The wedding of Juan Carlos, Prince of Asturias, and

Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

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 Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, the groom's faith, at the

Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite The Cathedral Basilica of St. Dionysius the Areopagite is the main Roman Catholic church of Athens, Greece, and the seat of the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Athens. It is located in central Athens, at the junction of Panepistimiou Avenue with O ...

; one according to the rites of the

Greek Orthodox Church The term Greek Orthodox Church (Greek: Ἑλληνορθόδοξη Ἐκκλησία, ''Ellinorthódoxi Ekklisía'', ) has two meanings. The broader meaning designates "the entire body of Orthodox (Chalcedonian) Christianity, sometimes also call ...

, the bride's faith, at the

Metropolitan Cathedral of Athens The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Annunciation ( el, Καθεδρικός Ναός Ευαγγελισμού της Θεοτόκου) popularly known as the "Mētrópolis", is the cathedral church of the Archbishopric of Athens and all Greece. ...

; and a third civil ceremony that was held upon their return to the

Royal Palace This is a list of royal palaces, sorted by continent. Africa * Abdin Palace, Cairo * Al-Gawhara Palace, Cairo * Koubbeh Palace, Cairo * Tahra Palace, Cairo * Menelik Palace * Jubilee Palace * Guenete Leul Palace * Imperial Palace- Massa ...

. ''

Don Don, don or DON and variants may refer to: Places *County Donegal, Ireland, Chapman code DON *Don (river), a river in European Russia *Don River (disambiguation), several other rivers with the name *Don, Benin, a town in Benin *Don, Dang, a vill ...

'' Juan Carlos was the eldest son of

Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona Infante Juan, Count of Barcelona (Juan Carlos Teresa Silverio Alfonso de Borbón y Battenberg; 20 June 1913 – 1 April 1993), also known as Don Juan, was a claimant to the Spanish throne as Juan III. He was the third son and designated heir o ...

, pretender to the Spanish throne, and

Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies Princess María de las Mercedes of Bourbon-Two Sicilies, Countess of Barcelona (María de las Mercedes Cristina Genara Isabel Luisa Carolina Victoria y Todos los Santos de Borbón y Orléans ; 23 December 1910 – 2 January 2000) was a Spanis ...

, while Princess Sophia was the eldest daughter of King Paul and Queen Frederica of Greece. Juan Carlos and Sophia were king and queen of Spain from 1975 until his abdication in 2014.

Engagement

Juan Carlos, who then held the title of

Prince of Asturias Prince or Princess of Asturias ( es, link=no, Príncipe/Princesa de Asturias; ast, Príncipe d'Asturies) is the main substantive title used by the heir apparent or heir presumptive to the monarchy of Spain, throne of Spain. According to the Sp ...

in pretense, and Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark, third cousins through

Queen Victoria Victoria (Alexandrina Victoria; 24 May 1819 – 22 January 1901) was Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland from 20 June 1837 until Death and state funeral of Queen Victoria, her death in 1901. Her reign of 63 years and 21 ...

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 The wedding of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and Katharine Worsley took place on Thursday, 8 June 1961 at York Minster in York, England. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, was the eldest son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greec ...

in June 1961. 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 Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg (24 October 1887 – 15 April 1969) was Queen consort of Spain, Queen of Spain as the wife of King Alfonso XIII from their marriage on 31 May 1906 until 14 April 1931, when the Spanish Second Republic wa ...

, in

Lausanne , neighboring_municipalities= Bottens, Bretigny-sur-Morrens, Chavannes-près-Renens, Cheseaux-sur-Lausanne, Crissier, Cugy, Écublens, Épalinges, Évian-les-Bains (FR-74), Froideville, Jouxtens-Mézery, Le Mont-sur-Lausanne, Lugrin (FR-74), ...

. Juan Carlos gave Sophia 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!"

Controversy

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. From the outset, the difference in religion caused friction on both sides. A compromise was eventually reached: two ceremonies would be held, Sophia would convert to

Catholicism The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized Catholics worldwide . It is among the world's oldest and largest international institutions, and has played a ...

, and she would use the Spanish variant of her name, Sofía.

