Felipe VI opts for a more feminine and demilitarized team after 10 years of reign

In two weeks, at the beginning of December, the changes will become effective at the General Secretariat of the Household of the King and at the diplomatic ministry. They will come out Domingo Martinez Palomo in the first case and Alfonso Sanz Portoles in the second. The two positions will be filled, for the first time in history, by two women.

Mercedes Araújo Díez de Terán55 years old, is the current Deputy Secretary General for Parliamentary Affairs of the Congress of Deputies. A lawyer by profession, she joined the Corps of Lawyers of the Cortes Générales in 1995, and successively held assistance and advisory positions with the governing bodies of the Lower House, from the 6th to the 15th legislature.

She will now be the new Secretary General of the Household of His Majesty the King, replacing a historic member of the institution, Martinez Palomo70 years old, civil guard by profession, who occupied different functions both under the reign of Juan Carlos I as in that of Felipe VI.

This is not just any position, since Araújo will be second in command, just below Camilo Villarinoand will be responsible for coordinating all services of the Royal Houseas well as replacing the boss in the event of absence or illness.

The other change is that of Alfonso Sanz Portolés for Carmen Castiella Ruiz de Velasco52 years old, who was currently in Paraguay as Spanish Ambassador.

The new diplomatic advisor of the House entered the diplomatic corps in 1999. She was assigned to different embassies and advisory posts at the Presidency of the Government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation. Until her appointment as ambassador to Paraguay, she was director of cooperation with Latin America and the Caribbean of the Spanish International Cooperation Agency.

Since that time, he has maintained close relations with the Queen Letiziawith whom he has always maintained very good relations.

Castiella will help Camilo Villarino on the international scene. One of his missions will be to relaunch the international agenda of the royal family, which has been very poor in recent times. As an example, some facts: in 2024 he only made one state trip, and Spain did not receive any countries.

Last June 19 marked the tenth anniversary of the proclamation of Philip VIand within the institution it was decided that it was the right time to give rest to the team with which he arrived at the Head of State.

female presence

With these changes, a double reading can be made of the ongoing renovation in the structure of the Royal House. The first is that from December, of the 11 management positions at Zarzuela, four will be occupied by women, which represents a female presence of 36% towards the Royal House.

The other two women are Maria Ocana Madridhead of the Queen’s Secretariat, and Ana Varela Varelaauditor of the Maison du Roi, who replaced on August 31 Beatriz Rodriguez Alcobendas. The four play a game of checkers in front of the Royal House.

These appointments also lower the average age of the institution’s senior officials, which was over 60 years old. From now on, the average age will be 57 years old.

Changes can also be understood as a demilitarization of the governing bodies of the Head of State. The General Secretariat, for example, has always been in the hands of a soldier or a member of the Civil Guard.

This year 2024 has been a year full of changes within the Head of State. In January, it will be one year since the arrival of Camilo Villarino at the head of the House. In April, María Dolores Ocaña became secretary to the queen.

In addition, to the major general Juan Carlos Gonzalez Diez He is appointed director of the Planning and Coordination Cabinet. The departure of the general was also announced Isaiah Peral of the Administration, who was replaced by General Alfonso Azores Garcia.

Last October, a new head of the military district was appointed: the general was replaced Grace Cirujeda by Eduardo Diz Monjemajor general and classmate of the king.

Of the 11 regular collaborators of Felipe VI, only three continue at La Zarzuela: Miguel Angel Herráiz, head of security; Jordi Gutierrezdirector of communications, and Work Lizaur CuestaChief of Protocol. The three will be part of the small delegation which will travel this Tuesday to Valencewhere the kings will return to complete the visit that they were unable to complete on November 3 when they were reprimanded in Paiporta.

The Kings, who will be accompanied by the president of the Generalitat Valenciana, Carlos Mazonhave already expressed their desire to visit the municipalities most affected by the storm, in an agenda that aims to “constantly” continue the work of caring for those affected by the greatest natural disaster that Spain has experienced in recent times years.

Felipe and Letizia will visit the cities of chiva And Useful (Valencia), and Letur (Albacete), and this time they will not have the company of Pedro Sanchezsince the President of the Government is on an official trip to Brazil participate in the G20 summit.