Eduardo González
Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum welcomed King Felipe VI to the National Palace on Thursday, just over a year and a half after the diplomatic crisis erupted between the two countries following her decision to exclude the monarch from her inauguration for not apologizing for the Spanish conquest.
During the official welcoming ceremony, held in the Ambassadors’ Hall of the National Palace, the national anthems of Mexico and Spain were played. An official photograph of the meeting was then taken, according to a statement from the President’s office.
The purpose of the meeting, the statement continued, was “to discuss the relationship between both nations within the framework of his official visit to the country.” The King was received by the president before traveling to Guadalajara to attend the 2026 FIFA World Cup match between Uruguay and Spain.
Representing Spain at the meeting were the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares Bueno; the Minister of Education, Vocational Training and Sports, Milagros Tolón Jaime; the Chief of Staff to the King, Camilo Villarino Marzo; the Spanish Ambassador to Mexico, Juan Duarte Cuadrado; the Diplomatic Advisor to the King, Carmen Castiella Ruiz de Velasco; and the Chief of Staff to the Minister, Sergio Cuesta Francisco.
Representing Mexico were the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Roberto Velasco Álvarez; the Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic, Lázaro Cárdenas Batel; and the Mexican Ambassador to Spain, Quirino Ordaz Coppel.
In her Wednesday morning press conference, Sheinbaum announced her intention to speak with the Monarch about “why the recognition of indigenous peoples, their cultural grandeur, is important for Mexico; what the great civilizations of the past and the indigenous peoples of today represent for Mexico, and how we amend the Constitution for the full recognition of all their rights.”
“These are topics I want to discuss with him and explain why it’s important for Mexico, beyond the moment of requesting forgiveness (…), because for us it’s a matter of dignity, of recognizing our people, and who we are.” “And at the same time, we’ll talk about other things too, I think we’ll even talk about soccer,” she added.