INFANTE

In the Spanish and former Portuguese monarchies, 'Infante' (masculine) or 'Infanta' (feminine), also anglicized as ''infant'', is the title given to a son or daughter of the reigning King who is not the heir-apparent to the throne. Other, more distantly related, princes of the blood of the Spanish and Portuguese royal families are also granted the title. Note that ''infante'' is also used for a hereditary title of nobility, as in ''los infantes de Carrión'' in ''The Lay of the Cid''.
The name derives from the same root as "infant," but this means simply "child" in Romance languages (cfr. French ''Enfants de France''), and in this case indicates that the Infante or Infanta is the child of the monarch.
The current Infantas of Spain are Leonor and Sofia (the daughters of Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia), Elena and Cristina (daughters of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía), and Pilar and Margarita (daughters of Juan de Borbón, Count of Barcelona). Prince Felipe, son of King Juan Carlos, is heir apparent to the Spanish throne and therefore Prince of Asturias.
The current Infantes of Portugal (presently a republic) are Henrique, Duke of Coimbra and Miguel, Duke of Viseu (the brothers of Duke Duarte of Braganza, the pretender to the Portuguese royal throne), Infante Afonso, Prince of Beira, Infanta Maria Francisca Isabel of Portugal and Infante Dinis, Duke of Porto (the sons of the above Duke of Braganza).

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See also

See also

★ Infanta de Castile

★ Portuguese monarchy

★ Prince

★ Prince of Beira

★ Prince of Asturias

★ Spanish monarchy

★ Crown Prince