Spain Royal Household
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Día de la Hispanidad
Sus Majestades los Reyes de España have attended to the parade and events organised in Madrid to celebrate the Día de la Fiesta Nacional. The King Felipe VI wants to thank the European Monarchs and Citizens for their messages because of the Día de la Hispanidad, as to every Spanish citizen which has attended or has followed the events via Television.
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King Felipe VI's Christmas Speech
(King Felipe VI's Speech intro plays)
Buenas noches a todos,
I address to you all as every Christmas Eve after a year which has been one of the best for our country. During this year, the Kingdom of Spain has been able to get a justice on the European Court of Justice, a Commissioner on the European Commission and we have also shown the European Union our negotiation capacity as our compromise with those allies we are close friends with.
This year, the Kingdom of Spain has discovered Atlantis along with Inquista, signed a very important treaty in Finisterre which is making us have a new currency from the 1st January 2021, we have protected and helped on the cruel civil war in Eastern Haane and we have gained new allies like the Empire of Inimicus, the United Duchies or the Republic Nofoaga. Spain has proven to be an ally to rely on, and so our army in Inimicus and Nofoaga is proving our capacity to help other nations and their people.
This year, the Monarchy has also been affected by a corruption scandal. I want to make clear, in front of you all, the Spanish people, that no one is above the law, no matter what his name is and no matter the status he has. During my reign, I have been very stubborn to accomplish what I said back in 2014, when I referred to the ethic and moral principles which tell us to obey them, with no excemption.
I hope you all have a great Christmas season. Feliz Navidad y Feliz Año 2021.
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Statement concerning the Volcanic Eruption in Nofoaga
The Spanish Royal Family is concerned and worried about the ongoing events in the Republic Nofoaga, a close friend and ally of Spain. We are very worried about the Spanish and Nofoagan citizens, as well as the soldiers deployed on the island which we know will work really hard to help every Nofoagan they can help as possible. King Felipe VI and Queen Leticia are in constant contact with the President of Spain, D. Jesús Aguilar, who is being informed of the situation by General Carlos Brown, Chief of the Army in Nofoaga.
Recently, we have been informed that King Juan Carlos I has been successfully evacuated along with the security personnel, and they are now safe in the bunker of the Base Militar de Tuagavale. Our hearts and prayers are with those still to evacuate, who we hope are able to reach the military bases or leave the island by sea. The Kingdom of Spain is ready to receive and welcome any Nofoagan escaping from the country by sea.
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Mensaje de Navidad de S.M El Rey Felipe VI - King Felipe VI's Christmas Message
(King Felipe VI's Speech intro plays [OOC: Please play it until 0:12])
Good evening,
I would like to dedicate my first words this Christmas Eve to those of you who live on the island of La Palma and have been going through such a painful and difficult situation for the last three months. The volcano has left many of you homeless, without a livelihood and has filled us all with sadness.
Today our hearts and our thoughts are still with you. We feel very close to you and you know that you have our solidarity and that you can count on the work and commitment of all the Administrations so that you can rebuild your lives and your economy as soon as possible and thus rebuild your projects with hope.
This year has been, on the whole, a good one for our country and for our society. From a disastrous forest fire in the south to the difficulties encountered in the Strait of Adventuranza, we have been able to overcome all the obstacles that have been put in front of us this year. But, above all, we have given an image of modernity, of diplomacy, of wanting the best not only for Europe, but for the world. And despite all the attempts to discredit us and all the tricks and interference, we continue to stand up not only for what is ours, but also for the rights of Europeans and the values that this region holds dear.
Today I want to speak not only to you, but to the whole of Europe. I am thinking especially of those Spaniards who, for one reason or another, have to spend the festive season away from home and who cannot return home or be reunited with their families at this time of year. But thanks to the European Union, I know that their rights and their quality of life are and will remain protected. This union of which we are a part is a precious treasure that we, as a country, must defend first and foremost. We cannot be accomplices of those who want instability or the destruction of this common project, of this means of growing as a country and as a society, but we must show them that we believe in the European Union, that we support it and that we will never be on their side to destroy what, today, unites the whole continent.
Spain is a resilient country that does not give up and always faces up to the challenges and difficulties that are put in front of us. When someone challenges us, our effort and our commitment to the challenge ahead make us special, they unite us. No matter how hard they try to sink this ship, we keep on repairing it and we keep on sailing at full speed. Our territorial integrity is not only key to the Crown, but also to the institutions that, at times when it was called into question, set to work for and on behalf of the citizens. That is the attitude that you and I demand of our politicians, to work together for the country rather than against each other. I call on our representatives to work together and to continue to regard the Constitution as the fundamental pillar of the State.