Pope John XXIII Pope John XXIII ( la, Ioannes XXIII; it, Giovanni XXIII; born Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, ; 25 November 18813 June 1963) was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 28 October 1958 until his death in June 19 ...

allowed two ceremonies as the

was the state religion. Spanish media was requested by Franco not to cover the Greek Orthodox ceremony. The prospect of a state-funded

dowry A dowry is a payment, such as property or money, paid by the bride's family to the groom or his family at the time of marriage. Dowry contrasts with the related concepts of bride price and dower. While bride price or bride service is a payment b ...

for Princess Sophia caused controversy in Greece. The

Hellenic Parliament The Hellenic Parliament ( el, Ελληνικό Κοινοβούλιο, Elliniko Kinovoulio; formally titled el, Βουλή των Ελλήνων, Voulí ton Ellínon, Boule (ancient Greece), Boule of the Greeks, Hellenes, label=none), also kno ...

approved a $300,000 tax-free dowry for the princess. The

Centre Union The Centre Union ( el, Ἕνωσις Κέντρου ''Énōsis Kéntrou'', abbreviated ΕΚ) was a major centrist political party in Greece, created in 1961 by Georgios Papandreou.Clogg, 1987, pp. 39–40 History The Centre Union was a politica ...

and

United Democratic Left The United Democratic Left (, ''Eniéa Dimokratikí Aristerá'' (EDA)) was a left-wing political party in Greece, active mostly before the Greek military junta of 1967–74. Foundation The party was founded in July 1951 by prominent center-left ...

parties abstained from voting but voiced their criticism and "denounced the practice of granting dowries as anachronistic and barbarous." King Paul and Queen Frederica also sold land from their estates to pay for their daughter's dowry.

Pre-wedding celebrations

On 12 May 1962, a white-tie gala was held at the

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.

Wedding

Prince-Juan-Carlos-of-Spain-and-Princess-Sophia-of-Greece-391749514064

Roman Catholic ceremony

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

at the

. The marriage was performed by

Venediktos Printesis Venediktos Printesis (Greek: Βενέδικτος Πρίντεζης; February 10, 1917 – October 21, 2008) was a Greek Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church. Biography Printesis was born in Manna, Syros in February 1917, and was ordained a prie ...

Archbishop of Athens The Archbishopric of Athens ( el, Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αθηνών) is a Greek Orthodox archiepiscopal see based in the city of Athens, Greece. It is the senior see of Greece, and the seat of the autocephalous Church of Greece. It ...

. The Mass was said in Spanish, Latin and French. Pieces from

Mozart Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 17565 December 1791), baptised as Joannes Chrysostomus Wolfgangus Theophilus Mozart, was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period (music), Classical period. Despite his short life, his ra ...

Coronation Mass A Coronation Mass is a Eucharistic celebration, in which a special liturgical act, the coronation of an image of Mary, is performed. The coronation of an image of Mary is an act of devotion to her. It expresses the belief that Mary as mother ...

were sung, at the bride's request.

Greek Orthodox ceremony

The second ceremony, held at 12:00 PM at the

, was conducted by Chrysostomos II,

Archbishop of Athens and All Greece The Archbishopric of Athens ( el, Ιερά Αρχιεπισκοπή Αθηνών) is a Greek Orthodox archiepiscopal see based in the city of Athens, Greece. It is the senior see of Greece, and the seat of the autocephalous Church of Greece. It ...

. 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 Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark, (born 7 January 1939) is a Greek prince, historian, and author. He has written several historical books and biographies of Greek and other European figures, Montgomery-Massingberd, Hugh. " Burke’s Royal F ...

, 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.

Civil ceremony

civil ceremony A civil, or registrar, ceremony is a non-religious legal marriage ceremony performed by a government official or functionary. In the United Kingdom, this person is typically called a registrar. In the United States, civil ceremonies may be performed ...

was performed at the Royal Palace following the two religious services.

Attire

The bride wore a silver and white lamé gown covered in tulle and antique lace with a 5-meter train designed by Greek-born Parisian couturier,

Jean Dessès Jean Dessès (6 August 1904 – 2 August 1970) was a world leading fashion designer in the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s. His designs reflected the influences of his travels, specializing in creating draped evening gowns in chiffon and mousseline, b ...

. She also made a £7000 trousseau order at Dessès. The bride wore the Belgian lace veil her mother wore at her own wedding in 1938 and a diamond tiara that

Kaiser Wilhelm II Wilhelm II (Friedrich Wilhelm Viktor Albert; 27 January 18594 June 1941) was the last German Emperor (german: Kaiser) and List of monarchs of Prussia, King of Prussia, reigning from 15 June 1888 until Abdication of Wilhelm II, his abdication on 9 ...

presented to his daughter,

Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia german: Viktoria Luise Adelheid Mathilde Charlotte , house = Hohenzollern , father = Wilhelm II, German Emperor , mother = Augusta Victoria of Schleswig-Holstein , birth_name = Princess Victoria Louise of Prussia , ...

