<h6 class="p1"><strong>The Diplomat</strong></h6> <h4><strong>At the first presentation of Letters of Credence ceremony of the year, King Felipe VI received the accreditations of six new ambassadors, those of the United Kingdom, Canada, Panama, Gabon, Malta and Greece, who will today be able to attend the annual reception offered by the King to the Diplomatic Corps.</strong></h4> The protocol establishes that the new ambassadors <strong>will be able to perform their functions from the moment they deposit their Style Copies at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs</strong>, but they will not be able to participate in official acts until they have officially presented their Letters of Credence to the Head of State. The first to present their accreditation documents to the King was the British Ambassador, <strong>Alexander Wykeham Ellis</strong>, followed by the Canadian Ambassador, <strong>Jeffrey Kevin Marder</strong>. They were followed, in that order, by the ambassadors of Panama, <strong>Héctor Ernesto Infante de Sedas</strong>; Gabon, <strong>Allegra Pamela R. Bongo</strong>; Malta, <strong>Emmanuel Mallia</strong>; and Greece, <strong>Aglaia Balta</strong>. As is traditional, <strong>Don Felipe spent a few minutes in the Nuncio's Salette with each of the new Heads of Mission</strong> after the formal presentation of the Credentials in the Official Chamber. The ceremony of presentation of Credentials is one of the oldest in the world, <strong>adopted from the Burgundian ceremonial by Charles I and modified to its current format by Philip V in 1717.</strong> <strong>Representing the Ministry of Foreign Affairs was the Undersecretary, Xavier Martí</strong>, since the Minister José Manuel Albares attended, together with the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the first commemorative act of the fiftieth anniversary of the death of Francisco Franco. <strong>Both will be present today at the reception for the Diplomatic Corps</strong>, which will also take place at the Royal Palace, and in which the King will deliver a speech focused on Spain's foreign policy. [caption id="attachment_105144" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-105144 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CR_cartas_credenciales_reino_unido_20250108.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="421" /> The King receives the Credential from Alexander Wykeham Ellis, Ambassador of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_105146" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-105146 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CR_cartas_credenciales-canada_20250108.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="421" /> The King and the Ambassador of Canada, Jeffrey Kevin Marder, after the ceremony.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_105142" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-105142 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CR_cartas_credenciales_panama_20250108.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> Don Felipe chats with the Ambassador of Panama, Héctor Ernesto Infante de Sedas, in the Nuncio's Salette, in the presence of the Undersecretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Xavier Martí.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_105136" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-105136 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CR_cartas_credenciales_gabon_20250108.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="421" /> The King receives the Letters of Credence from the Ambassador of Gabon, Allegra Pamela R. Bongo.[/caption] [caption id="attachment_105140" align="alignnone" width="750"]<img class="wp-image-105140 size-full" src="https://thediplomatinspain.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/CR_cartas_credenciales_malta_20250108.jpg" alt="" width="750" height="422" /> The Ambassador of Malta, Emmanuel Mallia, presents his accreditation to King Felipe VI.[/caption]
