40 years King Juan Carlos I of Spain

On 22nd November 1975 - two days after General Franco's death - Don Juan Carlos, Prince of Spain, was proclaimed King of Spain, restoring the monarchy after a 44-year interregnum.

In 1977, he enacted political reforms that led to Spain's first democratic election since 1936.



The Spanish Constitution, which was unanimously approved by Parliament and voted by 87.8% of the citizens in a referendum held on 6th December 1978, provides in article 1 for a Parliamentary Monarchy of the classical liberal European style, with certain peculiarities to take into account the Spanish situation.

Article 1.3 reads: 'The political form of the Spanish State is that of a Parliamentary Monarchy'

Royal Condolences

Queen Elizabeth II :

“Prince Philip and I have been deeply shocked and saddened by the terrible loss of life in Paris. We send our most sincere condolences to you, the families of those who have died and the French people.”


King Philippe I of the Belgians :


“Shocked by attacks in Paris, Belgium is in solidarity with French people. Courage to the people directly affected by these heinous acts.”

King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands

“I am deeply shocked by the attacks last night in Paris. The Netherlands feels connected closely with France. We mourn with the people of France to the victims. With the French people, we remain steadfastly defend freedom against those who try to undermine her with terror. The values of freedom and solidarity, we never price. Our thoughts are with all those who now have intense grief at the loss of their loved ones and all the victims of these cowardly attacks.”

Queen Margrethe II of Denmark

King Harald V of Norway

King Carl XVI Gustaf of Sweden

King Felipe VI. of Spain

Mr President,

In these moments of pain, want to send all the closeness, solidarity and support on behalf of the Government and the Spanish people as well as to express firm condemnation against terrorist barbarity and the cruel and inhuman injustice of those who undermine the principles and fundamental values underpinning our coexistence and our democracies.

Next to the Queen, I want to also express my heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and our desire for a speedy recovery of the injured. The Spaniards are today more than ever, next to the French in the determination, commitment and unity which allows to overcome challenges of terrorist violence.


Prince Albert II. of Monaco :

“Mr President.

The attacks that come from strike Paris at the heart, numb us.

My country shares the sorrow and the terror of the friendly France, bruised by these terrorist crimes.

With respect and a huge emotion, we bow before the memory of so many victims and the indescribable pain of their families.

Our thoughts are also all persons injured in their flesh by these wild acts.

On my own behalf, on behalf of my family and the people of Monaco, I want to assure you of our deep and real solidarity, in union with all those who are mobilizing against the scourge of terrorism.

Alongside of the French Republic, we know that it will not prevail.

Please accept, Mr. President of the French Republic, the assurance of my highest consideration.”


Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg :

“Mr. President,

It is with horror and consternation that not have seen images of the attacks in Paris.

The Grand Duchess and I assure you together with the people of Luxembourg to share our great compassion for the victims and their families.

We express our total solidarity in misfortune that hits the France.”


King Mohammed VI of Morocco :


“Mr. President,

I offer my most saddened condolences to you, to the innocent victims’ families and to the entire French people as well as my earnest wishes of prompt recovery to the wounded.

I would like to condemn in the strongest terms on behalf of the Moroccan people and in my own name these vile terrorist acts and express our full solidarity and support in this ordeal.”







The political French party that supports a return of the Monarchy in France Alliance Royale issued a statement:

Les attentats du 13 novembre: communiqué du délégué général
La vraie force viendra de notre courage à défendre ce que nous sommes en s’adossant à ce qui nous reste de meilleur: notre héritage. Car notre pire ennemi est notre reniement.

Shah Reza II of Iran

Thousands of Sydneysiders welcomed the royal couple

A pop star receiption for Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall spent a day in Sydney, and were welcomed to the city by thousands of well-wishers.

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla’s visits in Sydney began at the New South Wales Mounted Police, the oldest continuous Mounted Police unit in the world.

The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall visited the New South Wales state mounted police headquarters.

Their Royal Highnesses watched a display of horsemanship and training for crowd control by officers from the unit before the riders came forward on their horses to meet the Royal visitors.

The Duchess of Cornwall then visited the Sydney headquarters of OzHarvest, an organisation which provides charities who feed those in need with unwanted produce from restaurants and other food outlets.

The Duchess at OzHarvest

Her Royal Highness toured the building and met Chrissy Mulyneux in the preparation kitchen who was making mouth-watering bread and butter pudding with dried apricots and raisins. Now in its 11th year of operations, OzHarvest has more than 30 vehicles on the road operating across Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Melbourne, Newcastle and Perth.

Meanwhile, The Prince of Wales attended the Psychological Recovery Following Community Disaster Roundtable event.The roundtable was held at the Macquarie Group Building and attendees included CEO of Macquarie Group, Nicolas Moore, Chairman of The Prince’s Charities Australia, Tony Beddison, and the Chief Executive of The Prince’s Charities Australia, Janine Kirk.