, the bride's maternal grandmother, on the occasion of her marriage to Prince Ernst August of Hanover in 1913. The groom wore his

Spanish Army The Spanish Army ( es, Ejército de Tierra, lit=Land Army) is the terrestrial army of the Spanish Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is one of the oldest active armies — dating back to the late 15th century. The ...

uniform with the insignia of the Spanish

Order of the Golden Fleece The Distinguished Order of the Golden Fleece ( es, Insigne Orden del Toisón de Oro, german: Orden vom Goldenen Vlies) is a Catholic order of chivalry founded in Bruges by Philip the Good, Duke of Burgundy, in 1430, to celebrate his marriage ...

and the

Order of Charles III The Royal and Distinguished Spanish Order of Charles III, originally Royal and Much Distinguished Order of Charles III ( es, Real y Distinguida Orden Española de Carlos III, originally es, Real y Muy Distinguida Orden de Carlos III) was establ ...

and the Greek

Order of the Redeemer The Order of the Redeemer ( el, Τάγμα του Σωτήρος, translit=Tágma tou Sotíros), also known as the Order of the Saviour, is an order of merit of Greece. The Order of the Redeemer is the oldest and highest decoration awarded by the ...

Attendants

Juan Carlos's cousin, the Duke of Noto, acted as

best man A groomsman or usher is one of the male attendants to the groom in a wedding ceremony and performs the first speech at the wedding. Usually, the groom selects close friends and relatives to serve as groomsmen, and it is considered an honor to be ...

. Princess Sophia was attended by eight bridesmaids, all of royal birth: *

Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark Princess Irene of Greece and Denmark, ( el, Ειρήνη; born 11 May 1942) is the youngest child and second daughter of Paul of Greece and his wife Queen Frederica. She is the younger sister of Queen Sofía of Spain and of the deposed Consta ...

, sister of the bride * Infanta Pilar of Spain, sister of the groom *

Princess Anne-Marie of Denmark Anne-Marie, ( el, Άννα-Μαρία ; born 30 August 1946) is a Greek and Danish royal who was the last Queen of Greece Consorts of the Kings of Greece were women married to the rulers of the Kingdom of Greece during their reign. All monar ...

, daughter of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark *

Princess Benedikte of Denmark Princess Benedikte of Denmark, Princess of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg (Benedikte Astrid Ingeborg Ingrid, born 29 April 1944) is a member of the Danish royal family. She is the second daughter and child of Frederick IX of Denmark, King Frederi ...

, daughter of King Frederik IX and Queen Ingrid of Denmark *

Princess Irene of the Netherlands Princess Irene of the Netherlands (Irene Emma Elisabeth; born 5 August 1939) is the second child of Queen Juliana of the Netherlands and Prince Bernhard. In 1964, she converted to Catholicism and married the then- Prince Carlos Hugo of Bourbon- ...

, daughter of

Queen Juliana Juliana (; Juliana Louise Emma Marie Wilhelmina; 30 April 1909 – 20 March 2004) was Queen of the Netherlands from 1948 until her abdication in 1980. Juliana was the only child of Queen Wilhelmina and Prince Henry of Mecklenburg-Schwerin. Sh ...

and

Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

Princess Alexandra of Kent Princess Alexandra, The Honourable Lady Ogilvy (Alexandra Helen Elizabeth Olga Christabel; born 25 December 1936) is a member of the British royal family. Queen Elizabeth II and Alexandra were first cousins through their fathers, King George V ...

, daughter of

Prince George, Duke of Kent Prince George, Duke of Kent, (George Edward Alexander Edmund; 20 December 1902 – 25 August 1942) was a member of the British royal family, the fourth son of King George V and Queen Mary. He was a younger brother of kings Edward VIII and Geo ...

and Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent *

Princess Anne of Orléans Princess Anne of Orléans (''Anne Hélène Marie''; 5 August 1906, Le Nouvion-en-Thiérache, Aisne – 19 March 1986, Sorrento) was a member of the House of Orléans and the Duchess of Aosta by marriage. She was the daughter of Prince Jean, ...

