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Wedding of Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía

The wedding of Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias, and Princess Sofía of Greece and Denmark took place on Monday, 14 May 1962. The couple was married in three ceremonies: one according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church, the groom's faith, at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite; one according to the rites of the Greek Orthodox Church, the bride's faith, at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens; and a third civil ceremony that was held upon their return to the Royal Palace. Don Juan Carlos was the eldest son of Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona, pretender to the Spanish throne, and Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, while Princess Sofía was the eldest daughter of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece. Juan Carlos and Sofía were king and queen of Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014.

Wedding of Prince Juan Carlos and Princess Sofía
Date14 May 1962
VenueCathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite
Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens
Royal Palace of Athens
LocationAthens, Kingdom of Greece
ParticipantsJuan Carlos, Prince of Asturias[1]
Princess Sofía of Greece and Denmark

Engagement

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Juan Carlos, who then held the title of Prince of Asturias in pretense,[1] and Princess Sofía of Greece and Denmark, third cousins through Queen Victoria of the United Kingdom, first met in 1954 on a cruise in the Greek Islands on board the liner SS Agamemnon. The cruise was organized by Queen Frederica with the intent of promoting Greek tourism and encourage matches among the younger generation of European royalty. The couple reconnected at the wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine Worsley in June 1961.[2]

They became engaged three months after the Kent's wedding. The engagement was announced on 13 September 1961 at the home of Juan Carlos's paternal grandmother, Queen Victoria Eugenie, in Lausanne.[3] Juan Carlos gave Sofía a ring made from melted down ancient Greek coins. When he presented her with the ring, he tossed the box at her and said "Sofi, catch it!"[4]

Controversy

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The uncertain position of Juan Carlos as a prince from a deposed dynasty made him a controversial choice as a future husband for a princess from a reigning family. Spanish monarchists rejoiced at the betrothal as they believed it increased the realism for the prospect of restoration following Franco's demise.[citation needed]

From the outset, the difference in religion caused friction on both sides. A compromise was eventually reached: two ceremonies would be held, Sofía would convert to Catholicism, and she would use the Spanish variant of her name, Sofía. Pope John XXIII allowed two ceremonies as the Greek Orthodox Church was the state religion.[5] Spanish media was requested by Franco not to cover the Greek Orthodox ceremony.[5]

The prospect of a state-funded dowry for Princess Sofía caused controversy in Greece.[6] The Hellenic Parliament approved a $300,000 tax-free dowry for the princess. The Centre Union and United Democratic Left parties abstained from voting but voiced their criticism and "denounced the practice of granting dowries as anachronistic and barbarous."[7] King Paul and Queen Frederica also sold land from their estates to pay for their daughter's dowry.[8]

Pre-wedding celebrations

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On 12 May 1962, a white-tie gala was held at the Royal Palace to celebrate the impending wedding. An addition to the palace was built to house a new ballroom for the wedding celebrations. Called the Reception Hall, it is the largest room in the present-day Presidential Mansion.[9]

Wedding

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Prince Juan Carlos, Princess Irene and Princess Sofía during the Roman Catholic ceremony.

Roman Catholic ceremony

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Due to the large number of dignitaries attending the wedding, some only attended one of the two ceremonies. The first ceremony began at 10:00 AM and was held according to the rites of the Roman Catholic Church at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite. The marriage was performed by Venediktos Printesis, Archbishop of Athens. The Mass was said in Spanish, Latin and French.[5] Pieces from Mozart's Coronation Mass were sung, at the bride's request.[5]

Greek Orthodox ceremony

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The second ceremony, held at 12:00 PM at the Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens, was conducted by Chrysostomos II, Archbishop of Athens and All Greece. King Paul, the bride's father, performed the ritual of the two crowns. Other crown bearers were Crown Prince Constantine of Greece, Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, the Duke of Aosta, the Prince of Naples, the Duke of Noto, Prince Ludwig of Baden, Don Marco Alfonso Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi and Prince Christian Oscar of Hanover.[citation needed]

Civil ceremony

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A civil ceremony was performed at the Royal Palace following the two religious services.

