Prince of Asturias (Spanish: Príncipe de Asturias, Asturian: Príncipe d'Asturies) is the historical (and under the Spanish Constitution of 1978, the official) title given to the heir to the Spanish throne. It was also the title under the earlier Crown of Castile. The current Prince of Asturias is Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos of Spain and Queen Sofía. Contrary to practice in non-Iberian countries, should there be no heir apparent, the title can be (but is not necessarily) given to the heir presumptive – a daughter, sibling or matrilineal descendant of the monarch.
Other associated titles originate from the rest of the kingdoms that formed Spain: Prince of Viana (for Navarre), Prince of Girona (for Aragon), Duke of Montblanc (for Catalonia), Count of Cervera (for Valencia) and Lord of Balaguer (for Majorca).
Military dictator Francisco Franco appointed Juan Carlos de Borbón as his "successor with the title of King" but gave him the new title of Prince of Spain instead of Prince of Asturias.
The current Prince of Asturias has instituted the Prince of Asturias Awards.
Príncipe de Asturias Peak in Vinson Massif, Antarctica is named after the Prince of Asturias.
Famous quotes containing the words prince of and/or prince:
“A chaplain is the minister of the Prince of Peace serving the host of the God of War—Mars. As such, he is as incongruous as a musket would be on the altar at Christmas. Why, then, is he there? Because he indirectly subserves the purpose attested by the cannon; because too he lends the sanction of the religion of the meek to that which practically is the abrogation of everything but brute Force.”
—Herman Melville (1819–1891)
“Much more frequent in Hollywood than the emergence of Cinderella is her sudden vanishing. At our party, even in those glowing days, the clock was always striking twelve for someone at the height of greatness; and there was never a prince to fetch her back to the happy scene.”
—Ben Hecht (1893–1964)