Spanish Royal Family Honours the Duke of Suárez

On Sunday March 23rd, Adolfo Suárez, 1st Duke of Suárez and Spain’s first post-Franco Prime Minister passed away aged 81.

Born on September 25th, 1932 in Cebreros, Spain he went onto hold several political posts in the last years of the Franco Regime. In July 1976, King Juan Carlos appointed  Suárez as President of the Government of Spain (Prime Minister), a post he held until 1981. Together with King Juan Carlos, they led Spain during the difficult years of transition to democracy following the death of General Franco in 1975.

In 1981, Adolfo Suárez retired from politics and was ennobled by King Juan Carlos and created the 1st Duke of Suárez, with the title of Grandee of Spain.

In 2005 it was announced that the Duke was suffering from Alzheimer’s disease. In 2007, he was appointed the 1,193rd Knight of the Order of the Golden Fleece of Spain by the Spanish Monarch.

Following his death last Sunday, King Juan Carlos made a short televised tribute and spoke of the Duke as “a loyal friend.” The Duke’s coffin was brought to the Congress of Deputies where he lay in state. King Juan Carlos posthumously decorated the late Duke with the Collar of the Order of Charles III, which was placed in front of his coffin along with the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. The King of Spain, accompanied by Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo, were the first to pay their respects.

Later that afternoon the Prince and Princess of Asturias arrived, as did thousands of Spaniards who wanted to pay their respects. The Duke’s coffin was brought to the Cathedral of Ávila for burial on March 25th following a requiem mass.

A memorial mass will be celebrated on March 31st at the Santa María la Real de La Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, which will be attended by the King, Queen and Royal Family.

The Dukedom of Suárez was inherited by Suárez’s granddaughter, Alejandra Romero Suárez.

Filed under Spain
Tagged Adolfo Suárez Duke of Suárez, Biography, Death, Felipe VI of Spain, Funeral, Infanta Elena Duchess of Lugo, Juan Carlos I of Spain, Orders, Queen Letizia of Spain, Queen Sofia of Spain.