Spanish King and Queen Host Gala Banquet For Visiting Israeli President

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain hosted a gala banquet this evening at the Royal Palace of Madrid in honour of their visiting guests, the President and First Lady of Israel. President Reuven Rivlin and his wife, Nechama, are on a two-day state visit to Spain to mark thirty years of bilateral relations between the two countries.

After greeting all the evening’s guests alongside the President and First Lady, the official party headed into the banquet, where King Felipe delivered a speech in which he said that he hoped Israel “will harmoniously coexist with its neighbours and develop its ties with the European Union.”

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The King reassured President Rivlin that “in Spain, you will find a partner, an ally, a loyal and committed friend.”

The Queen wore a black skirt with a white appliquéd floral pattern from designer Lorenzo Caprile that made its debut way back in 2004, paired with a black sleeveless evening blouse and the Spanish Floral Tiara.

Earlier in the day, an official welcoming ceremony took place in Madrid where King Felipe and President Rivlin inspected a Royal Guard of honour after the national anthems of both Spain and Israel were played. A luncheon at Zarzuela Palace followed.

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Filed under Spain
Tagged Bilateral Relations, Felipe VI of Spain, Israel, President Rivlin of Israel, Queen Letizia of Spain, State Visit.