, daughter of the

Count Count (feminine: countess) is a historical title of nobility in certain European countries, varying in relative status, generally of middling rank in the hierarchy of nobility. Pine, L. G. ''Titles: How the King Became His Majesty''. New York: ...

and Countess of Paris *

Princess Tatiana Radziwiłł Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

, daughter of Prince Dominik Rainer Radziwiłł and

Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark Princess Eugénie of Greece and Denmark ( el, Ευγενία; 10 February 1910 – 13 February 1989) was the youngest child and only daughter of Prince George of Greece and Denmark and his wife, Princess Marie Bonaparte, daughter of Marie-Féli ...

Guests

Relatives of the groom

House of Bourbon The House of Bourbon (, also ; ) is a European dynasty of French origin, a branch of the Capetian dynasty, the royal House of France. Bourbon kings first ruled France and Navarre in the 16th century. By the 18th century, members of the Spanis ...

* The Count and

Countess of Barcelona The Count of Barcelona ( ca, Comte de Barcelona, es, Conde de Barcelona, french: Comte de Barcelone, ) was the ruler of the County of Barcelona and also, by extension and according with the Usages of Barcelona, usages and Catalan constitutions, of ...

, ''the groom's parents'' ** Infanta Pilar of Spain, ''the groom's sister'' ** Infanta Margarita of Spain, ''the groom's sister'' *

Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain Victoria Eugenie Julia Ena of Battenberg (24 October 1887 – 15 April 1969) was Queen of Spain as the wife of King Alfonso XIII from their marriage on 31 May 1906 until 14 April 1931, when the Spanish Second Republic was proclaimed. A Hessian ...

, ''the groom's paternal grandmother'' ** ''

Infante Jaime, Duke of Segovia Infante Jaime of Spain, Duke of Segovia, Duke of Anjou (''Jaime Leopoldo Isabelino Enrique Alejandro Alberto Alfonso Víctor Acacio Pedro Pablo María de Borbón y Battenberg'') (23 June 1908 – 20 March 1975), was the second son of King Alfo ...

's family:'' *** Don Alfonso de Borbón y Dampierre, ''the groom's first cousin'' ** Infanta Beatriz, Princess of Civitella-Cesi, ''the groom's paternal aunt'' *** Don Marco Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi, ''the groom's first cousin'' *** Donna Olimpia Torlonia di Civitella-Cesi, ''the groom's first cousin'' ** Infanta María Cristina, Countess Marone and The Count Marone, ''the groom's paternal aunt and uncle'' *** Doña Giovanna Marone-Cinzano y Borbón, ''the groom's first cousin'' * Infante José-Eugene of Bavaria and The Countess of Odiel, ''the groom's first cousin, once removed, and his wife'' ** Doña María Cristina de Baviera y de Mesía, ''the groom's second cousin'' ** Don Fernando de Baviera y de Mesía, ''the groom's second cousin'' ** Doña María Teresa de Baviera y de Mesía, ''the groom's second cousin'' * The Duke of Galliera, ''the groom's first cousin, twice removed'' ** Prince Álvaro of Orléans, ''the groom's second cousin, once removed'' *** Doña Beatriz de Orléans-Borbón y Parodi-Delfino, ''the groom's third cousin'' *** Don Alonso de Orléans-Borbón y Parodi-Delfino, ''the groom's third cousin''

House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies The House of Bourbon-Two Sicilies is a cadet branch of the Spanish royal family, Spanish Bourbons that ruled Southern Italy and Sicily for more than a century in the 18th and 19th centuries. It descends from the Capetian dynasty in legitimate ma ...

* The Duke and

Duchess of Calabria Duchess of Calabria was the traditional title of the wife of the heir apparent of the Kingdom of Naples after the accession of Robert of Naples. It was also adopted by the heads of certain Houses that had once claimed the Kingdom of Naples in lieu ...

, ''the groom's maternal half-uncle and half-aunt'' ** The Duke of Noto, ''the groom's half-first cousin'' ** The Duchess of Syracuse, ''the groom's half-first cousin'' * Princess María de los Dolores of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and Don Carlos Chias Osorio, ''the groom's maternal aunt and uncle'' ** Prince Adam Karol Czartoryski, ''the groom's first cousin''

Relatives of the bride

House of Glücksburg The House of Glücksburg (also spelled ''Glücksborg'' or ''Lyksborg''), shortened from House of Schleswig-Holstein-Sonderburg-Glücksburg, is a collateral branch of the German House of Oldenburg, members of which have reigned at various times ...

