Tag Archives: Royal Diplomacy

British Royals, Royal Family of Spain

King Charles III State Visit to the Kingdom of Spain Under Discussion Following EU–UK Gibraltar Agreement

Portrait courtesy of Buckingham Palace/Chris Jackson

    In Madrid, the entry into force of the agreement between the European Union and the United Kingdom on Gibraltar has opened a new chapter in relations between the Kingdom of Spain and the United Kingdom.  Separately, a report published by El País indicates that discussions are underway regarding a future state visit by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom. 

    According to journalist Miguel González of El País in Spain, Casa de Su Majestad el Rey and Buckingham Palace have been discussing a future state visit by Their Majesties King Charles III and Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom.  Mr. González reports that the visit is expected to take place during the second half of 2027, although no official announcement has been made. 

    The Ambassador of the United Kingdom to the Kingdom of Spain, His Excellency Alex Ellis, said it would be “an honour” to welcome His Majesty King Charles III to the Kingdom of Spain, adding that such visits have historically been complicated, in part because of Gibraltar.

    The agreement, which entered into force this week, removes routine border controls at the Gibraltar–Kingdom of Spain frontier and is intended to facilitate the movement of people and goods while preserving the longstanding positions of both the United Kingdom and the Kingdom of Spain on sovereignty.

    At this time, however, neither Casa de Su Majestad el Rey nor Buckingham Palace has announced a date or officially confirmed a state visit. According to El País, discussions between the two royal households remain ongoing.

    If the visit takes place, it would be the first state visit by a British monarch to the Kingdom of Spain since the late Queen Elizabeth II in October 1988. It would also reciprocate the state visit made by Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to the United Kingdom in mid-July 2017.

    Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

    Princess Charlene of Monaco Addresses Women@APCE Meeting at the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France

    • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
    • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
    • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger
    • Photos courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco/Frédéric Nebinger

    In Strasbourg, Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco participated in a working breakfast hosted by the Women@APCE group of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, where discussions centered on sport, equality, and public engagement.

    Princess Charlene attended the gathering as the guest of honour and delivered an address emphasizing the Principality of Monaco’s shared commitment to the values of the Council of Europe, including human dignity, solidarity, and the protection of vulnerable populations.

    The Princess also described sport as a universal instrument for equality and emancipation across national, social, and cultural boundaries. Speaking about her personal experiences, Princess Charlene referenced the legacy of the late President of South Africa, Nelson Mandela, stating that he “understood something very powerful: sometimes, a jersey, a team, or a playing field can bring together people whom everything seemed to divide.”

    The Princess also referred to the work of the Fondation Princesse Charlène de Monaco, particularly its initiatives dedicated to water safety, drowning prevention, and rescue training programs for children and communities.

    “Concretely, My Foundation teaches children to swim, raises awareness of water safety, and trains individuals in lifesaving techniques,” the Princess stated during the discussions. “Water must remain a place of joy, not of pain.”

    According to the Palais Princier de Monaco, more than 30 participants subsequently took part in exchanges concerning their professional and personal experiences, with several attendees posing questions during the course of the working session.

    Established within the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe, the Women@APCE initiative brings together parliamentarians and institutional representatives engaged in questions relating to equality, representation, and the role of women in public life.

    Monaco Princely Family, Princely Family of Monaco

    Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco to Pay an Official Visit to the Kingdom of Spain in June, Confirms Palais Princier de Monaco

    • Photo courtesy of the Palais Princier de Monaco

    In Monaco-Ville, the Palais Princier de Monaco has announced that Their Serene Highnesses Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene of Monaco will undertake an official visit to the Kingdom of Spain from June 1st through June 2nd, 2026.

    The visit will commemorate the 150th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Kingdom of Spain, as well as the 10th anniversary of the Spanish branch of the Fondation Prince Albert II de Monaco.

    Relations between the Principality of Monaco and the Kingdom of Spain date to the early 16th century. In 1524, the Treaty of Burgos, signed by Honoré II of Monaco and Emperor Charles V, placed the Principality under Spanish protection and established a period of close political and dynastic relations between the Grimaldi dynasty and the Crown of Spain that endured for centuries through diplomatic, cultural, and royal exchanges.

    According to the Palais Princier, the Sovereign Prince will hold a meeting with His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain at the Palacio de La Zarzuela. In the afternoon, Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain will host a luncheon in honour of the Sovereign Prince Couple at the Palacio de La Zarzuela on the occasion of the official visit.

    The Sovereign Prince will also hold a meeting with the Prime Minister of Spain, Pedro Sánchez Pérez-Castejón, during the visit.

    On June 1st, Prince Albert II and Princess Charlene will preside over the inauguration of the exhibition Monaco y España: Cinco Siglos de Historia Compartida at the Real Jardín Botánico de Madrid.

    The exhibition, dedicated to five centuries of historical relations between Monaco and Spain, forms part of the broader commemorations marking the anniversary year and is expected to examine the dynastic, diplomatic, and cultural ties between the Principality and the Crown of Spain across several centuries.