The Royal Household also released a series of statistics about Their Royal Highnessess as Prince and Princess of Asturias, and heirs to the Spanish throne.
The couple has made more than 70 foreign trips to 38 countries. They have hosted more than 1,500 official events together, with Princess Letizia hosting 190 by herself.
The Prince and Princess have also received more than 7,000 people together during audiences.
Amid pro-independence rumblings in the Spanish Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Prince Felipe of Asturias over the weekend presided over a dinner with business and regional leaders at Albéniz Palace in Barcelona, the King’s official residence in the city.
His Royal Highness also met with Catalan President Artur Mas, who is calling for a referendum on independence and, during his own remarks, highlighted Catalonia’s own strengths.
On Monday Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia walked the convention floor. One of their meetings was with Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg.
Things got tougher later in the week when a Catalan businessman refused to shake the Prince’s hand.
Don Felipe pressed the issue with Alex Fenoll, who kept refusing. A video of the incident has gone viral.
Media reports also indicate that other business leaders in Catalonia expressed concerns about the lack of dialogue between Barcelona and Madrid during what has become a political stalemate.
Other Agenda Items
Among numerous royal agenda items in recent weeks, today Queen Sofia visited the Spanish National Ballet and the National Dance Company. Her Majesty is known for her attachment to classical arts.
Earlier this month King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were in Portugal meeting with Portuguese and Italian leaders in Lisbon to promote regional economic development.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were on a whirlwind official trip to the U.S. earlier this week.
Their Royal Highnesses visited sites in California and then Florida, which included meetings with American politicians, including Florida Gov. Rick Scott (R).
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia also visited cultural sites, met with business leaders, spoke with U.S.-based Spaniards and toured news outlets, including the Los Ageles Times and Univision in Miami.
Photographer Annie Leibovitz and scientist Peter Higgs were among this year’s recipients of the annual Prince of Asturias awards, held in Oviedo, capital of the Principality of Asturias in Spain.
The awards are among the most important events that the Spanish Royal Family puts on every year. The ceremony is broadcast live on television and brings out thousands of spectators.
Beyond the formal events at Campoamor Theater and the Hotel of the Reconquest, the Prince and Princess of Asturias also award a town in the principality.
This year they recognized the community of Teverga for working to overcome the downturn in mining related employment.
Don Felipe, and his wife, Princess Letizia, were in Buenos Aires lobbying for the city’s bid, along with other officials, including Government President Mariano Rajoy.
The Prince is said to have impressed delegates with his use of French, English and Spanish to answer questions about Madrid’s preparedness.
In the end, the Prince of Asturias said he understood the “sadness from the people of Madrid and all of Spain.” He said, “This is a competition that we were not able to win.”
Prince Felipe arrived in Buenos Aires this week to help boost Madrid’s chances of becoming the Olympic host city for 2020.
His Royal Highness, the Prince of Asturias, is the honorary head of Madrid’s delegation, has been assisting rehearsals and will be on hand for the city’s presentation over the weekend before the International Olympic Committee.
Gossip about the Royal Family continues amid the ongoing corruption investigation surrounding the Duke of Palma, the King’s son-in-law.
Media outlets reported this week that Don Juan Carlos loaned his daughter, Infanta Cristina, Duchess of Palma, more than 1 million euros to buy a mansion in Barcelona.
Queen Sofia today visited a food bank in Palma de Mallorca in the Balearic Islands where she proposed collecting items from the increasing number of cruise ships that dock.
Price Naruhito, the heir to the Japanese Imperial Throne, met with Prince Felipe of Asturias today at El Pardo Palace in Madrid for a visit to commemorate the 400th anniversary of Hispano-Japanese relations.
Members of the Spanish Royal Family and members of the Japanese Imperial Family have traveled to each other’s country over the years.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia went on a state visit to Japan in 2008, for example. And Prince Naruhito went to Barcelona for the Olympics and to Madrid for Prince Felipe’s wedding to Princess Letizia in 2004.
LOS BORBONES 