On Friday, the Casa de Su Majestad el Rey announced that Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain will be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace in the Vatican on March 20th, 2026.
Following the audience, His Majesty the King will formally assume the position of Protocanon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.
The honorary title of Protocanon of the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore is traditionally held by the Kings of Spain, a distinction historically associated with the Crown of Spain’s longstanding patronage of the basilica.
Their Majesties previously met His Holiness on Sunday, May 18th, 2025, following the Holy Mass for the Beginning of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome, commonly referred to as the Mass for the Inauguration of the Pontificate of His Holiness Pope Leo XIV, celebrated in St. Peter’s Square, when they extended an invitation to His Holiness to visit the Kingdom of Spain.
The Casa de Su Majestad el Rey also announced that His Holiness is scheduled to undertake his first Apostolic Visit to the Kingdom of Spain from June 6th to 12th, 2026.
The visit will make His Holiness the first Pontiff to travel to the Kingdom of Spain during the reign of King Felipe VI. It will also mark the first papal visit to the country in fifteen years, following the visit of the late Pope Benedict XVI in 2011.
The visit responds to the official invitation of King Felipe VI and the Conferencia Episcopal Española.
Their Majesties’ most recent audience at the Vatican prior to this took place in June 2014, when they were received by the late Pope Francis.
On Thursday in Madrid, Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Guillaume and Grand Duchess Stéphanie of Luxembourg began a two-day official visit to the Kingdom of Spain at the invitation of Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.
The official visit takes place in the context of Grand Duke Guillaume’s accession to the throne on October 3, 2025, following the abdication of his father, His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg, and forms part of the established diplomatic exchanges between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
The visit began with an official welcoming ceremony at the Palacio Real de Madrid, where the grand ducal couple was received by Their Majesties the King and Queen.
Following the playing of the national anthems, the inspection of the guard of honour, and the presentation of the respective delegations, Their Majesties held an initial meeting with the grand ducal couple.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke later held bilateral talks with His Majesty the King, accompanied by members of the Luxembourg delegation. Those present included the Deputy Prime Minister of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Mr. Xavier Bettel, the Minister of the Economy, Mr. Lex Delles, and the Minister of Finance, Mr. Gilles Roth.
The Spanish delegation included the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Mr. José Manuel Albares.
In the afternoon, Their Majesties the King and Queen hosted a luncheon at the Palacio Real de Madrid in honour of the grand ducal couple.
During the luncheon, His Majesty the King delivered a speech.
In his remarks, His Majesty welcomed the grand ducal couple to Spain and recalled the visit he and Her Majesty the Queen made to Luxembourg in 2014, shortly after his proclamation, when they were received by Their Royal Highnesses Grand Duke Henri and Grand Duchess Maria Teresa of Luxembourg.
The King emphasized the longstanding ties between the Royal House of Spain and the Grand Ducal House of Luxembourg, describing the visit as a reflection of the friendship and close relationship shared by the two countries.
Referring to the historical links between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, His Majesty noted that the two countries share centuries of intertwined history, recalling in particular the reign of Charles V, Holy Roman Emperor, who also held the title of Duke of Luxembourg, and the reign of his son, Felipe II of Spain, figures who illustrate the historical connections between the two nations.
Turning to European affairs, the King highlighted Spain’s four decades of membership in the European Union and expressed appreciation for Luxembourg’s role as a founding member of the bloc and a longstanding partner in the development of European integration.
He also underlined the close economic and social links between the two countries, noting the presence of thousands of Spanish nationals living and working in Luxembourg, as well as the contribution of Luxembourg nationals residing in Spain, reflecting the increasingly interconnected nature of the two societies.
The King further addressed the broader international context, expressing concern over ongoing global conflicts, including the situation in the Middle East and the continuing war in Ukraine, and reaffirmed Spain’s commitment to diplomacy, international cooperation, and the principles of international law.
At the end of his speech, His Majesty the King raised a toast to the friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, expressing his wishes for the prosperity of Luxembourg during the reign of His Royal Highness the Grand Duke and for continued cooperation between the two countries.
His Royal Highness the Grand Duke then delivered a speech in which he expressed his gratitude to Their Majesties for the welcome extended to him and to Her Royal Highness the Grand Duchess during their first official visit to Spain.
The Grand Duke noted that the visit was among the first official engagements he had undertaken abroad since his accession to the throne in October 2025 and described it as reflecting the longstanding relations between the Grand Ducal House of Luxembourg and the Royal House of Spain, as well as the friendship between the two countries.
Referring to the historical links between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, the Grand Duke recalled more than five centuries of shared history, particularly the period during which Luxembourg formed part of the territories of the Spanish Crown.
He noted that this legacy remains visible in Luxembourg City, including the Spanish defensive turrets known as échauguettes espagnoles and the origins of the Palais Grand Ducal, whose reconstruction during the sixteenth century took place under Spanish administration.
The Grand Duke also referred to the close ties between the peoples of the two countries, noting the presence of nearly 10,000 Spanish nationals residing in Luxembourg, many of whom work in the European institutions, the financial sector, and emerging areas of innovation. He also highlighted the growing number of Luxembourg students who pursue their studies in Spain.
Turning to European affairs, the Grand Duke recalled Luxembourg’s support for Spain’s accession to the European Union in the 1980s, referring to remarks made by his grandfather, the late His Royal Highness Grand Duke Jean of Luxembourg, during the State Visit of Their Majesties King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía of Spain to the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in 1980. He observed that Spain’s membership of the Union has since strengthened political, economic, and cultural cooperation between the two countries.
