King Charles III and Queen Camilla could make a state visit to Spain in 2027

Eduardo González Charles III and Camilla could make the first state visit by a British monarch to Spain in almost forty years in 2027, according to various media reports. The news was first reported by the newspaper ‘El País’, which specified, citing diplomatic sources, that the visit is part of the two countries' interest in elevating the bilateral relationship to the level of a strategic partnership, following the signing of the Agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on the future of Gibraltar and thus overcoming the main diplomatic obstacle between the two monarchies. However, sources at the Royal Household consulted by The Diplomat have indicated that no state visit to Spain is expected in the short or medium term because the schedule is very full. The previous state visit took place in October 1988, when Queen Elizabeth II was received by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. As Prince of Wales, Charles, Duke of Windsor, visited Spain on numerous occasions, primarily on private trips to Mallorca with his family. His last official visit to Spain took place between March 30 and April 1, 2011, accompanied by the then Duchess of Cornwall and current Queen, Camilla. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia made their first state visit to the United Kingdom between July 12 and 14, 2017. During that visit, the first in 31 years, the King had the privilege of addressing the British Parliament. In his speech, he acknowledged that, throughout their “rich history,” the two countries have experienced “distancing, rivalries, and disputes” that have been “relegated to the past” thanks to “the work and determination of our governments, authorities, and citizens,” and expressed his confidence that “this resolve to overcome our differences will be even stronger in the case of Gibraltar” through “dialogue” between the “two governments.” During that trip, Queen Elizabeth II appointed King Felipe VI a Knight of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. For this reason, the King traveled to London again in June 2019 to be invested by the British Queen in St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle. The Order of the Garter is the oldest and most prestigious order of chivalry in the United Kingdom. Established by King Edward III of England in 1348 to recognize valor and loyalty, it is, along with the Spanish Order of the Golden Fleece, one of the two most important and highly regarded chivalric orders in European history. In March 2022, the King and Queen attended the funeral of Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (who had died almost a year earlier, in April 2021), with whom the Spanish Royal Family had a close relationship through his kinship with Queen Sofía, to whom he was a second cousin, and a more distant kinship with King Juan Carlos. The Duke of Edinburgh's last contact with the Spanish Royal Family took place during the aforementioned State Visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia in July 2017. In September 2022, King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended the State Funeral for Queen Elizabeth II, where they sat next to King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía. That was the first image of father and son together in over two years. In November 2022, King Felipe VI traveled to London to preside over the commemorative dinner for the 135th anniversary of the Spanish Chamber of Commerce in the United Kingdom. During that trip, the King held a private meeting with King Charles III, whom he invited to make a State Visit to Spain with Camilla or to travel to the country on any occasion. That was the second meeting between the two Kings since Charles III ascended the throne. On May 6, 2023, Felipe VI and Letizia attended the coronation ceremony of Charles III, the fortieth of a British Monarch in history and the first of the 21st century.

Related Content

The Argentine ambassador assures there is no campaign against his country in Spain

The Spanish Embassy thanks Sheinbaum and Mexico for their congratulations after the World Cup victory

Pedro Sánchez holds his first conversation with the new British Prime Minister, Andy Burnham

Spain condemns Iran's "unjustified attacks" against countries in the region

The Spanish Ambassador in Buenos Aires proposes a Spain-Argentina match as a farewell tribute to Messi