Attire

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Uniform of the Real Maestranza de Caballería de Sevilla, worn by the Duke of Noto as best man at the wedding.

The bride wore a silver and white lamé gown covered in tulle and antique lace with a 5 metres (16 ft) train designed by Greek-born Parisian couturier, Jean Dessès.[2] She also made a £7000 trousseau order at Dessès.[8]

The bride wore the Belgian lace veil her mother wore at her own wedding in 1938 and a diamond tiara that Kaiser Wilhelm II presented to his daughter, Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia, the bride's maternal grandmother, on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Ernst August of Hanover in 1913.[citation needed]

The groom wore his Spanish Army uniform with the insignia of the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Charles III and the Greek Order of the Redeemer.[10]

Attendants

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Juan Carlos's cousin, the Duke of Noto, acted as best man. Princess Sofía was attended by eight bridesmaids, all of royal birth:[8]

Broadcast

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As television had not yet arrived in Greece –it arrived in 1966–, it was decided to use the services of the European Broadcasting Union to record the wedding on tape which was then sent to Rome, from where it was relayed to the broadcasters in the continent through the Eurovision network.[11]

Guests

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Relatives of the groom

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House of Bourbon

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House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies

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Relatives of the bride

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House of Glücksburg

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House of Hanover

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  • The Prince and Princess of Hanover, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt
  • Prince and Princess George William of Hanover, the bride's maternal uncle and aunt (paternal first cousin, once removed)
    • Prince Karl of Hesse, the bride's second cousin
  • Prince Christian Oscar of Hanover, the bride's maternal uncle
  • Prince Welf Henry of Hanover, the bride's maternal uncle

Other royal guests

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Members of reigning royal houses

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Members of non-reigning royal houses

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Other notable guests

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Aftermath

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The newlywed Prince and Princess of Asturias with US President John F. Kennedy, 4 September 1962.

As of 2022, Juan Carlos and Sofía have been married for 60 years. They have three children, Elena (born 1963), Cristina (born 1965) and Felipe (born 1968), current King of Spain. In 1975, the pair acceded to the Spanish throne following the death of Francisco Franco. They reigned for nearly 39 years until his abdication in 2014.[14] They have lived separately since August 2020 when Juan Carlos left Spain in exile amid corruption accusations.[15]

Honeymoon

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The couple travelled extensively on their honeymoon. They initially set out on a yacht cruise around the Greek islands. Further destinations included Spain, Monaco, Italy, India, Thailand, the United States and Japan. In Italy, they had an audience with Pope John XXIII. In the United States, they met with President John F. Kennedy. While the couple were away, Franco and the Count of Barcelona were in talks about the future of the Spanish monarchy and neither party could agree on where the young couple should live.[citation needed]

Eventually, they returned to Spain where they settled in the Palace of Zarzuela. They would live at Zarzuela for the next 58 years until Juan Carlos left Spain in exile. It is unclear whether Queen Sofía will remain living there or not.[citation needed]

Reaction in Spain

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In Spain, Franco allowed No-Do and three major newspapers to cover the wedding.[16] Footage of the wedding was also shown on Televisión Española. However, no images of the groom's father, the Count of Barcelona, who was on bad terms with Franco, were allowed to be shown.[citation needed] Spanish monarchists rejoiced at the marriage.[citation needed]

Franco bestowed the Order of Charles III on both Juan Carlos and Sofía.[17]

