Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
Gala dinner at the palace in Madrid for Macron
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia held a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid for Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron. It is the first French state visit to Spain in seventeen years.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia hosted a gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Tuesday evening in honour of the French President, Emmanuel Macron, and his wife Brigitte Macron.
The King and Queen arriving at the gala dinner at the Royal Palace. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
The dinner was the high point of the first day of a two-day state visit.
• The first French state visit in seventeen years
This is Macron's first state visit to Spain since he became president in 2017, and the first French state visit to the country in seventeen years. The last was by Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009.
The President and his wife were received by the King and Queen before dinner. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
Earlier in the day the presidential couple were received at the palace with military honours, before the King and Queen gave a lunch for them at the Zarzuela Palace.
The royal and presidential couples in conversation before the dinner. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
• Speeches before the meal
As custom dictates, the King and the President each gave a speech before the food was served.
King Felipe VI speaking at the gala dinner. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
The King used part of his speech to raise the pressure on the border at Ceuta. He described it as unacceptable when tens of thousands force a Spanish border that is at the same time a European external border, and called for closer cooperation between EU countries on resources and effort. Countries facing the greatest pressure at the external border cannot carry the responsibility alone, the King said.
The speeches ended with the Royal Guard's band playing the national anthems, and with the traditional toast.
• Guests from both countries
The guests included members of the government, representatives of the state and figures from cultural and business life in both countries. Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez was among those who greeted the presidential couple in the receiving line.
Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez greets President Macron. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
Walking through the palace halls to the dinner. Photo: The Spanish Royal Household
The state visit continues on Wednesday, when the President meets Prime Minister Sánchez.