Members of the royal family of Spain participated in the celebrations of National Day in Madrid this afternoon. Per the official site for the royal house, Casa de Su Majestad el Rey:
His Majesty the King, accompanied by Her Majesty the Queen, Their Royal Highnesses Prince and Princess of Asturias HRH the Infanta Elena and Her Royal Highness Princess Cristina and her husband Don Iñaki Urdangarin, Dukes of Palma, presided over the acts that were held to mark National Day.
The main event of this national holiday was an act of homage to the National Flag, which was held at the Plaza de Neptuno, along with a military parade, which ran from the Plaza del Emperador Carlos V and the Plaza de Colón , involving more than 3,000 troops, 147 vehicles and 55 aircraft of the Armed Forces.
His Majesty King Juan Carlos and Her Majesty Queen Sofia, the Prince and Princess of Asturias, the Princesses Elena and Cristina and Don Iñaki Urdangarin, came to the Plaza de Neptuno escorted by a squadron of the Royal Guard were welcomed by the Prime Minister, Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero. Next, they were greeted by Defence Minister, Carme Chacon Piqueras, the president of the Community of Madrid, Esperanza Aguirre, the mayor of Madrid, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón Jiménez, the Chief of Defense Staff, General Jose Julio air Rodriguez Fernandez, the delegate of the Government in Madrid, Maria Dolores Carrion Martin, and President of the Assembly of Madrid, José Ignacio Echevarría Echániz.
A battalion of the Royal Guard was charged with saluting, later, His Majesty reviewed the troops and members of the Royal Family were greeted by the presidents of the autonomous assistants, senior government officials, members of the Government and Defence authorities.
The events began with the grounding of a team of Air Force paratroopers carrying a flag. Then the National Show, moved by three royal guards, representatives of the three armies, and a civil guard, was hoisted to the strains of the National Anthem. Then began the tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain. Music Unit of the Royal Guard performed “Death is not the end”, whose bars were made portacoronas scripts and movements, and the offering was made a Crown of Laurel.
After the call to prayer, overflight Patrol “Eagle” Air Army of the Paseo de la Castellana, who drew in the sky the colors of the national flag, and a fusillade by a company of the Royal Guard, started the parade, during which the Group Command paraded a motorized group, an armored/mechanized units on foot, horseback units and a flyover.
After the parade, members of the Royal Family were dismissed by the Prime Minister, Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defense Staff, to be transferred to the Royal Palace, which hosted the traditional reception on the occasion of National Day.
The royal family received Saleta Gasparini in greeting the representatives of the branches of government: Prime Minister, Speaker, Senate President, President of the Constitutional Court , Chief Justice and President of the Supreme Judicial Council. Then they moved to the Hall of Columns and halberdiers, where other guests greeted the members of all walks of public life nationwide.
On this occasion, the main events on the Day of National Day have been supplemented by a program of activities which involved six ministries (Defence, Culture, Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Environment, Rural and Marine Affairs, Health, Social Policy and Equality of the Presidency), with its agencies (AECI, Instituto Cervantes, National Library, among others), plus the City of Madrid and the House of America.
About 40 spaces (museums, palaces and gardens of National Heritage, among others) opened its doors to all citizens, there are concerts of military music, classical and modern activities are held playful and informative exhibitions and film screenings or documentaries, with free access.
