The Diplomat in Spain

King Felipe and Queen Letizia with François Hollande and Ségolène Royal at Elysée Palace./ Image: A3.

The Diplomat. Madrid

France highlighted the harmony maintained with Spain for years through a warm welcome for Their Majesties the King and Queen, who arrived in Paris to make a State visit, which was thwarted about two months ago by the plane crash of Germanwings in the Alps.

The Governments of both countries have been strengthening their ties lately, with a very intense cooperation in the fight against terrorism and in the improvement of interconnections, among other fields.

The reception by the president of the Republic, François Hollande, at the feet of the Arch of Triumph, had only the precedent of the reception for Queen Elizabeth II of England. Also unusual was the path covered by the retinue, escorted by a squad of 146 horses of the Republic’s Guard, throughout the Champs Élysées Avenue, decorated with French and Spanish flags, up to the nearby Élysée Palace, seat of the French Presidency.

Before setting off for the Élysée, King Felipe and Hollande paid tribute to the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Afterwards, accompanied by Queen Letizia, King Felipe greeted the war veterans, who carried flags and insignias, one by one.

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Hollande received King Felipe and Queen Letizia at the feet of the Arch of Triumph

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Hollande was lavish in attentions for the King and Queen and posed with them in front of the Élysée, where, on 24 March, they appeared before the press to account for the cancellation of the trip due to the plane crash of Germanwings. Yesterday, King Felipe could personally transmit his gratitude for the work carried out by the French authorities taking care of the victims and of their relatives.

The French president also accompanied the Spanish royal couple in their visit to the exhibition of Velázquez at the Grand Palais, which is having great success. The day concluded with a formal dinner at the Élysée and will continue today with King Felipe’s intervention before the National Assembly, another courtesy by France, during which the presence of King Juan Carlos in that same place during the State visit he made in 1993 will be remembered.