People

By Guy D. Garcia

Turning 18 is an important milestone in the life of any young man, but for Prince Felipe of Bourbon and Greece, the rite of passage was also an unprecedented event in the life of his country. At a formal ceremony in the packed Cortes, home of parliament, the son of King Juan Carlos became the first heir to the Spanish throne to swear an oath to uphold the nation's constitution. The crown prince's voice cracked as he promised to "faithfully carry out my role, respect the rights of the citizens and remain loyal to the King." Then the entourage moved to the royal palace, where the King bestowed on his son the Order of Carlos III, one of Spain's highest honors. Currently a cadet at the Zaragoza Military Academy, Felipe will spend a year each in the naval and air force academies before attending the University of Madrid. And what would the Prince of Asturias like to be if he weren't going to be King Felipe VI? Perhaps in "something technical," he says, "astronomy, construction or engineering."