony as were the new king's daughters, the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia, and the daughter of the old king, the Infanta Elena, and her son, Felipe Juan Froilan.

King Juan Carlos and Felipe VI before the handing over of the sash as Queen Sofia and Queen Letizia watch on

And then it was time for the new king and queen to leave the palace for the Spanish Parliament where Felipe VI would be sworn in as monarch and make the first speech of his reign.

Felipe VI leads the new royal family of Spain out of the Zarzuela Palace on their way to the parliament for his official proclamation

Sofia and Letizia, the best pictures

For the last ten years they have been monarch and princess but this week they both take the title of consort.  Sofia Margarita Victoria Federica and Letizia will both be queens of Spain, adding another chapter to a decade of shared stories.  Here are the best photographs of mother in law and daughter in law, two women from very different backgrounds but with a common destiny - to be Queen of Spain.

Daddy's girls

Three days before he becomes King of Spain, Prince Felipe has been seen in new photos with his two daughters, Leonor and Sofia.  The images were released by the Royal Household less than seventy two hours before the girls go from being daughters of a prince to heiresses to a throne.

The man who will soon be Felipe VI with his daughters, Leonor and Sofia, in an image released on June 16th 2014

The photos were taken on August 1st 2012 as part of the set that marked the 40th birthday of Princess Letizia.  The princess isn't in these images which show Felipe with his heiress and her heiress.  They were tweeted to the 113,000 followers of the Casa Real account at the same time as they were released on the royal website.

A proud father and his daughters - Felipe, Leonor and Sofia

The first, the last...

Just sixteen days will have passed between the announcement by King Juan Carlos that he was to abdicate and the moment when he signs away his kingdom so that his son, Felipe, can inherit it the following day.  But in that two weeks and a bit there will be plenty of 'lasts' and quite a few 'firsts' as the changing of the guard begins in earnest in Spain.  Today, the king welcomed another head of state as his own country's head of state for the final time as the President of Mexico visited Spain.

King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia of Spain with President Enrique Pena Nieto of Mexico and his wife, Angelica Rivera, on June 9th 2014

The visit of Enrique Pena Nieto had been planned for some time but the event has taken on an added significance as Juan Carlos acts as host for the last time.  The president and his wife arrived in brilliant sunshine and were given an official welcome at the Pardo Palace in Madrid by the Spanish monarchs.  And this was when the historic nature of this particular state visit really shone through as the national anthems of Spain and Mexico were played an a guard of honour marched past.  The man who has overseen these events for almost forty years will never watch over one again.  But if he felt sad, Juan Carlos didn't show it as he smiled as the four posed for photos before heading inside for a brief audience.

The Spanish monarchs with their guests during an audience at the Pardo Palace in Madrid

For every last, there is a first and just after noon we saw the soon to be king, Felipe, greet a head of state for the first time since it was announced he will take the throne on June 19th 2014.  And for the first time, the handshakes and greetings by the Prince and Princess of Asturias took on an added meaning as the next time they take part in a lunch for a State Visit, they will be king and queen.

The changing of the guard - Felipe and Letizia on their last State Visit before assuming the throne of Spain

June 9th 2014 will bring one more last for King Juan Carlos I as, for the final time, he hosts a State Dinner as reigning monarch.  The event, at the Royal Palace, will be laden with history and a chance to see the current king and queen and the soon to be king and queen in all their finery with just days to go before the handover of the crown.  

Two kings, two queens - Spain's monarchy prepares for the handover