Thursday, June 19, 2014

The proclamation today

Felipe VI became King of Spain at midnight last yesterday. Today will be the official proclamation starting with the presentation at the Zarzuela Palace of his sash as Captain General of the Army.

From there the King, Queen Letizia, Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofía will go to the House of Representatives for the ceremony of proclamation; attended by all the members of parliament, the presidents of the seventeen autonomous communities along with representatives of the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla.

Outside of Congress, the King will be greeted by Mariano Rajoy. They will enter the building by the Puerta de Los Leones. Inside, Filipe will then be greeted by the president of the Chamber, Jesus Posada and Senator Pio Garcia Escudero. In the gallery will be Queen Sofia, Infanta Elena and sisters of the King, the Infantas Pilar and Margarita.

After taking the oath to the Constitution, the national anthem will be played followed by Filipe’s first speech to the floor of the House.

From the steps of the Puerta de Los Leones, the King, Queen, Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Sofia will then watch a military parade before setting off by car to the Royal Palace. The Royal Horse Guards will accompany the car on its journey through Madrid.

At the Palace, the Royal party will greet the crowds from the balcony before meeting their guests in the Throne Room. Finally there will be a reception for over 2,000 guests which of course does not include any foreign royalty.

Madrid has been prepared for the occasion with streets on the route decked with flags, flowers and pictures of the new king. Seven hundred buses have been especially decorated with flags and the colours of the Spanish flag. 

It might all sound very grand but in terms of this type of occasion, it is all very low key bearing no comparison with the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth in 1953.

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