Camilo Villarino, the seventh head of the House of the King
Camilo Villarino is, from this Monday, the seventh head of the House of the King and the fourth diplomat to hold this position, succeeding Jaime Alfonsín, after almost three decades in the service of Felipe VI, first as heir to the throne and then as monarch, after his appointment has been made official in the BOE.
The transfer, which did not come as a surprise, since there had been speculation for some time with Alfonsín’s departure from the position, was announced by La Zarzuela on January 19 and occurs just a few months before the June the tenth anniversary of the King’s accession to the throne.
The functions of Camilo Villarino
As head of the House of the King, Camilo Villarino’s main function is to ensure the normal operation of the same as well as the fulfillment of the missions assigned to this body to support the monarch. This includes, among others, preparing the budget proposal for the House of the King and arranging the expenses of the services that make up it within the amounts set by the monarch himself.
Opinions about Camilo Villarino
Those who know Villarino, including other diplomats, emphasize that he is a serious and hardworking person, of great value and also quite a perfectionist. It is formidable news, stressed a diplomat consulted by Europa Press, for whom Felipe VI has made an excellent choice. Great success by the king, another diplomat commented after his appointment.
Camilo Villarino’s experience
Camilo Villarino is an experienced 59-year-old diplomat. He has worked as chief of staff to four foreign ministers and has had the opportunity to meet Felipe VI during the king’s international travels. He has also been chief of staff to successive foreign ministers and has held various positions in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Villarino holds a degree in Law from the University of Zaragoza and also holds a diploma in Advanced European Studies from the College of Europe in Bruges. In addition, he is an officer in the Voluntary Reserve of the Land Army and is currently assigned as a captain to the Headquarters of the Military Emergency Unit (UME).