In line with our long charity history of cultural diplomacy and our well established commitment building stronger links between Spain and the United Kingdom, and following last year’s presence of Queen Sofia of Spain as guests of honour at the BritishSpanish Soicety Centenary Gala Dinner, together with the Duke of York, our charity is delighted to announce the State visit of HE King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain to the United Kingdom from the 12-14^th of July.

While the Spanish Royal couple are due to fly to a London airport on Tuesday, the 11^th July, their main official engagement will begin the next morning, 12^th July when they are greeted by Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall, before  a ceremonial welcome by her Majesty Queen Elizabeth and Duke of Edinburgh at Buckingham Palace.

After a private Royal lunch, King Felipe will visit the palace of Westminster and make a special address to members of parliament during. After a private Royal tea, King Felipe and Queen Letizia will attend a dinner at Buckingham Palace.

On Thursday, the 13^th, the Spanish Royal couple will attend a reception at the Spanish ambassador’s residence, and in the evening  a Banquet at Guildhall given by the Lord Mayor and the City of London

Other scheduled events during the visit included a lunch at the British prime-minister’s official residence 10 Downing Street with Theresa May and Jeremy Corbyn the leader of the Labour Party, a UK-Spain Business Forum, and a visit to Exeter College, Oxford University, which holds  the seat of the University of Oxford’s the King Alfonso XIII  Professorship of Spanish Studies, established in 1927 by King Felipe’s great grandfather.

The British and Spanish Royal families have enjoyed a close relationship over the years, against the background of strong cultural, trade, educational, and tourist links. There is a large resident and working Spanish population in the UK, as there are also many British who visit Spain on holiday as favored destination or are resident there.

Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall made an official visit to Spain in 2011.Prior to that Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh went to Spain on a State Visit, in 1998. The last State Visit from Spain to the UK in 1986 by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia.

Last year the latest State visit from Spain was postponed because of delays to the formation of a new Spanish government. However Queen Sofia attended as guest of honour the Centenary Gala Dinner in London of the cultural  and educational charity, the BritishSpanish Society. His Royal Highness the Duke of York also attended as a guest of honour, in representation of the British Royal Family. Queen Elizabeth sent the BritishSpanish Society a message of good wishes.

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