Subsequent royal marriages

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As this wedding brought together many young, unmarried nobles, many more royal weddings came about as a result. Among the couples who met or became better acquainted at the wedding who later married:[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ a b Robles do Campo, Carlos (2009). "Los Infantes de España tras la Derogación de la Ley Sálica (1830)" [The Spanish Princes after the Derogation of the Salic Law (1830)]. Anales de la Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía (in Spanish) (XII). Real Academia Matritense de Heráldica y Genealogía: 329–384. ISSN 1133-1240.
  2. ^ a b Gay, Danielle (13 May 2019). "Inside Queen Sofía and King Juan Carlos's 1962 wedding". Vogue Australia. Condé Nast. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  3. ^ Billaut, François. "Archives. Les trois "oui" de Juan Carlos et Sophie d'Espagne" [The three "YES"es of Juan Carlos and Sophie of Spain]. Point de Vue. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  4. ^ "Editorial Feature: Royal Wedding Imagery From Around The World". Google Arts and Culture. n.d. Retrieved 17 September 2020.
  5. ^ a b c d e "LA BODA DE LOS PADRES DE ÉL" [The Wedding of His Parents]. El Mundo Magazine. No. 242. 16 May 2004.
  6. ^ "DOWRY FOR SOPHIA STIRS NEW DEBATE; Greeks Discuss Tradition of Women's Inferiority Conservatives Defend Plan King Set Up Savings". The New York Times. 29 April 1962. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  7. ^ "Sophie's dowry approved". The New York Times. 20 March 1962.
  8. ^ a b c "Trousseau for a Princess". Kalgoorlie Miner. 16 May 1962. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  9. ^ Kardamitsi-Adami, Maro (2009). Palaces in Greece. Melissa Books. ISBN 978-960-204-289-2.
  10. ^ "Crossing the Crowns". Kalgoorlie Miner. 19 May 1962. Retrieved 15 April 2021.
  11. ^ Higuera, Raoul (14 May 2019). "57 years later, why is the wedding of the Emeritus Kings known as "the wedding of the three yeses"?". Semana (in Spanish).
  12. ^ Born Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark, but renounced princely titles upon her marriage in 1947.
  13. ^ a b c d e f g "Album de la Boda de S.S. A.A. R.R. la princessa Sofía y el principe Juan Carlos". ¡Hola!. 25 May 1962.
  14. ^ Burridge, Tom (2 June 2014). "King Juan Carlos of Spain abdicates". BBC. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  15. ^ González, Miguel (12 August 2020). "How the fate of Spain's Juan Carlos I was decided". El Pais. Madrid. Retrieved 18 September 2020.
  16. ^ "The wedding of the princes: Juan Carlos and Sofia". No-Do (in Spanish).
  17. ^ III. Otras disposiciones [III. Other provisions] (PDF) (in Spanish). 1 June 1962. p. 7498. DECRETO 1192/1962, de 10 de mayo, por el que se concede la Gran Cruz de la Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III a Su Alteza Real la Princesa Sofía de Grecia. Queriendo dar una muestra de Mi aprecio a Su Altez Real la Princesa Sofía de Grecia, Vengo en concederle la Gran Cruz de la Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III. Asi lo dispongo por el presente Decreto, dado en Madrid a diez de mayo de mil novecientos sesenta y dos. FRANCISCO FRANCO. DECRETO 1193/1962: de 10 de mayo, por el que se concede el Collar de la Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III a Su Alteza Real el Principe don Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón. Queriendo dar una muestra de Mi aprecio a Su Alteza Real el Principe don Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón, Vengo en concederle el Collar de la Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III. Así lo dispongo por el presente Decreto, dado en Madrid a diez de mayo de mil novecientos sesenta y dos. FRANCISCO FRANCO. [DECREE 1192/1962: of May 10, by which the Grand Cross of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III is awarded to Her Royal Highness Princess Sofía of Greece. Wanting to give a token of My appreciation to Her Royal Highness Princess Sofía of Greece, I come to grant you the Grand Cross of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III. I so dispose it by this Decree, given in Madrid on the tenth of May, nineteen hundred and sixty-two. FRANCISCO FRANCO. DECREE 1193/1992: of May 10, by which the Collar of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III is awarded to His Royal Highness Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón. Wanting to give a token of My appreciation to His Royal Highness Prince Juan Carlos de Borbón y Borbón, I come to grant you the Collar of the Royal and Very Distinguished Order of Carlos III. I so dispose it by this Decree, given in Madrid on the tenth of May, nineteen hundred and sixty-two. FRANCISCO FRANCO.] {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
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