Kings Felipe and Abdullah Attend Charlemagne Prize Ceremony

Spanish King Felipe VI and Jordanian King Abdullah II were both present today in Aachen, Germany for the annual awarding of the International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen.

The two Kings attended the ceremony at the Aachen City Hall where the President of the European Parliament, Martin Schultz, was awarded the prize which is presented to individuals who have worked hard “in the service of European unification.”

In his acceptance speech, Mr Schultz said that people did not understand the relevance of the European Union because it did not impact on their day-to-day lives. “I wanted to become President of the European Parliament to open the doors and the windows of the EU so people can look inside, see what goes on, so that they understand it, see who does what. That is the only way we can regain the trust we have lost,” he said.

Other attendees included German President Joachim Gauck, French President François Hollande, and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko, who all gathered on the City Hall’s balcony to greet crowds waiting in the below Market Square.

Previous winners of the prize include Dutch Princess Beatrix, Sir Winston Churchill, Pope John-Paul II and US President Bill Clinton.

Filed under Jordan, Spain
Tagged Abdullah II of Jordan, Awards, Felipe VI of Spain, Germany, President Gauck of Germany, President Hollande of France, President Poroshenko of the Ukraine.