I was present and (although pouring with rain) it was a splendid occasion with a very nice reception afterwards when HM remained for a long time, chatting to those who attended. Sir John is a brilliant historian whose intervention at the time of the Catalonian refrerendum (when he gave an interview and wrote to the Times) was much appreciated. This was nothing to do with the prize, which was already decided before then but he had pointed out that 2 generations of school students in Catalonia had been fed a fictionalised history. He did not mention this in his speech which concentrated on earlier history and demonstrated that even at almost 88 years old (next month) he still has a great deal to offer as a historian of Spain. I had noticed the use of Alteza Real for Don Pedro; although he has not received a royal decree conferring this title it was used in the decree of King Juan Carlos appointing him President. The latter was not countersigned by any minister however, and was signed Yo el Rey so was a private act of the King. The four military Orders are not state awards - although the Minister of Justice was present, several senior military officers in full dresss, and the Apostolic Nuncio, etc.
--Previous Message--
: The prize has been awarded for the first time
: to the British historian Sir John Huxtable
: Elliott.
: The award has been recently created by the
: Spanish military orders of Santiago,
: Calatrava, Alcantara and Montesa. The
: President of its Royal Council is the Duke
: of Calabria, Prince Pedro of BTS.
: The award was handed over by King Felipe,
: Grand Master of the Orders, as he mentioned
: in his speech, who was accompanied by the
: Minister of Justice, and the Duke of
: Calabria. Although Pedro is not legally a
: Royal Highness, the Royal House Website
: refers to him as "His Royal Highness
: don Pedro de Borbon Dos Sicilias".
:
: Information on casareal with some pictures.
:
:
:
http://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_actividades_detalle.aspx?data=13553 :
: Information, in English, about the award and
: the Spanish military orders.
:
:
:
https://premioordenesespañolas.es/en/the-award/ :
:
:
: