Queen Sofia awarded gold medals to former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and actor Antonio Banderas from the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute in New York City.
While in New York, Her Majesty also visited a school in the South Bronx, a heavily Hispanic area.
The Spanish Royal Family’s agenda is quickly picking up after the recent summer vacations in Europe.
Today King Juan Carlos handed out the King Juan Carlos Human Rights Award at the famed Univerity of Alcalá.
The King’s son, Prince Felipe of Asturias, also presided over several meetings today at Zazrzuela Palace in the outskirts of Madrid.
However, Queen Sofia is the one capturing the headlines. Her Majesty has been in New York this week.
She was at the United Nations to receive the Franklin Delano Roosevelt International Disability Rights Award on behalf of Spain.
During her remarks, the Queen said the award represented the goal of complete equality for people in society.
It should not come as a surprise that Queen Sofia, a big sports fan and a booster of Spanish athletes, took some time to see Rafael Nadal win the US Open.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia arrived in the U.S. yesterday and visited IESE Business School’s campus in New York today.
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.
Just yesterday, Prince Felipe was in Morocco. He met with Prince Moulay Rachid and business leaders from both countries.
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.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia will visit the U.S. next week to reinforce bilateral relations.
The Prince and Princess of Asturias will visit New York and Boston, including Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. They will meet Spanish business leaders and hold discussions about American relations with the Iberoamerican world.
Princess Letizia also plans to visit an elementary school to promote the Spanish language.
A trip to Washington, however, does not appear on the calendar.
Also next week, King Juan Carlos will visit Civil Guard installations in Algeciras near Gibraltar. The visit has broader political implications with Spain calling for talks with the United Kingdom on Gibraltar’s political status and a dispute over fishing rights in the area.
Later this summer members of the Royal Family will rest at Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca. However, the Duke and Duchess of Palma won’t be there, according to media reports. The Duke Iñaki Urdangarin remains under investigation for corruption allegations.
LOS BORBONES 