The Diplomat
Felipe VI has appointed Cavalry Colonel Bernardo Francisco de Lizaur Cuesta as the new head of Protocol of the King’s Household, according to the Official State Gazette on Monday. It is the first time that a military officer has held the post.
Curro’ de Lizaur, as he is better known famliarly, fills the vacancy left by Alfredo Martínez, who was recently appointed ambassador to Canada and who has been in charge of the Protocol of the King’s Household since shortly after Don Felipe acceded to the throne in June 2014.
Born in 1963, Lizaur has extensive experience in matters of protocol in Zarzuela, since he has been linked to the Protocol services since 2005, first as deputy chief and, for the last seven years, as second chief of Protocol. Previously, when he was a lieutenant, he was part of the Royal Guard Squadron and, as a captain, of the Cuarto Militar of Don Juan Carlos.
He is also a graduate of the Army General Staff and in 2004 was stationed at NATO Headquarters in Sarajevo. He also holds a master’s degree in Operations Research from the Complutense University of Madrid and a degree from the IESE with its Public Management Leadership Programme.
Traditionally, both Don Juan Carlos and Don Felipe have entrusted a diplomat with the responsibility of organising the Household Protocol services, which includes the preparation of trips, visits and the development of the events in which the Royal Family participates. Now, the King has opted for a military man with extensive experience in Protocol, and it is foreseeable that the post left vacant as second head of Protocol will be filled by a member of the Diplomatic Career.
Since the dismissal of Alfredo Martínez, ‘Curro’ de Lizaur has been responsible for preparing the Royal Household’s events, including Doña Letizia’s upcoming visit to Paraguay at the beginning of November, and the King and Queen’s state visit to Sweden at the end of the same month.