The Grand Duke further addressed the broader international context, noting the challenges facing the international order, including geopolitical tensions, the war in Ukraine, and economic uncertainty. In this context, he emphasized the importance of cooperation between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg within the framework of the European Union and other international institutions.
He also referred to the strength of the economic partnership between the two countries, noting that several members of the Luxembourg Government responsible for portfolios including the economy, finance, and energy were accompanying him on the visit.
At the end of his speech, the Grand Duke raised a toast to Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain, to the prosperity of the people of Spain, and to the continued friendship between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg.
Later in the afternoon, the Grand Duke and members of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg delegation met with the Prime Minister of the Kingdom of Spain, Mr. Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, at the Palacio de la Moncloa.
The meeting was followed by the signing of three memoranda of understanding between the Kingdom of Spain and the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The agreements concern cooperation in the fields of energy and space, as well as the establishment of regular bilateral political consultations.
In the evening, the grand ducal couple attended a reception with representatives of the economic and financial community hosted by the Embassy of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg in Madrid.
On June 30, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain hosted an outing at the Teatro Real in Madrid for the first wives and companions participating in the 32nd NATO Summit.
Upon her arrival, Her Majesty was warmly welcomed by the President of the Board of Trustees of the Teatro Real Foundation, Mr. Gregorio Marañón, and the Director of the Teatro Real, Mr. Ignacio García-Belenguer.
Thereafter, the first wives and companions arrived including the First Lady of the Republic of France, Her Excellency Brigitte Macron and the husband of the Prime Minister of Luxembourg, His Excellency Gauthier Christian Destenay to name a few.
After a photo-op on the Teatro Real stage, Her Majesty along with her guests proceeded to the Falla Hall where they had breakfast with representatives from the Teatro Real.
In the afternoon, Her Majesty Queen Letizia and her guests arrived in the Grand Ballroom, to watch a concert by singer, Mr. Kiki Morente and watched the rehearsal of the opera, Nabucco.
On the afternoon, of June 15, 2022, Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain presided over a meeting with the Board of Trustees from the Fundación Comité Español de los Colegios del Mundo Unido (United World Colleges: Spanish Foundation Committee) held at Palacio de La Zarzuela in Madrid.
United World Colleges are made up of 18 schools and colleges on four continents. The majority of the schools and colleges focus on the 16-19 age group, with some also catering to younger students. Each school and college has its unique location and character and is dedicated to nurturing young people’s energy and idealism into empathy, responsibility, and lifelong action. The UWC National Committees are located in over 150 countries and territories and can reach and select young people from different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences.
United World Colleges also believes that money should not be a barrier to a good education. More than 80% of students selected by UWC national committees receive full or partial financial assistance, funded by various generous supporters. The UWC Refugee Initiative has also been funding full scholarships to displaced young people from conflict hotspots
Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are Patrons of the United World College; moreover, Her Royal Highness Princess Leonor of Asturias, the eldest daughter of Their Majesties and heir to the Spanish throne, currently studying for her International Baccalaureate at the UWC Atlantic College in Wales.
Her Royal Highness Princess Alexia of the Netherlands, second daughter of Their Majesties King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, is also a student at the UWC Atlantic College.
Recently, Her Royal Highness Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, Duchess of Brabant, eldest daughter of Their Majesties King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of Belgium and heir to the Belgian throne, graduated from the UWC Atlantic College. Currently, the princess is a student at Oxford University in Oxford, England.
On Friday, June 10, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain held an audience at Palacio de La Zarzuela in Madrid met with women who participated in the recent conference, I Congress on Trafficking in Human Beings: How to Make a Hidden Reality Visible.
According to the Spanish royal court, the conference “… was attended by survivors of human trafficking who, after a recovery process, was able to speak out about their experiences.”
In the afternoon, Her Majesty held an audience with representatives from the Alianza Iberoamericana de Enfermedades Raras o Poco Frecuentes (ALIBER).
During the meeting, Her Majesty was informed about the challenges the organization recently had after the publication of the First Study on Social and Health Needs of Groups in Latin America (ENSERio LATAM Study).
On Thursday, June 9, 2022, Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain presided over the meeting of the Princess of Girona Foundation Delegate Commission held at Palacio de La Zarzuela in Madrid.
According to the Spanish royal court, during the meeting Their Majesties reviewed a report of the:
“…economic closing of the 2021 financial year and the external audit report and the balance sheet and account of results as of April 30, 2022, the January-May 2022 activity report.”
Their Majesties also reviewed information from:
“…working groups and the activities of the different programs were also assessed, along with the Foundation’s progress during the first months of this year in the implementation of the new Strategic Plan 2022 – 2025.”
On Thursday, June 2, 2022, Her Majesty Queen Letizia of Spain continued her cooperation visit to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania.
The day began with a visit to the Queen Letizia Agricultural Innovation Project located on the Nouakchott Region. Upon her arrival, Her Majesty was warmly welcomed by the Minister of Social Action, Children and Family and the President of the Region. Whilst there, Her Majesty unveiled a plaque commemorating her visit.
After a tour of the projects greenhouse and farm Her Majesty visited the Emergency Center (SAMU). Whilst there, Her Majesty toured the facilities, specifically the call center, the training room and the pharmacy.
The day ended with a tour of the Zayed Center and a luncheon, hosted by the First Lady of Mauritania, held in Her Majesty Queen Letizia’s honor.
The Royal Correspondent 