Queen Sofia met with emergency workers and victims of the recent floods in southern Spain last week.
Places around Spain have had a tough year. First with heat, drought and fire, and more recently torrential rains and flooding.
The Queen visited parts of Andalucía and Murcia, including a helicopter ride. Comforting people affected by disaster is one of her top strengths.
King Juan Carlos and Prince Felipe of Asturias met with leaders of Spain’s autonomous communities at the Spanish Senate building today.
The meeting, of course also attended by Spanish government leaders, including Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, was especially important because of disagreements about the Spanish budget, funding for the country’s region’s and pro-independence rumblings in Catalonia.
Elsewhere in Madrid, King Juan Carlos gave Nueva Economía Fórum awards to Italian President Giorgio Napolitano and Portuguese President Aníbal António Cavaco Silva, both on behalf of their respective countries.
The Fórum facilitates debate between social, business and political leaders. President Napolitano also met with the King at Zarzuela Palace.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia then rushed to the airport for their official visit to Panama. Their agenda includes a visit to the Panama Canal expansion project.
Their Royal Highnesses will also visit Ecuador during their time in Latin America.
The Spanish Royal Household has overhauled its website, getting rid of an outdated series of pages for a more sleek and modern look.
The new website is not only an effort to update the Royal Palace’s internet presence, but also reach out to many Spaniards who have expressed skepticism about the Monarchy, especially young people who may not be as aware of King Juan Carlos’ role in the transition to democracy.
The new site includes new pictures of the Royal Family, information about the Crown’s role in Spanish government and society, and videos of pivotal moments in history.
Prominent are pictures and videos of the King and Prince Felipe swearing allegiance to the Spanish Constitution. The King’s 1981 message to the country amid a coup attempt is also included.
Charismatic and tender Queen Sofia has often been a powerful weapon for the Monarchy. Now they’re also deploying Princess Letizia. The website includes a photo spread focusing on the Princess by award-winning photographer Cristina García Rodero.
Prince Felipe was in the Dominican Republic this week for the swearing-in of new Dominican President Danilo Medina.
Prince Felipe has been representing the Kingdom at such ceremonies at Ibero-American countries since 1996. It’s a means of getting officials, particularly throughout Latin America, used to the future Spanish King.
During his visit, Prince Felipe also met with outgoing President Leonel Fernández, who was in Madrid earlier this year.
Earlier this week, Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy met King Juan Carlos at Marivent Palace, where members of the Royal Family are vacationing.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia attended the 2012 Olympics closing ceremonies.
In the days leading up to yesterday’s festivities, the Prince and Princess of Asturias joined Queen Sofia in visiting Spanish athletes, touring the campus and speaking with journalists.
In an embarrassing moment that is making worldwide news, Olympics staff members refused the Royal Family entry to a restricted section at one of the venues. They wanted to greet Nico Garcia for a silver medal in Taekwondo.
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Media reports indicate that while staffers appeared rude to Her Majesty and their Royal Highnesses, the Borbones took it all in stride.
King Juan Carlos has decided to cut his own salary by 7.1 percent to conform with the latest austerity measures announced by the Spanish government.
Prince Felipe and the head of the Royal Household will also see a cut, as will other members of the Royal Family, according to various media outlets.
Also, in a change of events, Infanta Cristina and her children will join Infanta Elena and Queen Sofia on vacation at Marivent Palace in Palma De Mallorca. Media reports have indicated that the Queen wanted the family together for at least part of the summer.
Infanta Cristina’s husband, Duke of Palma Iñaki Urdangarin, who is under investigation for corruption allegations, is not expected to attend. The Royal Family has been keeping him at a distance.
The Royal Household announced that King Juan Carlos will meet with Balearic officials and Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy during his own visit to Marivent Palace. Media reports also indicate that Queen Sofia will attend the opening of the London Olympics by herself.
Prince Felipe will be on hand for the awards ceremony of the annual King’s Cup regatta in Mallorca. He will also preside over a meeting of foreign ministers at Almudaina Palace, also in Mallorca, to discuss the future of Europe.
Tomorrow King Juan Carlos leaves for a trip to Russia.
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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.
Prince Felipe was in Kiev yesterday to watch the game. It is common for members of the Royal Family to attend major sporting events abroad.
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.
Queen Sofia, who is also a big fan of Spanish sports, was not at the event. She arrived today in the Philippines for an official visit.
Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia yesterday presided over the third Impulsa Forum, hosted by the Prince of Girona Foundation.
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.
In July, Queen Sofia is scheduled to visit the Philippines.
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.”
LOS BORBONES 