Academia General Militar.

Illustrious Cadets: HM The King and the Emeritus King

Since the foundation of the AGM all the Kings in Spain have had special preference for the Academia. Although Alfonso XII and his son Alfonso XIII didn’t attend classes there, they signed up its foundational decree, visited it and supported it.

King Juan Carlos I and his son, our current King Felipe VI, were cadets at the AGM in Zaragoza. During their training period for the State's highest office, they had to take up military studies, due to their condition of Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces (Article 62.h from the Spanish Constitution).

His Majesty King Felipe VI attending a lesson at the Academia. (Photo: AGM)

Among the graduation photographs from the different Classes, which are on the walls of the corridors of the Centre, the photographs of HM Juan Carlos and HM Felipe. Both accomplished the strict training program of the Academia. HM Juan Carlos was commissioned as First Lieutenant in 1959 and thirty years later HM Felipe did the same.

From HM King Felipe VI and his father’s stay at the Academia, the Academia preserves part of the rooms that they occupied when they were cadets. In the case of at that time Prince of Spain, HH Juan Carlos, there is a small and modest room which is kept perfectly well-maintained on the third floor of the south wing in the present historical building.

HM Felipe VI pledged the Oath of Allegiance at the Academia on October 11, 1985. (Photo: AGM)

Our current King Felipe VI entered the Academia in 1985, as a member of Class 44, thirty years after his father. Subsequently, he completed his military training during another two academic years at the Escuela Naval Militar (Military Navy School) and Academia General del Aire (Military Air Academy) .

The King and the Queen usually preside one of the main events at the Academia, the Passing out Ceremony of the new Commissioned Officers of the Army and the Civil Guard. Lately, on February 20th, 2017, it was a great honor for the Academia to have King Felipe VI presiding the events of the 90th anniversary of the setting up of La General in Zaragoza.

His Majesty the King inspecting the troops during the Passing out Ceremony. (Photo: AGM).