The Spanish King’s Christmas message is a traditional event of the social and political life in Spain, and it is one of the few occasions when the head of state directly addresses the nation. This annual address is structured according to strict traditions of classical rhetoric, it has its own language and composition features and has a symbolic and ritual nature. This article analyzes Felipe VI’s Christmas messages (from 2014 to 2018) and focuses on the constructed images of the Spanish monarch (addresser), the Spanish nation (addressee) and the country.