* The King and

Queen of the Hellenes Consorts of the Kings of Greece were women married to the rulers of the Kingdom of Greece during their reign. All monarchs of modern Greece were male.The exception is King Otto, who was styled ''King of Greece''. Amalia, accordingly, is the only pe ...

, ''the bride's parents'' ** The Crown Prince of Greece, ''the bride's brother'' **

, ''the bride's sister'' * Queen Mother Helen of Romania, ''the bride's paternal aunt'' **

King Michael I Michael I ( ro, Mihai I ; 25 October 1921 – 5 December 2017) was the last King of Romania, reigning from 20 July 1927 to 8 June 1930 and again from 6 September 1940 until his forced abdication on 30 December 1947. Shortly after Michael's ...

and

Queen Anne of Romania Princess Anne Antoinette Françoise Charlotte Zita Marguerite of Bourbon-Parma (18 September 1923 – 1 August 2016) was the wife of King Michael I of Romania. Michael abdicated the throne in 1947, and he and Anne married the next year. Nonethel ...

, ''the bride's first cousin and his wife'' * The Duchess of Aosta, ''the bride's paternal aunt'' ** The Duke of Aosta, ''the bride's first cousin'' *

Princess Katherine of Greece and Denmark Princess Katherine of Greece and DenmarkMarlene A. Eilers, ''Queen Victoria's Descendants'' (Baltimore, Maryland: Genealogical Publishing Co., 1987), page 165. ( el, Αικατερίνη; 4 May 1913 – 2 October 2007), styled in the United King ...

, ''the bride's paternal aunt'' *

Princess George of Greece and Denmark Princess Marie Bonaparte (2 July 1882 – 21 September 1962), known as Princess George of Greece and Denmark upon her marriage, was a French author and psychoanalyst, closely linked with Sigmund Freud. Her wealth contributed to the popularity ...

, ''the bride's paternal grandaunt by marriage'' ** Princess Eugénie, Duchess of Castel Duino, ''the bride's first cousin, once removed'' ***

, ''the bride's second cousin'' *** Prince Jerzy Radziwiłł, ''the bride's second cousin'' *

Princess Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

and

Prince Paul of Yugoslavia Prince Paul of Yugoslavia, also known as Paul Karađorđević ( sh-Latn-Cyrl, Pavle Karađorđević, Павле Карађорђевић, English transliteration: ''Paul Karageorgevich''; 27 April 1893 – 14 September 1976), was prince regent o ...

, ''the bride's first cousin once removed, and her husband'' **

Prince A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. Th ...

and Princess Alexander of Yugoslavia, ''the bride's second cousin and his wife'' *

Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent Princess Marina, Duchess of Kent (27 August 1968), born Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark ( el, Μαρίνα), was a Greek princess by birth and a British princess by marriage. She was a daughter of Prince Nicholas of Greece and Denmark and ...

, ''the bride's first cousin once removed and widow of the groom's

second cousin once removed Most generally, in the lineal kinship system used in the English-speaking world, a cousin is a type of familial relationship in which two relatives are two or more familial generations away from their most recent common ancestor. Commonly, " ...

'' (representing the

Queen of the United Kingdom The monarchy of the United Kingdom, commonly referred to as the British monarchy, is the constitutional form of government by which a hereditary sovereign reigns as the head of state of the United Kingdom, the Crown Dependencies (the Bailiwi ...

) **

, ''the bride's second cousin and the groom's third cousin'' **

Prince Michael of Kent Prince Michael of Kent, (Michael George Charles Franklin; born 4 July 1942) is a member of the British royal family, who is 51st in the line of succession to the British throne as of September 2022. Queen Elizabeth II and Michael were first ...

, ''the bride's second cousin and the groom's third cousin'' * Princess Andrew of Greece and Denmark, ''the bride's paternal grandaunt by marriage'' ** The Princess of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, ''the bride's first cousin once removed'' *** The Prince of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, ''the bride's second cousin'' *** Princess Beatrix of Hohenlohe-Langenburg, ''the bride's second cousin'' ** The Margravine of Baden, ''the bride's first cousin once removed'' ***

and

Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia Prince Tomislav of Yugoslavia ( sr-cyr, Томислав Карађорђевић, Tomislav Karađorđević; 19 January 1928 – 12 July 2000) was a member of the House of Karađorđević, the second son of King Alexander I and Queen Maria of Yug ...

