Spanish diplomatic sources pointed out that the visit is still scheduled./ Photo: Casa de S.M. el Rey
The Diplomat. 29/01/2016
Madrid and London keep preparing the State visit that the King and Queen plan to make to the United Kingdom from 8 to 10 March, according to information provided to The Diplomat by Spanish and British diplomatic sources, after the digital newspaper eldiario.es spread some news affirming that the trip had been cancelled.
The visit of the King and Queen was officially announced by the Governments of Spain and the United Kingdom on 3 December, but the situation of uncertainty about the formation of a new Executive in our country has raised voices asking for its postponement and even the Spanish authorities have considered that possibility.
For the same reason, Spain told Saudi Arabia a few days ago that King Felipe and Queen Letizia would not be able to travel to that country from 16 to 18 February, as it had been programmed, although, in that case, the visit had not been officially announced.
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Diplomatic sources affirmed that no decision has been made to postpone the trip
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In the case of the United Kingdom, the final decision has not been made yet, since this is an announced visit. Besides, Queen Elizabeth II can only receive two State visits per year and postponing it would mean, with almost complete certainty, putting it off, at least, untill 2017. The last time Spain’s King and Queen made a State visit to the United Kingdom was 30 years ago.
The most critical voices with the visit being made on the dates planed, with an interim Government or, at most, a brand new Government in Spain, come from sectors of PSOE, the closest to the secretary general, Pedro Sánchez, since, according to information provided to The Diplomat, the secretary of International Relations, Carmen Chacón, would not be against the trip. In any case, the most critical socialists affirm that they consider the visit to be very important and that, because of that, they would like for it to be postponed.
Sources of the British Embassy consulted by The Diplomat, insisted that they have not received any type of communication from Spain and that they are still working on the programme of this awaited visit. Sources of Buckingham Palace affirmed that, “after the announcement of the visit, preparations continue and details of the programme will be announced in due course”. Zarzuela Palace also maintains the trip.
Spanish diplomatic sources also pointed out that, at the moment, the visit is still scheduled and that they keep working for it to develop in the best way possible. Besides, they indicated that if it had to be postponed there is still time to do so. They also remembered that although there is an interim Government, the state is not, and in that case, it is a State visit that has already been announced and Spain has a commitment to the United Kingdom.
