Court Scraps Resolution Against King

Spain’s Constitutional Court last week scrapped a resolution against King Felipe from Catalan parliamentarians.

Last year pro-independence and republican parties joined in calling the monarchy outdated.

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King Felipe and Queen Letizia. Spanish Royal Household

The Constitutional Court said such a resolution was outside the jurisdiction of the Catalan Parliament under the Spanish Constitution and the Statute of Autonomy.

King Travels To Panama

King Felipe traveled to Panama at the end of June to attend the new president’s inauguration and celebrate Panama City’s 500th anniversary.

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Spanish Royal Household

Panamanian officials unveiled a monument in Old Panama City in honor of His Majesty’s visit.

The King met with the country’s outgoing leader, Juan Carlos Varela, and the new president, Laurentino Cortizo.

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Spanish Royal Household

As prince, King Felipe used to visit Latin America often, a role that then fell on his father. But King Juan Carlos recently announced his retirement from public life.

King Makes His Presence Felt In Catalonia

King Felipe held a series of audiences at Albéniz Palace in Barcelona late last month in an effort to make his presence felt in Catalonia.

His Majesty met with attorneys from the Catalan city of Tarragona, which is down the Mediterranean coast from Barcelona.

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Spanish Royal Household

The King met with leaders of the non-profit Barcelona Global, which works to promote the city internationally.

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Spanish Royal Household

A third meeting was with Josep Sánchez Llibre, head of the Foment del Treball Nacional, a union of Catalan employers.

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Spanish Royal Household

The Spanish Royal Household is looking to rebut claims from Catalan nationalists and pro-independence politicians that King Felipe doesn’t have much support in the region.

Albéniz Palace is owned by the Barcelona government but is considered the Royal Family’s official residence there.

His Majesty also attended an awards ceremony focused on logistics during his visit.

Queen Letizia Gets Warm Embrace

Queen Letizia received a surprise embrace during an audience at Zarzuela Palace earlier this month.

A man in a wheelchair greeted her with a hug that threw her a bit off balance, but she returned his embrace.

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Spanish Royal Household

Royal protocol generally frowns upon embracing a monarch, but Spaniards tend to be less strict about such customs, especially with members of the general public.

Princess Leonor To Visit Catalonia

Princes Leonor will visit Catalonia later this year, her first official visit to the region as heir to the Crown.

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Princess Leonor with King Felipe. Spanish Royal Household

Her Royal Highness, media outlets reported, will be present for the Princess of Girona Awards ceremony.

As heir to the Spanish throne, she is Princess of Asturias but also of Girona, a city north of Barcelona.

King Tasks Socialist Leader With Forming Government

King Felipe earlier this month takes Socialist Party leader Pedro Sánchez with organizing a government following the country’s most recent general elections.

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Spanish Royal Household

Sánchez got the most votes, so it’s no surprised the King picked him to try to cobble together enough supporters.

Still, His Majesty met with numerous party leaders in his office at Zarzuela Palace before making his decision.

The King met with Laura Borrás Castanyer, who represents one of Catalonia’s main pro-independence parties. She declared her region had no King.

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Borrás told the King that former Catalan President Carles Puidgemont, who is a runaway from Spanish justice, preferred him as Crown Prince. The King then said he preferred Puidgemont in his former job as mayor of Girona.