The year we will welcome on 31 December next year will bring new challenges, but also an extra dose of hope. In 2022, we must continue to make social progress for those who have nothing, increase youth employment to avoid the flight of our talent and increase institutional commitment to honesty and integrity, recover our full territorial integrity that has been unjustly stolen from us, continue to grow as a country and continue to defend the common project of the European Union.
But returning to the honesty and integrity that institutions must carry as a banner, I am aware that many do not trust this institution that I represent because of the scandals that have emerged over the past year and this one about my father. But I, as your monarch, want to convey to you today a message of commitment to transparency and to the cleanliness of the institution. If the allegations against my father are true, I will not tolerate any dishonest behaviour in the Royal Household. This key institution for the State, the monarchy, must be exemplary, and that is how I will always act during my reign. Occupying the throne of Spain does not give me the right, nor does it give any member of the Royal Household, to take advantage of their special condition or status to carry out illicit activities. That is why, during the Constitutional reform process, I asked the Government to remove my immunity and that of all future kings. The Crown must be equal to the citizens.
I won't go on any longer, but let us remember that tonight there are also many people watching over our health, our safety and peace of mind, and guaranteeing public services... All of them deserve our recognition and that we keep them especially present at this time of year.
Thank you for your attention; and with the peace and joy that tonight represents, together with the Queen and our daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, I wish you all una Muy Feliz Navidad y Año Nuevo.
Eguberri On, Bon Nadal, Boas Festas, Merry Christmas.
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State Visit
The Spanish Royal Household is pleased to announce Their Majesties the King of Spain, Felipe VI, and the Queen of Spain, Leticia, will travel to the Empire of Inimicus and North Diessen, in order to perform a state visit, celebrating the opening of the Artabanos Canal and proving the great existant relationship between both countries. The date of this state visit still remains undecided, and it will be revealed soon. Their Majesties will be accompanied by the President of the Kingdom of Spain, D. Jesús Aguilar; the Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation Minister, D. Alfonso Dastis and the Spanish Commander for the Caspian and Northern Asia, General Miguel Kurilla.
The state visit agenda will be revealed to the public with 48 hours of advance to the start of the state visit.
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The Royal Household visits Santiago de Compostela
On their arrival, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía were greeted by the President of the Xunta, Alberto Núñez Feijóo; the Second Vice-President of the Government, Marta Merino; the President of the Galician Parliament, Miguel Ángel Santalices, the Mayor of Santiago de Compostela, Xosé Antonio Sánchez Bugallo, and the Head of the Operational Logistics Force, General Juan Francisco Arrazola Martínez, among other authorities. After the ceremonial greetings, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia took their places of honour, where they received military honours, followed by the playing of the National Anthem. His Majesty the King then reviewed the formation, accompanied by the Commanding General of the Operational Logistics Force and the captain of the company.
After the review, His Majesty Felipe bade farewell to the Flag and then, together with Her Majesty the Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía, went to the centre of the Plaza del Obradoiro, where they were greeted by other authorities.
Then, Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía went to the Pórtico de la Gloria to enter the Cathedral. Preceded by the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela and followed by the first authorities, they went to the presbytery where they took their place for the celebration of the ceremony.
After the reading of the Gospel, His Majesty the King addressed a few words as an offering to the Apostle St. James where he emphasised: "The Crown fulfils, on this St. James's Day, a very dear tradition that has been maintained since 1643, in the time of Felipe IV, and which adapts to the times while respecting and perfecting its essence. Hence our commitment to this offering on the day we celebrate the Patron Saint of Galicia and Spain".
Don Felipe also asked in his words, "in addition to thanking the Apostle for his protection, we ask for his help so that our country takes the right steps in this stage of the journey, which is not without obstacles. In every Spaniard there is a pilgrim who, in the company of his compatriots, of our European brothers and sisters and of so many others from many parts of the world, will put - as usual, as always - all his will to overcome the adversities that may arise; to overcome his own personal Pórtico de la Gloria".
After the words of His Majesty the King, the mass continued with the homily by the Archbishop of Santiago de Compostela.
The religious ceremony continued with communion, after which Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Doña Sofía went to the altar before the tabernacle and the silver ornaments that house and adorn the statue of the Apostle St. James.
Afterwards, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia returned to their seats so that the religious ceremony could continue with the traditional boosting of the botafumeiro by the tirabolerios. The mass ended with the Apostolic Blessing.
Afterwards, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía left the interior of the Cathedral to go to the balcony of the main façade from where they watched the jump of two members of the Acrobatic Parachuting Patrol who descended with the Spanish Flag and the Galician Flag.
Afterwards, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía went to the Plaza del Obradoiro where they held a meeting with the expedition members of the Ruta Quetzal and its leader, Íñigo de la Quadra-Salcedo, who resumed the activity with the expedition "Traslatio" which commemorates the Holy Year and focuses on the final journey of the remains of the Apostle St. James.
