State Visit from the King and Queen of Spain: July 12-14, 2017

[Dman]

The Cambridge's and Prince Harry will attend the State Banquet. From the reporting earlier.

 

[Curryong]

She did indeed stun. I love Queen Letizia's sunny yellow outfit and hat. Queen Elizabeth looked lovely in fuschia, but then when does she not. Both couples looked happy to see each other, and the weather was good. Fantastic so far!

 

[Dman]

Yes, I enjoyed that pomp and pageantry!

 

[Rudolph]

BBC is saying both Willian and Harry are attending tonight's banquet

 

[Nico]

BBC is saying both Willian and Harry are attending tonight's banquet

First time for Harry so ! I see that the Windsors are turning out in full force. Good to see and i expect glitter en surprises for tonight !

 

[Rudolph]

No Catherine though as per BBC

 

[Mbruno]

Yes, I enjoyed that pomp and pageantry!

Yes, but the pageantry has been actually toned down over the years. In the past, uniforms and orders were worn at the welcome reception for royal visitors; now it is only business suits !

 

[Nico]

No Catherine though as per BBC

Would be quite strange, if not ridiculous ...

 

[Dman]

First time for Harry so ! I see that the Windsors are turning out in full force. Good to see and i expect glitter en surprises for tonight !

Yes, it was reported that the Cambridge's and Harry will attend. I'm glad Harry is being included. It debunks the rumors that he wouldn't attend the State Banquets until Charles's reign.

Yes, but the pageantry has been actually toned down over the years. In the past, uniforms and orders were worn at the welcome reception for royal visitors; now it is only business suits !

Yes, I see. I do hope uniforms and orders will make a comeback at some point.

No Catherine though as per BBC

They made a mistake and skipped over Catherines mention.

 

[Curryong]

Yes, the Windsors are pulling out all the stops for this State Visit. I'm very much looking forward to the Banquet, tiaras, jewels, glitter, that's what I like!

 

[vkrish]

Who are in the carriages being the king and queen? Are there any RF members or are they those politicians?

 

[An Ard Ri]

Who are in the carriages being the king and queen? Are there any RF members or are they those politicians?

The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall were in the one directly behind Queen Letizia and Prince Philip.

 

[Stefan]

Why is the Duke of Edinburgh inspecting the guard of Honour with King Felipe?. Should it not be the Queen as Hdead of State?

 

[Rudolph]

All three are expected to attend via BBC

 

[An Ard Ri]

The British RF really excel at State Visits and really pull out all the stops,so happy the weather improved.

 

[Rudolph]

No one does it like the British RF

 

[camelot23ca]

I feel a little sad knowing this is The Duke of Edinburgh's last state visit. I know things change but he and The Queen are irreplaceable, IMO.

So far things seem to be going well. I'm looking forward to the state dinner and hope it's incorrect that Kate won't be there.

 

[wartenberg7]

Why is the Duke of Edinburgh inspecting the guard of Honour with King Felipe?. Should it not be the Queen as Hdead of State?

This was always Pr Philips job, even in the old days he did so.
I think it is a great way to include the Queen´s consort in the most effective way at such events instead of him just attending! It shows the great team work of the Queen and the D o Edinburgh - everyone has her/ his particular tasks to perform on official functions like these.
I guess, after Philip has finally retired in autumn, it will be the Prince of Wales to escort the guest inspecting the guards!

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

I feel a little sad knowing this is The Duke of Edinburgh's last state visit. I know things change but he and The Queen are irreplaceable, IMO.

We don't know that, he still might appear at State occasions if he feels well enough to attend.

 

[ANNIE_S]

Who are in the carriages being the king and queen? Are there any RF members or are they those politicians?

I've just seen a couple of pictures so I don't know how many carriages are there, but the Prince of Wales and the DoC were accompanied in theirs by our Minister of Foreign Affairs, and an unknown (for me) lady.

 

[Stefan]

This was always Pr Philips job, even in the old days he did so.
I think it is a great way to include the Queen´s consort in the most effective way at such events instead of him just attending! It shows the great team work of the Queen and the D o Edinburgh - everyone has her/ his particular tasks to perform on official functions like these.
I guess, after Philip has finally retired in autumn, it will be the Prince of Wales to escort the guest inspecting the guards!

But was is the reason that this is done by Philip? At State Visits abroad the Queen does it herself. And in toher monarchies it is always the head of Stae. Not Queen Silvia or Prince Henrik for example.

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Some answers to some questions here:

1. HM has alwais let Philip inspect the guard of Honour with the foreign head of state and as wartenberg7 wrote: ''It is a great way to include the Queen´s consort in the most effective way at such events instead of him just attending! It shows the great team work of the Queen and the D o Edinburgh - everyone has her/ his particular tasks to perform on official functions like these.'' She also made sure that he has been included in other things, and therefore we don't have such problems as we see in Denmark with Henrik.

