In recent days King Felipe had cleared parts of his schedule to deal with developments in the divided Catalan Parliament. He had said, “These are difficult days.”
Today Don Felipe added, “The Constitution will prevail. Let nobody doubt that. Our Constitutional order and the Constitutional principles that dictate our coexistence will remain fully in place.”
King Felipe has strengthened his calls for Spanish unity amid ongoing talks in region of Catalonia about secession.
Pro-independence candidates recently won elections to the Catalan Parliament, but failed to get a majority of overall votes.
His Majesty addressed the issue indirectly during remarks at events surrounding the prestigious Princess of Asturias awards — formerly knows at the Prince of Asturias Awards.
This week the King and Queen watched as Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy also indirectly rejection secessionist sentiments during a Madrid Royal Palace gathering.
Kerry was on a brief official visit to Spain following an agreement over U.S. troop presence there.
Spain and the U.S. also penned a deal to clean up pollution stemming from an accident involving nuclear weapons during the 1960’s.
The Secretary of State was scheduled to be in Madrid earlier this year but suffered a cycling accident in France.
Other appearances
Members of the Royal Family have had a busy several weeks. Also on Monday, King Felipe and Queen Letizia held a gathering of the Cervantes Institute leadership and Ibero-American ambassadors at El Pardo Palace.
Don Felipe said the Spanish constitution is a “grand pact that defends, preserves and embraces the rights and liberties of citizens.”
The King also said the 1978 document “defends the communities of Spain in the exercise of its diverse cultures and traditions, languages and institutions, and consecrates the liberty, justice, equality and political pluralism as essential values of our coexistence.”
His Majesty also spoke about Spain’s commitment to European integration and said he felt “profoundly European.”
King Felipe also met with French President Francois Hollande and German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who have expressed solidarity with a united Spain and suggested opposition to Catalan nationalism.
At Mount Vernon, they visited Washington’s tomb and gave curators a copy of the first American ambassador to Spain’s credentials, signed by the first president.
Their Majesties then went to the White House to visit President Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama.
The president said during brief remarks, “The Spanish people have hosted my family. I hope that I can travel to Spain before the end of my presidency. There’s no country that I’d enjoy more for a visit.”
The Spanish government has long been asking President Obama to visit the country.
“We are deeply committed to maintaining a relationship with a strong and unified Spain,” said the president, making a veiled reference to separatist sentiments in Catalonia.
The King said, “I follow in the footsteps of my father. He’s had a longstanding relationship with many Presidents of the United States.”
Queen Letizia had changed into an evening outfit for a reception with the Spanish community in Washington, including famed chef José Andrés.
The next morning King Felipe met with U.S. business leaders at the Spanish ambassador’s residence. He asked them to trust Spanish stability and economic growth.
They King and Queen took some time to greet workers and students who were gathered on campus.
On Thursday, the royal couple flew to Miami for a conference on Spanish in the U.S., and a Spanish film festival.
On Friday the trip ends in St. Augustine, where Their Majesties will mark the 450th anniversary of the former Spanish city.
They will give Ford Motor Co. CEO the Bernardo de Gálvez award. named for a Spanish colonial leader who helped the U.S. gain independence from Britain.
The AFD Group, a company of Russian doll-makers, recently unveiled one of Queen Letizia.
The company, which has made dolls of numerous celebrities and public figures, displayed their creation during a gathering in Spain this weekend.
Photo courtesy AFD Group.
The doll captures the Queen’s look during events surrounding the wedding of Prince William and Katherine Middleton in London.
News outlets around the world have reported on the doll, and also noted that it will not be for sale.
Back to school
Separately, last week King Felipe and Queen Letizia drove their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, to their first day of school after summer break.
King Felipe last week stripped his sister Infanta Cristina of her Duchess of Palma title because of the corruption scandal embroiling her and her husband.
King Juan Carlos made infanta Cristina a duchess when she married Iñaki Urdangarin. But authorities accuse Urdangarin of using a non-profit company for personal gain. And the Infanta has stood by her husband.
The Royal Household under Don Juan Carlos had already stripped the couple of royal duties and had urged Infanta Cristina to renounce her dynastic rights. She has refused.
Infanta Cristina and her husband.
Events have moved fast. Infanta Cristina was in Spain recently with the rest of her family for Prince Kardam’s funeral.
However, now the dispute is over whether the King stripped Infanta Cristina of her title or she resigned it. She sent him a letter doing so at around the same time.
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 