King Felipe VI of Spain bestows marquess title on retired tennis great Rafael Nadal

Spain's King Felipe VI has marked his 10th anniversary on the throne by bestowing the title of 1st Marquess of Llevant de Mallorca on tennis star Rafael Nadal.

The honour was awarded to Nadal, who won 22 Grand Slam singles tennis titles during his career. The hereditary title will eventually pass down to his two-year old son.

The rare move also marked the first time that King Felipe has bestowed nobility titles during his decade-long reign.

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King Felipe previously awarded Nadal with the Camino Real Award in 2022 and has also been photographed watching the tennis great play, most recently at last year's Madrid Open.

The title was bestowed last week during a medal ceremony that came at the end of festivities, including a parade, to mark the 10th anniversary of King Felipe's reign.

No photos of the ceremony were made public, nor was it mentioned on the Royal family's official Instagram account.

However, the royal family was pictured on the balcony of the royal palace in Madrid and with the 19 recipients of Order of Civil Merits for their service to others.

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Also honoured was swimmer Teresa Perales, who is Spain's most decorated Paralympian athlete, with 27 medals to her name.

She was given the hereditary title of Marchioness of Perales, which will one day pass to her son Mariano Menor Jr.

Also honoured was Spanish pop singer Luz Casal who was awarded the title Marchioness of Luz y Paz.

A statement from the royal household said: "Their respective careers are exponents of excellence, whether in the service of the Crown or in the field of thought, culture, science, arts and sport".

A total of six titles were bestowed on the day.

The highest was the distinction of grandee, which was given to Jaime Alfonsín, who has served King Felipe for almost 30 years.

King Felipe has taken longer than any other Spanish monarch to bestow titles of nobility and will need to hurry to catch up to his father King Juan Carlos, who granted 55 noble titles during his reign.

He abdicated in 2014, and now lives in self-exile in Abu Dhabi following claims of improper business dealings with Saudi Arabia.

Since he came to the throne, King Felipe has worked to modernise the monarchy and is considered very popular.

He rules alongside his consort, Queen Letizia, a former journalist whom he married in 2004. They share two children, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, 19, and Infanta Sofía of Spain, 18.

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