The Most Excellent
The Duke of Abrantes
Grandee of Spain
Private Secretary to the Queen
Assumed office
25 June 2014
MonarchQueen Letizia
Preceded byArturo Luis Coello Villanueva
Personal details
Born (1960-12-08) 8 December 1960
Melilla, Spain
Spouse
Ana Pérez de Guzmán y Lizasoain
​
​
(m. 1986)​
Children4
Parents
  • José Manuel de Zuleta de Reales y Carvajal, 13th duke of Abrantes (father)
  • Virginia Alejandro y García (mother)
Alma materGeneral Military Academy
ProfessionMilitary officer, courtier
Military service
Allegiance Spain
Branch/service Spanish Army
Years of service1979–
RankDivisional general

José Manuel de Zuleta y Alejandro, 14th duke of Abrantes, GE, is a Spanish aristocrat and senior Spanish Army officer who currently serves as Private Secretary to Queen Letizia since 2014.

Biography

He was born on 8 December 1960, in Melilla, Spain. The son of José Manuel de Zuleta de Reales y Carvajal, 13th duke of Abrantes and Virginia Alejandro y García, he joined the General Military Academy in 1979 and graduated with the rank of lieutenant in 1984.

In the mid-1990s, he started to work in the Royal Household,[1] serving in relevant positions in the Royal Guard, in the King's Military Household and in the Protocol Department.[2]

In 2007, he joined the Household of the Prince of Asturias (Prince' Secretariat), where he assisted the Princess of Asturias, Letizia.[1] In 2014, after the accession to the throne of King Felipe VI, he was appointed head of Queen Letizia's Secretariat.[3]

In 2019, he was promoted to the rank of divisional general (OF-7).[1]

Personal life

In 1986, he married Ana Pérez de Guzmán y Lizasoain,[3] daughter of Joaquín Pérez de Guzmán y Escrivá de Romani, 6th count of La Marquina. They have four daughters: Ana Luisa, María, Blanca and Loreto.[4] In 2009, the duke granted his eldest daughter, Ana Luisa, the title of marchioness of Sardoal.[5]

His brother, Felipe de Zuleta y Alejandro, was the riding instructor of the Infanta Elena, Duchess of Lugo.[3]

Titles

In June 1978, shortly after coming of age, his father gave him the title of 14th marquess of Sardoal,[6] a title he held until 2009, when he did the same with his eldest daughter, Ana Luisa.[5]

In addition to this first title, he currently holds the following:

  • 14th duke of Abrantes, grandee of Spain.
  • 6th marquess of the Duero, grandee of Spain.
  • 15th marquess of Valdefuentes.
  • 23rd count of Balalcázar.
  • 18th count of Casares.
  • 15th count of Lences.
  • 5th count of Cancelada.

Other honors

References

  1. 1 2 3 "Un general, a las órdenes de doña Letizia". El País (in Spanish). 2019-03-14. ISSN 1134-6582. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  2. ↑ "HomeÁrea de Prensa - D. José Manuel". casareal.es. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  3. 1 2 3 Higuera, Raoul (2014-06-27). "José Manuel Zuleta, la nueva mano derecha de la Reina doña Letizia". vanitatis.elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  4. ↑ Tiburcio, Núria (2019-03-13). "José Manuel Zuleta, la 'mano' de la Reina, consigue un ascenso". vanitatis.elconfidencial.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  5. 1 2 Ministry of Justice (30 May 2009). "Orden JUS/1383/2009, de 8 de mayo, por la que se manda expedir, sin perjuicio de tercero de mejor derecho, Real Carta de Sucesión en el título de Marqués de Sardoal, a favor de doña Ana Luisa Zuleta Pérez de Guzmán". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
  6. ↑ Ministry of Justice (31 July 1978). "Orden de 8 de junio de 1978 por la que se manda expedir, sin perjuicio de tercero de mejor derecho, Real Carta de Sucesión en el título de Marqués de Sardoal a favor de don José Manuel de Zuleta y Alejandro". www.boe.es. Retrieved 2023-08-22.
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