2. Philip/Letizia, Charles/Camilla and dignitaries used four of the five Semi-state Landaus and two of the five more simple looking Ascot Landaus.

3. The people in carriages are various dignitaries from the UK and Spain.

4. The amazing pomp and pageantry is actually the same as it has always been for state visits under the queen, but stepped up with open carriages - why? Because this is both a July visit and a royal visit.

And no uniforms/orders for the royals at the arrival/carriage procession - why? Because we live in 2017.

 

[carlota]

great start to the visit so far. i am not sure what letizia decided to wear but that colour (and that hideous hat) are not flattering on her. not disastrous, but not the elegant chic and modern letizia i was expecting to see. she almost never wears yellow either, and i think there is a good reason why (it just doesn't look as good on her, and many people, as other colours), so i am unsure why she thought it would be a good colour this time.

i enjoyed seeing the video and the interactions of the greeting at the hotel with charles and camilla. there seems to be a minor breach of protocol initially: when felipe was greeting charles, letizia, instead of waiting to greet charles first goes behind felipe to greet camilla. camilla gets confused but nonchalantly laughs away the situation and letizia goes back to her spot and greets charles so that camilla can green felipe.

after an informal curtsy by camilla, the ladies welcome each other and letizia seems to exclaim '2011!' - i guess meaning the last time they got to see each other, and then a 'you look amazing!'. letizia's informal (non speech) english seems to have more of an accent than when she pronounces speeches. the z in amazing sounded more like an s, a common mispronounciation for spanish speakers.

after, letizia seems to want to join the conversation of felipe and charles but then turns back to camilla and asks her 'so how's everything?', and they re-engage in conversation.

happy to see we got confirmation of william and harry, and presumably kate, attending tonight's banquet.

 

[lula]

SPANISH ROYALS VISIT UK - DAY 1 - OFFICIAL RECEPTION

071217 Spanish Royals visit UK - Day 1 - Official Reception - Images | jose gegundez | photographer

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

Interesting article by the BBC - The lead article on BBC's UK site:
Spain's King Felipe and Queen Letizia begin UK state visit - BBC News

The wind died down and the sun broke through the clouds just as the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh stepped on to the dais at Horse Guards.

Every visiting head of state gets the same welcome - their national anthem and the chance to inspect the guard of honour with Prince Philip. With his retirement imminent, this could be the last time he performed that particular public duty.

Then King Felipe stepped into a carriage with the Queen for the traditional procession down the Mall accompanied by the Household Cavalry. The Duke of Edinburgh and Queen Letizia travelled in a separate carriage.

It was a chance for Britain to show off how well it can do "pomp".

Later in the evening, a state banquet is to be held for the Spanish royals in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, where they are staying.

Prince Harry and the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are expected to attend the meal.

It will be the first time Harry has taken part in a state visit.

The Carriage procession:

Arrival at the palace:

 

[wbenson]

But was is the reason that this is done by Philip? At State Visits abroad the Queen does it herself.

I don't know that there's ever been an official explanation, but I think it goes back to the beginning of the Queen's reign. I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if the initial decision was based on a man being more appropriate for a military task. During the relatively few state visits in the reigns of George V and George VI, I believe the kings escorted their guests then. (The Queen also never took a rank in any of the armed services, whereas her husband holds the highest ranks in all three. And he's Captain General of the Royal Marines, a role that was only ever held by kings before him.)

Abroad, the guard of honour is for her, so she'd have to be the one to inspect it then.

 

[ROYAL NORWAY]

The Royal Family @RoyalFamily
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are having a private lunch with members of the Royal Family at #BuckinghamPalace #SpainStateVisit

The Royal Family‏ @RoyalFamily
'Laureate's Choice' sherry is being served. The sherry was selected by Carol Ann Duffy. A poem inspired by the sherry appears on the label.
Picture:

https://twitter.com/x/status/885121988683063296

Updated DF article - their lead article with many pictures:
Charles & Camilla kissing etiquette confusion with Letizia | Daily Mail Online

 

[wartenberg7]

Watching King Félipe riding with the Queen in this state landau I thought if he realises that his maternal grandfather King Paul rode in the very same carriage 54 years ago, also for a July-state visit...?! This continuity is partly something why I cherish the monarchy so much!

 

[Dman]

Watching King Félipe riding with the Queen in this state landau I thought if he realises that his maternal grandfather King Paul rode in the very same carriage 54 years ago, also for a July-state visit...?! This continuity is partly something why I cherish the monarchy so much!

I notice The Queen has a booster cushion in the carriage as well. We all need those booster seats sometimes.

 

[Mbruno]

But was is the reason that this is done by Philip? At State Visits abroad the Queen does it herself. And in toher monarchies it is always the head of Stae. Not Queen Silvia or Prince Henrik for example.

I don't know the reason, but that has always been the DoE's role on state visits. Look at this old footage of King Baudouin's visit to the UK in 1963 : he is accompanied by Prince Philip while inspecting the guard of honor.