King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia hosted events together this week. The media, especially international outlets, have talked about possible troubles in their relationship. And the busy agenda has kept them apart in recent days, at least in public.
Today Their Majesties received leaders and students of United World Colleges, a global organization designed to promote peace and understanding through multicultural education.
The King and Queen are high patrons of the foundation in Spain. They were joined by the head of the Spanish chapter of the foundation, the King’s cousin, His Royal Highness Infante Don Carlos de Borbón-Dos Sicilias.
Earlier this week, Their Majesties met with participants of this year’s Ruta Quetzal. Sponsored by Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, the program takes outstanding young people from several countries on an expedition.
Leaders of the Spanish branch of the World Wildlife Fund is meeting later this month to decide whether to keep King Juan Carlos as honorary president of the organization, according to local media reports.
The July 21 meeting comes as a result of His Majesty’s elephant hunting trip earlier this year. Critics have said the King’s love of hunting is incompatible with the WWF’s mission.
The Royal Household said the King will respect whatever leaders decide.
Prince Philip, the Duke of Edinburgh, Queen Elizabeth’s husband, is WWF’s President Emeritus.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia at a military ceremony in Talarn today.
King Juan Carlos has been busy this week while his wife, Queen Sofia, tours the Philippines. His Majesty has been walking slowly but insisting on keeping a full and active agenda.
Today Don Juan Carlos handed out Royal Dispatches to graduates of the Air Force Academy in Murcia. The King has always been close with the military. Not only is he Commander in Chief of the Spanish armed forces, but he also served in all branches during his education during the Franco years.
Meeting at Zarzuela Palace.
This week King Juan Carlos met with U.S. Navy Admiral James G. Stavridis, who currently serves as head of U.S. forces in Europe and NATO Supreme Allied Commander in Europe.
Zarzuela Palace also was host to Dominican Republic President Leonel Antonio Fernández and his wife, Vice President-elect Margarita Cedeño de Fernández.
In August, Prince Felipe will visit the Dominican Republic to assist the inauguration of President-elect Danilo Medina. It’s part of the Monarchy’s effort to retain close relations with Latin American countries.
Queen Sofia has taken the Philippines by storm on her third visit to the country this week. Leaders in the former Spanish colony are giving Her Majesty a warm welcome with full honors wherever she goes.
The Queen presided over a meeting about Spanish international aid to the country. She called the Philippines a priority for Spain and said she felt “truly at home.”
The Queen opened an exhibit at the National Library about Spanish cooperation in the Philippines. She has also visited a school, a workshop and a hospital.
King Juan Carlos and other members of the Royal Family welcomed the Spanish football team after their UEFA Euro 2012 tournament win in Ukraine yesterday.
“With work, you achieve results,” the King told team members, as he congratulated them on behalf of the country. Captain Iker Casillas then gave the King a team jersey with the number 1 on the back.
Princess Letizia, her daughters and Infanta Elena were also at the palace for the event. Click here for video from Spanish Television.
Spain’s victory makes them, according to one analyst, “the most accomplished international soccer team of all time.” The Spanish team now has two recent wins in Europe and the World Cup.
Don Felipe spoke about the problem of high dropout rates and the crisis youth unemployment. The foundation’s mission is geared toward youth empowerment and solving social problems.
Prince Felipe is not only Prince of Asturias, the heir to the Spanish throne, but also Prince of Girona, the customary heir to the throne of Aragon, which includes modern day Catalonia.
The Prince of Girona Foundation is an entity for good but also a vehicle of increasing Don Felipe’s profile in Catalonia, which tends to have a more republican tilt.
Prince and Princess Letizia participated in networking events, enjoyed youth performances and visited a Scratch Workshop, which follows a method developed at MIT to promote creative thinking.
The magazine Hola, which tracks the Royal Family, noted the commitment by the Prince and Princess to youth empowerment.
Their Royal Highnesses also gave out awards to young people who have made a difference in various spheres of Spanish society, including the arts and business.
Also this week, Infanta Elana presided over a meeting of Spain’s Paralympic Committee. One of the topics, of course, was the upcoming London games, the Royal Household said.
Plus, King Juan Carlos awarded 127 diplomas to military officers for training to serve in international and cooperation posts, including the NATO alliance.
Princess Letizia took to the streets of Madrid for some below-the-radar shopping while her daughters were in school. Hola magazine took note of her cutting edge fashion.
Meanwhile, her husband, Prince Felipe, yesterday presided over a dinner marking a meeting of the Association of the Councils of State and Supreme Administrative Jurisdictions of the European Union at the Spanish Supreme Court.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia visited New York, New Jersey and Boston last week to call for stronger ties between the U.S. and Europe, and highlight the importance of Spain in American history and its future.
The week ended on a high note with an appearance with U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton during the end of the United States – Spain Council’s forum in Jersey City.
Their Royal Highneses met with Hispanic luminaries, Spanish business officials and other leaders, including the heads of media giants Telemundo and Univision, to boost Spain’s image in the U.S. and relations between both countries, which took a hit during the debate over the war in Iraq.
Post-Franco Spain has sought to boost its influence in the world, with a focus on Latin America. It appears the Royal Family and other leaders hope to make further inroads in the U.S. through the growing influence of Hispanics.
During a speech at Harvard University in Boston titled “Spain: An American Nation” as in other events throughout the week, Prince Felipe highlighted the common histories between Spain and the U.S., and the growth of Hispanic economic, linguistic and cultural influence.
“I see Spain not only as a European, Mediterranean or American country, but one with universal reach,” he said. “The Spanish Monarchy,” he added, “remains profoundly committed to the cause of Democracy in Latin America.”
Like his father, Prince Felipe spoke about Spain’s ongoing economic troubles. He touted recent reforms and called for “more Europe” to solve the continental crisis. He said the monetary union was “weak” and suggested the need for a stronger pact.
Their Royal Highnesses participated in a business colloquium and met with students on campus. IESE is an outpost of the University of Navarra and the first European business school to set up a permanent facility in New York.
The Prince and Princess of Asturias are also scheduled to visit Harvard University this week.
Meanwhile, King Juan Carlos visited Civil Guard facilities near Gibraltar, as scheduled.
Some critics in that British outpost are calling to Monarch’s visit as a hostile act. Fishermen wanting access to disputed waters are calling on the King to intervene on their behalf. Spanish forces have already escorted them on fishing trips.
Queen Sofia is holding down the fort in Madrid. She presided over a meeting of the Royal Patronage for Disabilities and assisted an event organized by the Indian Embassy. She went with her sister Princess Irene.
LOS BORBONES 