Afterwards, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia went to the sculpture "Bolboreta" where they received the greeting of its sculptor, Manuel Paz.
To conclude their visit to Santiago de Compostela, Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía went to the Pazo de Raxoi, the seat of the Santiago de Compostela City Council and the Presidency of the Xunta de Galicia. There, they signed the golden book of the city and then held a meeting with members of the Government of the Xunta de Galicia, the municipal corporation of Santiago de Compostela and the mayors of the group of World Heritage Cities.
The Offering to the Apostle is a ceremony instituted in 1643 by Felipe IV and over the years the tradition was maintained for Kings, heads of State or personalities with the highest responsibilities to invoke the Patron Saint of Spain for divine benefits for human tasks.
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Mensaje de Navidad de S.M El Rey Felipe VI - King Felipe VI's Christmas Message
(King Felipe VI's Speech intro plays [OOC: Please play it until 0:12])
Good evening.
I am very glad to be able to be in your homes and continue this tradition of sending you my best wishes, especially of peace, on Christmas Eve, and also to share with you some thoughts on the most notable events of the year now ending.
2022 has been, and still is, complicated and difficult. Just as no recent years have been easy. Just when we thought the worst had passed, with last year's volcanic eruptions and conflicts, a few days ago the echoes of war in Europe returned, threatening us with levels of destruction and ruin hard to imagine in our everyday reality. There is, however, hope to stop a new war in our region, and I call on powers involved and triggering the war button to think about the horrible consequences their actions could have. This possible new war in Europe, at the borders of some of our European partners and allies, and therefore close to us; would not only affect not only the powers involved, but it would have a global impact.
This year, Spain has had the chance to host the first ever Telum Treaty summit, which was held here in Madrid, which helped reinforce the unity of all members of the Alliance. The message that was sent in Madrid's summit had no other meaning but unity and commitment to the principles we, the members of the Treaty of Telum, acquired. We are ready, our allies are ready, and together we form the most well-prepared military alliance of the World.
All of this new scenario we are living through - the possible war, instability and tensions in international relations, are naturally causing great concern and uncertainty in our society. We cannot ignore the seriousness of these problems, but we also cannot give up the possibility that things can change and improve.
First, once again, we must trust in ourselves as a nation. The transformation and modernisation of Spain over the last four decades, thanks to the success of our transition to democracy and the approval of our Constitution, justifies that trust. As does the way we have overcome our other economic, social and institutional crises. We are a country which has always rallied, even through difficulty and sacrifice, to cope with all its challenges, which have been many over the years. As well as believing in ourselves, in our capability, more than ever in these difficult times we need everyone to be more committed than ever to our democracy and to Europe, the European Union, the two pillars on which our present and future rest.
The world’s democracies are exposed to many dangers, which are not new; but the risks of today have a particular intensity. And Spain is no exception. But there are three dangers I want to examine, because I think they are very important: one is division; another is the deterioration of cohesion; the third is the erosion of institutions.
A country or a society which is divided or in conflict cannot advance or make progress, resolve its problems properly, or create trust. Division makes democracies more fragile, but unity strengthens them.
In Spain we know this from experience. Our Constitution, the fruit of dialogue and understanding, represents the unity achieved by the people of Spain, as a commitment to the future, to diversity and harmony, for a young democracy. Today, after all these years, our constitutional values are firmly rooted in our society, and are now the point of reference where Spaniards must find the unity which ensures stability, cohesion and progress, and the harmonious coexistence which, as I have often said, is our greatest heritage.
A coexistence which requires our collective life to fully recognise our freedoms alongside respect and consideration for other people, their beliefs and their dignity. It must be guided by reason; it demands putting the will to integrate above the desire to exclude.
In this task, we need to strengthen our institutions. Robust institutions which protect the people, respond to their concerns, guarantee their rights, and support families and young people in overcoming many of their everyday problems. Institutions which reflect the public interest and perform their tasks with dedication, with respect for the Constitution and the law, and are an example of integrity and honesty. And this is the standard to which all our institutions must always be committed.
I think that at this time, we must all take personal responsibility and think constructively about the possible consequences of ignoring these dangers for our unity, our cohesion, and our institutions.
We cannot take everything we have built for granted. Nearly 45 years have gone by since the Constitution was passed, and of course many things have changed and are still changing. But the spirit that created it, its principles and its foundation, which are the work of all of us, must not be undermined or forgotten. They are a unique value in our constitutional and political history which we must protect, because they are the place where the people of Spain recognise ourselves and accept each other, despite our differences; the place where we have lived and continue living in freedom.
