A Royal Family Close To Its People

Members of the modern Spanish Royal Family have always been said to be close to their people.

Their agenda in recent weeks has been evidence of that.

Last week King Felipe and Queen Letizia visited communities located to the south of Madrid — Villanueva de los Infantes, Tomelloso and Talavera de la Reina.

reyes_felipe_letizia_castilla_lamancha_20160518_.04 — @ Agencia EFE

Their Majesties greeted large crowds and made balcony appearances, as is the custom in large parts of Spain.

reyes_felipe_letizia_castilla_lamancha_20160518_.15a — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

The King and Queen also attended a mass at the Almudena Cathedral adjacent to the Madrid Royal Palace for the victims of the recent earthquake in Ecuador.

reyes_funeral_terremoto_ecuador_20160517_04 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

King Juan Carlos was in Switzerland last week to support Seville in its game against Liverpool for the UEFA final.

rey_juan_carlos_final_uefa_europa_league_basilea_20160518_06 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

And Queen Sofia attended a concert in the community of El Escorial, site of a large royal palace and pantheon, to commemorate the 300th anniversary of Charles III’s birth.

reina_sofia_concierto_el_escorial_06 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

Earlier this month King Felipe, news outlets reported, made a spontaneous stop at a roadside restaurant for lunch. It seems bad weather affected his itinerary.

Two Kings For Innovation

King Felipe and King Juan Carlos both celebrated the COTEC Foundation for Spanish innovation.

Rey_Informe_Cotec_20160513_06 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

That both Kings attended the Madrid ceremony underlines the importance of promoting innovation and economic recovery to the Spanish government.

Rey_Informe_Cotec_20160513_13 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

In recent days, Queen Letizia presided over a ceremony in Albacete for the Red Cross.

reina_cruz_roja_20160509_13 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

Queen Sofia has also been busy, including with a flag ceremony at Royal Guard headquarters near the Palace of El Pardo outside Madrid.

reina_sofia_jura_bandera_20160513_04 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

King Meets With Pope Francis

King Felipe met briefly with Pope Francis earlier this month during an awards ceremony at Vatican City.

Rey_Vaticano_Carlomagno_20160506_007 — © Casa de S.M. el Rey

The pontiff was receiving an award for promoting European unity. And Don Felipe got the chance to meet with several of the continent’s leaders, including German President Angela Merkel and Italian Prime Minister Mateo Renzi.

King Dissolves Parliament, Calls New Elections

King Felipe today dissolved parliament for the first time in Spanish democratic history.

rey_firma_disolucion_cortes_20160503_03 — King Felipe meets with Congress President Patxi Lopez in his office. © Casa de S.M. el Rey

His Majesty formalized that political parties were unable to come up with a governing coalition.

rey_firma_disolucion_cortes_20160503_01 — The Royal Decree.

If members of the Spanish Parliament are unable to cobble together a government following elections, the Constitution calls on the King to act.

King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia Together Again

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were together again this week for the 70th birthday celebration of Swedish King Carl Gustaf.

reyes_cumpleaños_rey_suecia_20160430_02 — © Agencia EFE

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia are known to be a distant couple, but they are sometimes together at family events or gatherings involving European royals.

News outlets recently confirmed Her Majesty had a private lunch with British Queen Elizabeth II.

The magazine Hola also recently featured Don Juan Carlos and Infanta Elena presiding over a bullfight in Seville. Both are among the royals most attached to Spanish traditions.