Born on January 30, 1968, in Madrid, Spain, Felipe – known also as Felipe de Borbon y Grecia as well as the Prince of Asturias – was a popular figure as a schoolboy, dodging palace bodyguards assigned to him by enlisting the help of his chums. And when the future king graduated as a pilot in the Air Force academy he had the crown of his head shorn in the shape of a "T", as all Spanish Air Force cadets traditionally do when awarded their wings.

Apart from stints in all three branches of the armed forces, the 6ft 4in royal has studied abroad - in the US, Canada and Brussels - and has both a masters degree in international relations and a law degree. He speaks French and fluent English, and loves astronomy, skiiing and sailing. He even competed in the 1992 Olympics as a member of the Spanish sailing team, in the same way his father did two decades before.

Though he'd lived with his parents his whole life, in 2002 he gained an estate of his own, the 11-bedroom, nine-bathroom New Pavilion of the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid. The 3,150-square- metre building also includes offices, meeting halls, 20 garage spaces and a swimming pool.

"Please do not ask me to open a new door after I have just closed one," he told the press in 2002 after announcing the demise of his high-profile courtship with Norwegian model Eva Sannum, which began five years earlier. "For strictly personal reasons, we will go our own ways," he said. "The relationship did not thrive, period. I hope we can enjoy a lasting friendship."

The couple had inspired a debate in Spain as to whether the prince should be able to marry a commoner. Other girlfriends of the prince – who once reportedly said, "The princess market is very limited" – have included US co-ed Giselle Howard, German royal Carolina de Waldburg, and aristocrat Isabel Sartorius, with whom he ended a similarly controversial romance in 1992.

"I've said several times that I do not feel obliged to marry someone of royal blood," the prince had said. "But I'm not closing the door on that option, either." Whoever he chose, insisted Felipe, "It will be a relationship based on love, respect and kindness." And it seems the prince kept his word. In 2003 the royal palace made the surprise announcement of his engagement to 31-year-old newsreader Letiza Ortiz Rocasolano - a commoner, divorcée and popular public figure - with nuptials planned for summer 2004 in Madrid's Almudena Cathedral.

The love and respect Felipe looked for in his life partner is also reflected in the attitude he holds towards his parents. "In the king I have a father, but also a leader, a friend and a counsellor," he says. "My mother has provided the humane, intellectual and spiritual part of my upbringing... I've often been described as being a combination of both my parents, physically and in character. I don't know if that's true and I don't even know whether I'd be capable of extracting the best part of each of them. Perhaps that would be the best thing."