, ''the bride's second cousin and third cousin'' *** Prince Ludwig of Baden, ''the bride's second cousin'' *

, ''the bride's first cousin once removed''

House of Hanover The House of Hanover (german: Haus Hannover), whose members are known as Hanoverians, is a European royal house of German origin that ruled Hanover, Great Britain, and Ireland at various times during the 17th to 20th centuries. The house orig ...

The Prince ''The Prince'' ( it, Il Principe ; la, De Principatibus) is a 16th-century political treatise written by Italian diplomat and political theorist Niccolò Machiavelli as an instruction guide for new princes and royals. The general theme of ''The ...

and Princess of Hanover, ''the bride's maternal uncle and aunt'' *

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

Members of reigning royal houses

* The Queen of Denmark, ''the bride and groom's mutual second cousin once removed'' (representing the

King of Denmark The monarchy of Denmark is a constitutional political system, institution and a historic office of the Kingdom of Denmark. The Kingdom includes Denmark proper and the autonomous administrative division, autonomous territories of the Faroe ...

) **

Princess Margrethe of Denmark Princess Margaret of Denmark (Margrethe Françoise Louise Marie Helene; 17 September 1895 – 18 September 1992) was a Danish princess by birth and a princess of Bourbon-Parma as the wife of Prince René of Bourbon-Parma. She was the youngest g ...

, ''the bride and groom's mutual third cousin'' **

, ''the bride and groom's mutual third cousin'' *

and

Princess of Liechtenstein Princess consort of Liechtenstein House of Liechtenstein Notes {{DEFAULTSORT:Princess Of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein princesses History of Liechtenstein Liechtenstein Liechtenstein (), officially the Principality of Liechten ...

, ''the groom's fourth cousin once removed, and his wife'' * The Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Luxembourg, ''the groom's fourth cousin and the bride's third cousin'' (representing the

Grand Duchess of Luxembourg The territory of Luxembourg has been ruled successively by counts, dukes and grand dukes. It was part of the medieval Kingdom of Germany, and later the Holy Roman Empire until it became a sovereign state in 1815. Counts of Luxembourg House of A ...

) *

and

Princess of Monaco Princess is a regal rank and the feminine equivalent of prince (from Latin ''princeps'', meaning principal citizen). Most often, the term has been used for the consort of a prince, or for the daughter of a king or prince. Princess as a subst ...

, ''the groom's fifth cousin once removed, and his wife'' *

The Queen In the English-speaking world, The Queen most commonly refers to: * Elizabeth II (1926–2022), Queen of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms from 1952 until her death The Queen may also refer to: * Camilla, Queen Consort (born 1947), ...

and

Prince Consort of the Netherlands A consort of the Netherlands is a person married to a Dutch monarch during his or her reign. All female spouses of the monarchs of the Netherlands have been titled "Queen of the Netherlands" with the style ''Majesty''. The male spouses of the three ...

, ''the bride's third cousin twice removed, and her husband'' **

Princess Beatrix of the Netherlands Beatrix (Beatrix Wilhelmina Armgard, ; born 31 January 1938) is a member of the Dutch royal house who reigned as List of monarchs of the Netherlands, Queen of the Netherlands from 1980 until her abdication in 2013. Beatrix is the eldest daug ...

, ''the bride's fourth cousin once removed'' **

Princess Margriet of the Netherlands Princess Margriet Francisca of the Netherlands (born 19 January 1943) is the third daughter of Queen Juliana and Prince Bernhard. As an aunt of the reigning monarch, King Willem-Alexander, she is a member of the Dutch Royal House and currently ...

, ''the bride's fourth cousin once removed'' * The King of Norway, ''the bride and groom's mutual second cousin once removed'' * The Duchess of Västerbotten, ''the bride and groom's mutual second cousin once removed'' (representing the

King of Sweden The monarchy of Sweden is the monarchical head of state of Sweden,See the Instrument of Government, Chapter 1, Article 5. which is a constitutional and hereditary monarchy with a parliamentary system.Parliamentary system: see the Instrument o ...

) **

Princess Margaretha of Sweden Princess Margaretha of Sweden (Margaretha Sofia Lovisa Ingeborg; 25 June 1899 – 4 January 1977) was a member of the Swedish Royal Family by birth and the Danish Royal Family by marriage. She was the elder sister of Crown Princess Märtha of No ...