Europe is the second commitment I wanted to talk about. For Spain, Europe has always represented freedom. It contributed to the consolidation of our democracy, strengthening our economic growth and social development. Today, we share many of its problems and we contribute to its decisions with our own personality and our own interests. The shared challenges all members face, from healthcare to finance or those relating to our energy and environmental models, sometimes receive solutions which form part of the common framework of the European Union. So the decisions made in the Union every day can be felt in the everyday life of everyone in Spain. This is our reality.
We are Europe, but we also need Europe, our major political, economic and social framework, which also offers us certainty and security. I am sure that Spain’s commitment will be reinforced during 2023, as Jean-Claude Juncker takes a second term as Premier Commissioner, and as Luis de Guindos continues his great work as the President of the European Central Bank.
I said at the beginning that these are times of uncertainty. But if the success of a nation depends on the character of its citizens, and on the personality and spirit which drive its society, we must have reasons to look to the future with hope.
We are one of the world’s great nations, with many centuries of history, and the people of Spain must continue deciding our destiny, our future, together. Taking care of our democracy; protecting our cohesion; strengthening our institutions.
We must continue sharing goals, always with a spirit of renewal and adapting to changing times. With confidence in our country, in a Spain which I know well, brave and open to the world: a Spain that seeks serenity, peace, tranquillity; a Spain which is responsible, creative, vital, and generous. That Spain is what I see, what I hear, what I feel in many of you; and it is what, once again, will move forward. It’s up to all of you.
And finally, on this special night, thank you so much for listening. The Queen, our daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, and I wish you all a very merry Christmas and a happy New Year.
Feliz Navidad, Eguberri On, Bon Nadal, Boas Festas, Merry Christmas.
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On the designation of Jean-Claude Juncker as candidate for the Presidency of the Government
Once the round of consultations with the representatives of the political groups with parliamentary representation held on the 3rd and 4th August at the Marivent Palace had concluded, His Majesty the King summoned the President of the Congress of Deputies, Dña. Ana María Pastor Julián, to inform her of his proposal that D. Jean-Claude Juncker should be a candidate for the Presidency of the Government, who must receive the confidence of the House according to the procedure established in Article 99 of the Spanish Constitution.
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Entrance of Her Royal Highness The Princess of Asturias at the Academia General Militar of Zaragoza
The King and Queen of Spain and the Infanta Sofia accompanied Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias as she entered the General Military Academy in Zaragoza, where she will complete the first stage of her military training.
The General Military Academy, founded in 1882, has trained more than 29,000 officers of the Army, Civil Guard and Common Corps of the Armed Forces through its three eras of activity, with the aim of achieving officers with excellent technical training, thorough physical preparation and a solid moral base, accredited by the practice of the virtues that have always characterised the military institution and which are reflected in its Cadet Decalogue. Officers prepared to manage the day-to-day running of units, but also capable of leading teams in complex situations, making difficult decisions and taking full responsibility for their consequences. Officers, in short, whose vocation and permanent objective is always the best service to Spain.
The General Military Academy has a long and glorious tradition of training officers for the Spanish Army. The few writers who have studied the subject of Military Education in Spain, such as Clonard or Almirante, determine that the "Company of the Hundred Maids", created in 1340 by the King of Castile Alfonso XI, appears as the oldest precedent.
The first project for the creation of a Progressive Education System, progressing from the general to the specific, took place at the end of the 17th century (in 1674) in Brussels, where the first truly modern Military Academy for the education of the time appeared. The Military Academy of the Army of the Netherlands was founded in Brussels by D. Sebastián Fernández de Medrano, known as the "Ensign Medrano", a veteran of the Flanders Thirds and appointed its Director for his solid scientific and tactical training. This Academy achieved a well-deserved prestige due to the diverse origins of its students, the open nature of its syllabus, the theoretical and practical bases of the learning process, as well as the important destinies of its students, who became known as "Masters of War". This centre can be considered as the first General Education project, as well as a forerunner of what would later become the General Military Academy.
These origins confirm the integral, evolutionary and plural character that characterises the General Military Academy, which is outstanding in the military training of the most developed countries.
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State Visit
The Spanish Royal Household is pleased to announce Their Majesties the King of Spain, Felipe VI; and the Queen of Spain, Leticia; will travel on Monday, 28th August 2023, to the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland in a official state visit; celebrating the great existing relationship between both Kingdoms and their respective Royal Households. The King and the Queen will meet with King William V in Balmoral Castle.
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State Visit
The Spanish Royal Household is pleased to announce Their Majesties the King of Spain, Felipe VI; and the Queen of Spain, Leticia; will travel to the Kingdom of Reitzmag in a official state visit; celebrating the improved existing relationship between both Kingdoms and the great ties between the Royal Households. More details will be given in due time.
The Kingdom of Spain