King Felipe and Queen Letizia made history this week by hosting the first official dinner of their reign for Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.
The King and Queen greet Bachelet in the Throne Room.
The Spanish Royals treated Bachelet to their usual pomp, including a receiving ceremony at El Pardo Palace, a meeting at Zarzuela Palace and a dinner at the Madrid Royal Palace.
King Felipe toasts Bachelet in the formal dining room.
The dinner was also the first event in a long time where the public saw Queen Letizia wearing a tiara.
This time, it was the one Gen. Franco gave Queen Sofia on behalf of the Spanish government on her wedding day with King Juan Carlos.
With many Catalans holding anti-Spanish and anti-monarchist sentiment, the student’s expression, reported in Spanish media, must have been a welcome one to the Monarch.
Their Majesties officially welcomed Bachelet at the Royal Palace of El Pardo outside Madrid (which your blog host has visited).
El Pardo has long been in the Royal Palace collection, was General Franco’s former residence and is now official the official quarters for visiting heads of state.
After the welcome ceremony at El Pardo, Bachelet and Their Majesties met at the nearby Royal Palace of Zarzuela, within the Royal Family’s private compound.
Their Majesties have had a full agenda in recent days. This week Don Felipe stopped by Civil Guard installations at Torrejón Air Base.
Queen Letizia, meanwhile, made a short visit to Vienna to meet with local leaders and attend the opening of an exhibition of works by Spanish master Velázquez.
King Felipe, speaking at the 2014 Prince of Asturias Awards, hailed Spain’s economic, social and political process over the past few decades.
“Let’s feel proud of the good we’ve done together,” he said. “We are protagonists of the same path, And I am convinced that comprehension, affection, consideration and mutual respect are feelings found in the hearts of all Spaniards.”
The King’s words may seem routine, but they are telling and deeply strategic in Spain’s current political climate.
Among this year’s winners of the prestigious award, named after the heir to the Spanish Crown, were U.S. architect Frank Gehry and the Fulbright Program.
As is tradition, Their Majesties also visited a local Asturian community to highlight local efforts at improving residents’ quality of life.
The Prince of Asturias Foundation and Awards will soon be called the Princess of Asturias Foundation and Awards after Princess Leonor, 8, the new heir to the Spanish throne.
King Felipe, the former Prince of Asturias, was 13 when he delivered his first speech at the awards ceremony. It was seen as a milestone in his preparation.
The couples are said to have a close relationship, particularly the Queens, who recently sat together at the United Nations. Queen Máxima is from Argentina and, like Queen Letizia, is not of Royal birth.
Separately this week, King Felipe opened this year’s session of the Royal Academies. Tradition calls for His Majesty to visit different academies every year. This time he went to the Royal Academy of Sciences.
The Fiesta Nacional, or National Day, involves a military parade in downtown Madrid. The Royal Family watches from an elaborate reviewing stand.
Princess Leonor, the new Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofia stood with their parents during the event.
The Royals then hosted a reception at the Royal Palace in Madrid. It included hundreds of guests from government and civil society, an expansion from previous years.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were not at the Fiesta Nacional this year, opting to leave the spotlight to the new King and Queen.
Separately, in recent weeks Spanish media reported that Rafael Spottorno, former head of the Royal Household under King Juan Carlos, resigned as a royal adviser because of allegations that he improperly used a credit card from bank Caja Madrid.
King Juan Carlos met this week with his wife Queen Sofia and his daughter-in-law Queen Letizia. It’s the first time Don Juan Carlos had been seen together with the Queens in months.
Media outlets have long questioned the closeness of King Juan Carlos’ relationship with both his wife and his daughter-in-law.
They used a traditional Red Cross fundraising event, where members of the Royal Family sit at tables around Madrid, for a display of unity.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia last week celebrated the Spanish press during an awards ceremony in Madrid.
“The press, like all of us who are at the service of the people, must work to live immersed in current events and be aware of people’s problems,” said the King.
His Majesty called on the press to work based on rigor and a search for truth, and with the “independence, freedom of expression, and whatever guarantees assist and dignify journalism.”
He stressed the need to look out for the “general interest, cohesion and prosperity of all.”
Queen Letizia was once a television news reporter who covered the aftermath of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Latin American businessmen are recognizing King Juan Carlos’ work for Latin American political, economic and social integration.
His Majesty made developing stronger ties between Iberia and Latin America a top priority during his 39-year reign.
As titular head of the Organization of Ibero-American States, Don Juan Carlos often traveled or worked the phones to corral world leaders to the group’s summits.
King Juan Carlos said “it’s now up to my son, King Don Felipe, to continue promoting the highest level of relations with countries in our Historic Community.”
Separately, Queen Sofia received the Steiger Award in Hattingen, Germany for her humanitarian works as head of the Queen Sofia Foundation, including her commitment to combating Alzheimer’s disease.
Queen Sofia, of German royal blood, also visited her daughter, Infanta Cristina, who is now living in Geneva.
Even though the Infanta could face a corruption trial in Spain connected with her husband’s business dealings, Queen Sofia has worked to promote family unity. The couple has denied wrongdoing.
Interestingly, members of Queen Letizia’s family, including her father and grandmother, are in legal trouble over allegations of hiding assets.
Queen Letizia’s relatives have no royal duties. And Infanta Cristina is no longer a member of the Royal Family since her father’s abdication.
LOS BORBONES 