, ''the bride and groom's mutual third cousin'' ** Princess Désirée of Sweden, ''the bride and groom's mutual third cousin'' ** Princess Christina of Sweden, ''the bride and groom's mutual third cousin'' * The Earl Mountbatten of Burma, ''the groom's first cousin twice removed (and the bride's second cousin, once removed)''

Members of non-reigning royal houses

* The Duke of Bavaria, ''the groom's half-third cousin'' * Prince Pedro Gastão and Princess María de la Esperanza of Orléans-Braganza, ''the groom's maternal uncle and aunt'' ** Princess Maria da Glória of Orléans-Braganza, ''the groom's first cousin'' *

Prince Luiz of Orléans-Braganza A prince is a male ruler (ranked below a king, grand prince, and grand duke) or a male member of a monarch's or former monarch's family. ''Prince'' is also a title of nobility (often highest), often hereditary, in some European states. The ...

, ''the groom's fourth cousin'' * The Count and Countess of Paris, ''the groom's first cousin once removed, and the groom's maternal third cousin once removed'' **

, ''the groom's second cousin'' ** Princess Claude of Orléans, ''the groom's second cousin'' * The Landgrave of Hesse, ''the bride's first cousin once removed'' **

Prince Heinrich of Hesse-Kassel Prince Heinrich Wilhelm Konstantin Viktor Franz of Hesse-Kassel (30 October 1927 – 18 November 1999), known as Enrico d'Assia, was the second child of Prince Philipp of Hesse and Princess Mafalda of Savoy. Heinrich became an artist, set designer ...

, ''the bride's second cousin'' * King Umberto II and Queen Marie-José of Italy, ''the groom's fourth cousin once removed and the groom's third cousin once removed'' ** The Prince of Naples, ''the groom's fourth cousin'' ** Princess Maria Gabriella of Savoy, ''the groom's fourth cousin'' **

Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy Princess Maria Beatrice of Savoy (born 2 February 1943) is the youngest daughter of Italy's last King, Umberto II, and his wife, Queen Marie José. Life Born Principessa Maria Beatrice Elena Margherita Ludovica Caterina Romana di Savoia, she ...

, ''the groom's fourth cousin'' * Princess Maria Cristina of Savoy-Aosta, ''the groom's second cousin'' * The Duke and Duchess of Ancona, ''the groom's second cousin twice removed, and his wife'' * The Hereditary Grand Duke and Hereditary Grand Duchess of Mecklenburg-Schwerin, ''the bride's first cousin once removed, and his wife'' * The Duke of Parma, ''the groom's paternal and maternal second cousin once removed'' * Prince Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma, ''the groom's fourth cousin once removed'' * Princess René of Bourbon-Parma, ''the bride's first cousin twice removed'' * The Duke and

Duchess of Braganza The title of Duchess of Braganza has existed in Portugal since the 15th century. This title designates the female head of the House of Braganza. Duchess of Braganza House of Braganza Nominal Duchess of Braganza House of Braganza See ...

, ''the groom's third cousin twice removed, and the groom's third cousin once removed'' ** The Prince of Beira, ''the groom's fourth cousin'' * Prince and Princess Friedrich Karl of Windisch-Grätz, ''the bride's second cousin and her husband'' * The Duke and

Duchess of Württemberg Duke is a male title either of a monarch ruling over a duchy, or of a member of royalty, or nobility. As rulers, dukes are ranked below emperors, kings, grand princes, grand dukes, and sovereign princes. As royalty or nobility, they are ran ...

, ''the groom's second cousin once removed and the groom's first cousin once removed'' ** The Hereditary Duke and Hereditary Duchess of Württemberg, ''the groom's second cousins''

Other notable guests

* The Duchess of Alba * Don Felipe José Abárzuza y Oliva, Minister of the Spanish Navy (representing ''Generalísimo'' Francisco Franco) *

Marquess A marquess (; french: marquis ), es, marqués, pt, marquês. is a nobleman of high hereditary rank in various European peerages and in those of some of their former colonies. The German language equivalent is Markgraf (margrave). A woman wi ...

and Marchioness of Blandford *

Aristotle Onassis Aristotle Socrates Onassis (, ; el, Αριστοτέλης Ωνάσης, Aristotélis Onásis, ; 20 January 1906 – 15 March 1975), was a Greek-Argentinian shipping magnate who amassed the world's largest privately-owned shipping fleet and wa ...

