King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia presided over a military parade in Madrid last week for Spanish National Day or Dia de la Hispanidad.
Members of the Royal Family at the viewing stand as members of the Royal Guard ride on their motorcycles. Spanish Royal Household
The annual event was much smaller last year and confined to the Madrid Royal Palace grounds because of the COVID-19 pandemic. This year it returned with some health precautions.
King Felipe inspecting Royal Guard forces. Spanish Royal Household
The Oct. 12 event, which includes military overflights and a reception at the Royal Palace, marks the historical consolidation of the Spanish state and its colonization of the Americas.
An overflight from the Eagle Patrol. Spanish Royal Household
Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, was not present at the event. She’s away at school in Wales.
King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia presided over the annual Fiesta Nacional commemoration in Madrid today.
However, because of the coronavirus pandemic, the National Day celebration was scaled down significantly. Instead of a parade through Madrid’s main avenues, the Royal Family reviewed Spanish forces at the Royal Palace.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was on hand for the celebrations, which included military jets flying over the palace and the city.
Note Princess Leonor, to the left above, wearing a pin for the Order of the Golden Fleece. She joined the order in preparation to assume the duties of heir to the throne.
Other recent activity
The King in recent days made a much anticipated visit to Barcelona with the prime minister for an economic awards ceremony.
His Majesty opened the academic year for the Royal Academies during a visit to the Royal Spanish Academy on Oct. 7.
A day earlier, on Oct. 6, the King and Queen led a meeting of the Cervantes Institute leadership at the Royal Palace of El Pardo.
Earlier in the month, King Felipe met with Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa during an event in Galicia on trans-Atlantic dialogue.
King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters made the rounds in Mallorca today as they started the public phase of their summer vacation.
Locals and media outlets are paying special attention this year because of the scandal surrounding King Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos.
Don Felipe today met with Balearic Island leaders at Almudaina Palace in Palma as is tradition.
King Felipe with Balearic Islands Francina Armengol
King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia then visited Junipero Serra’s childhood home. Serra was a Catholic missionary in what is now California.
Spanish Royal Household
Serra has a become figuere of controversy in the U.S. because of his treatment of Native Americans.
Queen Sofia, who favors vacationing in Mallorca, arrived at Marivent Palace in recent weeks. The Royal Household has been working to shield her from the controversy surrunding her husbad, King Juan Carlos.
Spain’s Princess Leonor, the heir to the throne, and Infanta Sofia took to social media last month to thank medical workers and other professionals on the front lines of the coronavirus pandemic.
The princesses recorded a video posted on YouTube and on Twitter, part of the Royal Household’s effort to be visible and active during the ongoing lockdown.
Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, and her sister also recorded themselves reading a section of Spanish literary masterpiece Don Quixote. Several personalities participated to mark World Book Day.
Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, delivered her first major public address last week as heir to the Spanish throne.
The princess recently read parts of the Spanish Constitution during an event, but last week’s remarks at the Princess of Asturias Awards were more notable.
TOP: Queen Sofia, Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia arrive at the awards ceremony. BOTTOM: Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia at the head table.
Her Royal Highness said she was honored to hold the title of Princess of Asturias and spoke of her Asturian blood. Her mother, Queen Letizia, is from Asturias.
King Felipe had tender words for his daughter, who will soon turn 13. He told her to have courage and valor.
His words came amid violent protests in Barcelona and Madrid by Catalan pro-independence activists.
Princess Leonor hugging her sister Infanta Sofia.
The Princess of Asturias awards are given to artists, scholars and leaders around the world.
As heir to the Spanish throne, Princess Leonor has been going through a grooming process to prepare her for public life. Last week’s speech was a key part of that effort.
Members of the Spanish Royal Family have been extremely visible during their vacations in Mallorca.
The goal is to defuse all the talk of controversy surrounding King Juan Carlos, and also move past the recent public tension between Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia.
Earlier this week, King Felipe and Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez met at Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca, and later Queen Letizia and Sánchez’s wife María Begoña joined in for lunch.
The King also participated in the King’s Cup Regatta and awards ceremony, and held an evening gathering for local leaders at Almudaina Palace with Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia.
Videos
Earlier this month, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters — Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia — posed for pictures at Almudaina Palace and greeted reporters.
Queen Sofia, Queen Letizia, the princess and the infanta visited walked around a market.
More family members, including Infanta Elena and Princess Irene, Queen Sofia’s sister, joined the royals for a concert.
Members of the Royal Family and other close relatives also had dinner out together, as has become tradition.
King Juan Carlos, meanwhile, remains away from official activities. He missed the inauguration of Colombia’s new president because of health reasons, outlets reported.
Members of the Spanish Royal Family and the King’s broader family are vacationing in Mallorca as is customary.
But King Juan Carlos is absent. The Royal Household blames a minor health issue. But media outlets point to leaked recordings from Don Juan Carlos’ former friend, alleging potential financial irregularities.
Not only has King Felipe’s father stayed away from the summer spotlight, he recently scrapped plans to participate in a regatta in Galicia, according to media outlets.
King Felipe, who received Balearic Island leaders at Almudaina Palace in the heart of Palma de Mallorca, touched on the issue.
Don Felipe said his father was not in great shape and wanted to sail this month.
King Felipe with Baltasar Picornell i Lladó, president of the Balearic Islands parliament.
Queen Letizia and Queen Sofia were seen strolling with Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia.
Back in Madrid, the Supreme Court and parliament are both looking at the recordings. There does seem to be an effort to keep King Juan Carlos away from any further embarassment if possible.
Princess Leonor, heir to the Spanish Crown, celebrated her first communion at school last week along with family.
Pictures of the actual ceremony have yet to emerge, but members of the Royal Family posed for the waiting press outside.
Present were King Felipe and Queen Letizia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Infanta Sofia, among others.
Separately, members of the Royal Family this weekend celebrated the first communion for the children of King Felipe’s cousin, the son of Infanta Pilar, King Juan Carlos’ sister.
LOS BORBONES 