King Felipe and Queen Letizia mourned the dozens of Spaniards and other people who died during a recent airplane crash in the French Alps.
Their Majesties attended a memorial service in Barcelona, along with victim families and international representatives.
The King and Queen, as is customary in Spain, spent a considerable mount of time after the service to visit with the grieving.
The service was at Barcelona’s famed Sagrada Familia Basilica, which has yet to be completed.
Last week Queen Letizia surprised many royal watchers by wearing a new tiara, reportedly a years-old gift from King Felipe.
Her Majesty wore the tiara for the first time for Danish Queen Margrethe’s 75th birthday celebrations.
The new tiara, by Spanish jeweler Ansorena, is made of diamonds and pearls, and includes a Fleur-de-lis, a symbol of the House of Bourbon.
Many of the jewels associated with Spain’s Royal Family have been sold or lost over the years, amid war and political turmoil.
Still, beyond a crown and scepter used to symbolize the monarchy, some tiaras have remained. Plus, Queen Sofia incorporated some more from her families.
A bigger Fleur-delis tiara also from Ansorena was a gift from King Alfonso XIII to Queen Victoria Eugenia in the early 1900’s.
Both Queen Sofia and Queen Letizia have often worn a floral tiara that belonged to the Royal Family but left the family, according to reports.
Former Spanish dictator Franco bought it for Queen Sofia’s wedding to King Juan Carlos.
It was the gift heard around the world.
Spanish MEP Pablo Iglesias, the head of populist-leftist party Podemos, broke with protocol today when he handed King Felipe a box set of the hit show Game of Thrones.
His Majesty was visiting European institutions in Brussels, and met with a number of Spanish representattives there.
Iglesias, an anti-establishment, anti-austerity leader, said the King should watch the show to get clues on the state of Spanish politics.
The King, according to media outlets, said he had yet to watch the show and appeared amused by the gift.
Also this week, the King spoke at a meeting of the World Travel and Tourism Council in Madrid.
Queen Letizia headed a meeting on rare diseases in Barcelona, one of her interests, and visited the Artillery Academy in Segovia.
And King Juan Carlos presided over a summit on Latin American issues at Comillas Pontifical University in Madrid.
Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena joined other Spanish and European aristocrats in mourning the death of Prince Kardam of Bulgaria this week in Madrid.
Prince Kardam is the son of the last King of the Bulgarians, Simeon of Saxe-Coburn-Gotha. They have blood and other ties to Europe’s Royal Houses and Spain.
Prince Kardan was married to Doña Miriam de Ungría y López. His mother, King Simeon’s wife, was Doña Margarita Gómez-Acebo y Cejuela.
Prince Kardman suffered an accident in recent years and never recovered.
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King Felipe arrived on a two day visit to Lebanon today to highlight Spain’s security and humanitarian efforts there.
Don Felipe’s schedule includes visiting with Spanish peacekeeping forces stationed in the country, diplomats and local leaders.
King Felipe said during remarks today: “We all feel deeply proud of the work that our men and women are doing to maintain peace and stability in southern Lebanon. Spain’s commitment to the cause is firm.”
The magazine Hola is reporting that Queen Letizia will go on her first overseas cooperation trip after upcoming elections and Princess Leonor’s first communion.
Members of Spain’s Royal Family marked the Easter holiday by attending mass at the cathedral of Palma in the island of Mallorca.
Attending services were King Felipe and Queen Letizia, Queen Sofia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia. King Juan Carlos was not there.
The Royal Family often celebrates holidays in Mallorca, home to Marivent Palace — a favorite getawway for Queen Sofia.
Media outlets also caught Infanta Elena, King Felipe’s sister, attending a Easter procession in Madrid.
LOS BORBONES 