Photo courtesy of the Presidenza della Repubblica Italiana/Quirinale.it
In Salamanca, His Majesty King Felipe VI of Spain presided over the investiture ceremony at which the President of the Italian Republic, Sergio Mattarella, was awarded the degree of Doctor Honoris Causa by the Universidad de Salamanca, one of the oldest and most historically significant universities in Europe.
Founded in 1218 by King Alfonso IX of León, the Universidad de Salamanca has long occupied a central place in the intellectual and institutional history of the Kingdom of Spain. Its traditions, shaped over eight centuries, situate the conferral of honorary doctorates within a broader framework of academic recognition reserved for individuals whose work has made a sustained contribution to public life, scholarship, or international cooperation.
The University conferred the distinction in recognition of President Mattarella’s longstanding cultural ties with the Kingdom of Spain, as well as his academic career as Professor of Parliamentary Law at the Università degli Studi di Palermo until 1983, during which he produced numerous scholarly publications. The Universidad de Salamanca further acknowledged his contribution to contemporary public thought.
In its citation, the University also highlighted President Mattarella’s commitment to humanism, European integration, and cooperation among nations, noting in particular a shared emphasis on the role of culture and education within democratic societies.
The degree of Doctor Honoris Causa constitutes the highest academic distinction conferred by the Universidad de Salamanca and is awarded to individuals of recognised international standing in the scientific, cultural, professional, or institutional spheres.
On Friday, Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain will travel to the Vatican, where they are scheduled to be received in audience by His Holiness Pope Leo XIV at the Apostolic Palace.
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 October 11, 2011, Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia along with Infanta Elena attended the annual meeting of the Board of the Instituto Cervantes, held in the Audience Hall of the Palace of La Zarzuela. Per the official website for the royal house of Spain, Casa de Su Majestad el Rey:
In his speech, the King recalled the twentieth anniversary of the Instituto Cervantes, ‘a key institution for global projection of our language and culture in Spanish. Learning Spanish is still a preferred option for many people around the world,’ added King Juan Carlos, who noted that Cervantes has become one of the institutions’ most appreciated by the Spanish.
Likewise, His Majesty said that this anniversary should serve ‘to broaden horizons, to imagine new ways and continue to open ourselves to continuous innovation in contemporary society requires.’ King Juan Carlos said that the ‘effort of all we must ensure that the Spanish were at the top of modernity’, and it is ‘necessary to strengthen its role in strengthening international relations and use in communication technologies and information.’ Before concluding, King Juan Carlos paid tribute to the memory of Ernesto Sabato, Gonzalo Rojas and Josefina Aldecoa.
The meeting was attended by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, Trinidad Jiménez, Minister of Education, Angel Gabilondo, the Minister of Culture, Ángeles González-Sinde, Secretary of State for International Cooperation and Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Soraya Rodriguez Ramos, director of the Cervantes Institute, Carmen Caffarel, among others.
King Juan Carlos was in charge of opening the session and give the floor to the Prime Minister for reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting of the Board, which was approved. Then the director of Instituto Cervantes presented the annual report. Later involved the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation and the Prime Minister. After the speech of the King, there was an ample opportunity for questions.
During the ceremony, four new trustees were welcomed: Juan Manuel Blecua, director of the Royal Spanish Academy, the Colombian writer Laura Restrepo; Enrique Gonzalez Macho, president of the Academy of Motion Picture and writer Jordi Sierra i Fabra.
The Instituto Cervantes is the institution created by Spain in 1991 for the promotion and teaching of Spanish language and the dissemination of Spanish and Hispanic culture. Its headquarters are in Madrid and Alcala de Henares, birthplace of the writer Miguel de Cervantes, while the centers of the Institute are spread over four continents.
Under the honorary presidency of His Majesty the King, the Prime Minister exercises the chief executive and elected members have been appointed from among prominent representatives of literature and Spanish and Latin American culture, of the Royal Academies, universities and other social institutions, as they are born writers vocal Prize for Literature Miguel de Cervantes (Cervantes Prize).
This afternoon TRH Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Asturias were at the Academia de la Lengua in Madrid, Spain. The couple were apart of the presentation of “… the new spelling of Spanish Language…”
According to the Spanish channel, RTVE.es:
One of the novelties of the new spelling is that Prince is written in lowercase p. All titles, positions or employment of any rank are common, and therefore should be initial lower case. Examples include king and pope.
Here is a video clip, in Spanish, with some explanations.
TRH Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia of Spain attended the opening of the AVE high speed train in Madrid this morning.
The Crown Princely couple along with dignitaries, which included the Minister for Development, José Blanco, the President of Congress, José Bono, and the President of the Madrid region, Esperanza Aguirre, and the Madrid Mayor, Alberto Ruiz-Gallardón, listened to speeches whilst at the Madrid station prior to boarding the train.
According to the site, Typically Spanish:
The line is part of the new link to the Levante coast, which will be officially opened as far as Valencia this coming Saturday, when it will be up to King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofía to make the trip.
Prince Felipe said that high speed trains had ‘given us international prestige, and strengthened the image of the Spain brand in a lasting way’.
Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia also had the chance to visit the control center (the driving thingy) within the high speed train as well as spending time with various attendees at the event.
To read more about this event please visit this link below.
On December 13, 2010, TRH Crown Prince Felipe and Crown Princess Letizia attended the Patronage of the Foundation Prince of Girona at the El Pardo Royal Palace in Madrid, Spain.
Crown Felipe gave a speech while Crown Princess Letizia sat and listened… and looked amazing while doing so.
The Royal Correspondent 