During the meeting, His Royal Highness and those in attendance discussed psychological recovery following man-made or natural disasters. The Prince also met front line responders, including serving and former military personnel, and disaster survivors.

In the afternoon, The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall were welcomed to Government House for a reception to celebrate the work of Australians who have made a difference to their local communities and the nation. TRH were greeted with a ‘Welcome to Country’ ceremony, performed by Uncle Chicka Madden, Gadigal Elder. These ceremonies are given at special occasions as a mark of respect.

The Duchess of Cornwall, Colonel-in-Chief, The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police, with members of the Corps during a visit to Victoria Barracks.

Later, The Duchess of Cornwall visited the Victoria Barracks, home of The Royal Australian Corps of Military Police. Her Royal Highness’s visit marked the Corps’ 100th anniversary, which will be celebrated next year. The Duchess has been the unit's Colonel-in-Chief since 2012. Her Royal Highness joined a reception with members of the Corps, and was invited to cut the centenary cake.

The military police serve in the army in Australia and around the globe, and over the last fifteen years have been deployed to Solomon Islands, Pakistan, Lebanon and Iraq and Afghanistan.

The Head of the Corps, Brigadier Cheryl Pearce, said: "It's a real honour to have The Duchess here. When she became our Colonel-in-Chief in 2012 it was just the start of a tradition and we want to continue with her into the future. This was a chance for her to meet our soldiers and our soldiers to meet her."

The Queen of Australia meets her Governor of Victoria

The Australian tour of Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall is a huge success. Today thousands of Sydneysiders waited to get a glimps or even a handshake of Prince Charles or Duchess Camilla.

Huge crowds waited in Sydney in Martin Place

Royal crowd pullers in Sydney

Meanwhile Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, received her new Governor of Victoria.

The Honourable Linda Dessau AM, the Governor of Victoria, and her husband Judge Anthony Howard, had an audience with their sovereign at Buckingham Palace.

Eminent jurist and AFL commissioner Linda Dessau became Victoria's 29th Governor on 1st July 2015. She succeeded Alex Chernov, whose tenure ended at the end of June after four years and three months. Before she swore the Oath of Allegiance Ms Dessau she was a firm believer in having an independent head of state so governments could focus on their job. Having the role of a constitutional safeguard in an independent position was also critical she said.

HM The Queen receives the Honourable Linda Dessau AM, the Governor of Victoria, and her husband Judge Anthony Howard, during an audience, at Buckingham Palace on 10th November.

"How dare this Irish expatriate bring his Irish republicanism across to this country?"

After Alan Joyce has reduced Qantas from a world wide operating airline to a regional flight service enterprise, he is set to grant his skills to the republican movement.

Philip Benwell, Chairman of the Australian Monarchist League, commented Mr. Joyce's decision in a media release that is republished below:


So the twelve million dollar ($12M) a year Irish CEO of Qantas, Alan Joyce, has joined the Republican Movement (AFR 4/11/15). He doesn’t explain why he doesn’t support our system of constitutional monarchy which provided the constitutional security and political stability to enable him to make his fortune, only that his ear was chewed off by Peter FitzSimon’s: “Fitzy just kept asking and asking, so the easiest thing for me to do was to say yes.” Worse, this millionaire of millionaires insulted monarchist Catholics and monarchists of Irish descent by excusing himself by saying: “Mind you, I'm a Catholic from the south of Ireland, so it was a pretty simple choice.”

How dare this Irish expatriate bring his Irish republicanism across to this country. As our Prime Minister has said: “It is not compulsory to live in Australia. If you find Australian values, you know, unpalatable, then there’s a big wide world out there and people have got freedom of movement.”

I have been a Qantas member for over 25 years, but no more. Unlike the elitist republicans, Alan Joyce and Peter FitzSimon’s, when I visit our branches or travel Interstate on speaking engagements, like most of us, I squeeze myself into the economy seats. Unlike these republicans, no exclusive Qantas Chairman’s Lounge or business class travel for me. And yet we are the ones who are called elitist as though it is some sort of derogatory word when referring to monarchists, but obviously never to these republicans!

I say that we should object to our Australian airline being used to support republicans, whether directly or indirectly. Please contact Qantas and demand the resignation of the Catholic Irish Republican Mr Joyce.

Even though I might miss seeing the red rag on top of Mr FitzSimon’s head in the far distant ‘pointy end’ of a Qantas plane, from now on, I will be flying Virgin in future and I suggest that monarchists do likewise. Let us vote with our feet and reject the sectarianism and republicanism of the Qantas Chief Executive Officer.

Mr Joyce can be contacted as follows:

Mr Alan Joyce
Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer
Qantas Campus
10 Burke Road
Mascot NSW 2020
T: 02 9691 3636
F: 02 9691 3510

Yours sincerely,

Philip Benwell
National Chair
Australian Monarchist League