Infante of Spain

Infante of Spain
Heraldic crown of infantes

Infante of Spain (feminine infanta; Spanish: infante de España; f. infanta) is a royal title normally granted at birth to the children of reigning and past Spanish monarchs, and to the children of the heir to the Crown. Individuals holding the title of infante also enjoy the style of Royal Highness.

Unlike other European monarchies, in Spain only the heir to the Crown is a prince or princess, holding the title of Prince or Princess of Asturias, together with other traditional titles. By tradition, all other children of the Spanish monarch and that of the Prince or Princess of Asturias are titled infantes.

Among other privileges, the infantes have the right to be buried in the Pantheon of Infantes in El Escorial.^[1] The children of infantes bear the style of The Most Excellent (excelentísimo/a señor(a)) and are considered grandees of Spain.^[2]

The consorts of the Infantas Margarita, Duchess of Soria and Cristina (Carlos Zurita and Iñaki Urdangarin) are not infantes, but they receive the style of The Most Excellent; furthermore, the former can use the title of Duke of Soria jure uxoris as long as he is her consort or remains a widower.^[3]

Spanish law allows the monarch to grant the title and style of infante by royal decree in exceptional circumstances outside of the above mentioned cases to people that prove to be specially worthy (they are then called infantes by grace).^[4] This title was for example granted to Carlos de Borbón, Duke of Calabria, pretender to the throne of the Two Sicilies and cousin of King Juan Carlos I.