I’ve long wondered if royalty makes any sense in the 21st century and how modern Spaniards could embrace a king in 2016. Here, with my Madrid guide, Cristina, I share a few lessons she taught me.
This is Day 6 of my 100 Days in Europe series. As I research my guidebooks and make new TV shows, I’m reporting on my experiences and lessons learned in Portugal, Spain, Italy, France, Bulgaria, Romania, and beyond. Find more at blog.ricksteves.com.
Comments
When I lived in England I was a small “r” republican. I thought the monarchy was a waste of money. It didn’t take me long, after moving to the US, to become a complete convert to constitutional monarchy and the parliamentary system. Surely anyone looking at the current ridiculous and ridiculously expensive circus masquerading as a presidential election, combined with complete Congressional gridlock, has to think there might be a better system.
I was living in Spain in the 70s under Franco fascism, and was there when “El Caudillo” died, leaving his hand-picked and personally-trained successor, Juan Carlos de Bourbon y Bourbon, to ascend to power as the first King since the Spanish Civil War. We did not know what kind of ruler he would be – at all – but assumed that the same oppressive government would continue to haunt the Spanish people. When he – out of the gate – showed that he was going to move the country towards democracy with stunning speed, and the country held fast despite armed attempts in parliament by the now-deposed fascists to wrest back control, the country coalesced around him and his bold actions. I will, and the world should be, forever grateful to Juan Carlos for his strength of character and commitment to a free Spain in a very tense and dangerous transition, regardless of the actions of his daughter and his poor judgement on trophy hunting. He and his advisors deserve immense gratitude and a place in history for his advancement of free people.
The prime minister gets all the power, but the monarch gets all the glory and deference. That’s good for the soul of the PM, and helps stop him (or her) getting too uppity.