Aftermath

Don-Juan-Carlos-Princess-Sofia-of-Greece-and-Denmark-and-John-F-Kennedy-391765759628

As of 2022, Juan Carlos and Sofía have been married for 60 years. They have three children,

Elena Elena may refer to: People * Elena (given name), including a list of people and characters with this name * Joan Ignasi Elena (born 1968), Catalan politician * Francine Elena (born 1986), British poet Geography * Elena (town), a town in Veliko ...

(born 1963),

Cristina Cristina is a female given name, and it is also a surname. Notable people with the name include: Given name *Cristina (daughter of Edward the Exile), 11th-century English princess *Cristina (singer), Cristina Monet-Palaci (1956–2020), American s ...

(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 Francisco Franco Bahamonde (; 4 December 1892 – 20 November 1975) was a Spanish general who led the Nationalist faction (Spanish Civil War), Nationalist forces in overthrowing the Second Spanish Republic during the Spanish Civil War ...

. They reigned for nearly 39 years until his abdication in 2014. They have lived separately since August 2020 when Juan Carlos left Spain in exile amid corruption accusations.

Honeymoon

The couple travelled extensively on their honeymoon. They initially set out on a yacht cruise around the Greek islands. Further destinations included

Spain , image_flag = Bandera de España.svg , image_coat = Escudo de España (mazonado).svg , national_motto = ''Plus ultra'' (Latin)(English: "Further Beyond") , national_anthem = (English: "Royal March") , i ...

Monaco Monaco (; ), officially the Principality of Monaco (french: Principauté de Monaco; Ligurian: ; oc, Principat de Mónegue), is a sovereign city-state and microstate on the French Riviera a few kilometres west of the Italian region of Lig ...

Italy Italy ( it, Italia ), officially the Italian Republic, ) or the Republic of Italy, is a country in Southern Europe. It is located in the middle of the Mediterranean Sea, and its territory largely coincides with the homonymous geographical re ...

India India, officially the Republic of India (Hindi: ), is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by area, the second-most populous country, and the most populous democracy in the world. Bounded by the Indian Ocean on the so ...

Thailand Thailand ( ), historically known as Siam () and officially the Kingdom of Thailand, is a country in Southeast Asia, located at the centre of the Indochinese Peninsula, spanning , with a population of almost 70 million. The country is bo ...

, the

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territorie ...

and

Japan Japan ( ja, 日本, or , and formally , ''Nihonkoku'') is an island country in East Asia. It is situated in the northwest Pacific Ocean, and is bordered on the west by the Sea of Japan, while extending from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north ...

. In Italy, they had an audience with

. In the United States, they met with President

John F. Kennedy John Fitzgerald Kennedy (May 29, 1917 – November 22, 1963), often referred to by his initials JFK and the nickname Jack, was an American politician who served as the 35th president of the United States from 1961 until his assassination ...

. 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. Eventually, they returned to Spain where they settled in the

Palace of Zarzuela The Zarzuela Palace ( es, Palacio de la Zarzuela ) is the residence and working offices of the reigning monarch of Spain (King Felipe VI), although the official residence of the Spanish royal family is the Royal Palace of Madrid. The Zarzuela Pal ...

. 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.

Reaction in Spain

In the Spanish State, Franco allowed three major newspapers to cover the wedding. Pictures of the wedding were shown on state television. However, no photographs of the groom's father, the Count of Barcelona, who was on bad terms with Franco, were allowed to be published. Spanish monarchists rejoiced at the marriage. Franco bestowed the

on both Juan Carlos and Sofía.

Subsequent royal marriages

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: * Prince Carlos Hugo of Bourbon-Parma and

, married on 29 April 1964, divorced in 1981. *

Prince Amedeo, Duke of Aosta Prince Amedeo, 3rd Duke of Aosta (Amedeo Umberto Isabella Luigi Filippo Maria Giuseppe Giovanni di Savoia-Aosta; 21 October 1898 – 3 March 1942) was the third Duke of Aosta and a first cousin, once removed of the King of Italy, Victor Emmanu ...

, and Princess Claude of Orléans, married on 22 July 1964, divorced in 1982. * Crown Prince Constantine of Greece and

married Marriage, also called matrimony or wedlock, is a culturally and often legally recognized union between people called spouses. It establishes rights and obligations between them, as well as between them and their children, and between t ...

on 18 September 1964. * Prince Carlos, Duke of Noto, and

, married on 12 May 1965.

References

{{reflist Juan Carlos I of Spain

May 1962 events in Europe 1962 in Greece 1960s in Athens Greek monarchy