King Felipe and Queen Letizia were back at the Royal Palace to celebrate the anniversary of one of the country’s most important institutions: Spain’s National Police, which is celebrating its bicentenary. 

On Wednesday, 8th May 2024, Their Majesties were joined by State and local authorities, including the Prime Minister, the Leader of the Opposition, the Interior Minister and the Mayor of Madrid, as well as the Director General and the Adjunct Director of the National Police. 

The latter handed King Felipe the so-called “command stick”, symbolising the supreme authority over the force for the time that the stick is held. 

Poignant tribute moves many to tears

After the playing of the National Anthem and the troops review performed by King Felipe, authorities watched as a Special Operations Group flew the national flag down from an airplane – a flag which was then folded and delivered to the King and Queen by two children. 

After a short speech delivered by the National Police’s Director General, King Felipe handed the Adjunct Director a plaque, symbolising the awarding to the National Police of the honour of the constitutional merit. 

The most poignant act of the ceremony soon followed, with many people visibly moved as they remembered all members of the force that lost their lives while on duty. 

The interpretation of the National Police’s anthem preceded a parade of vehicles used by the force while on duty, as well as a display of historical uniforms, closed by a cavalry squadron, which marked the end of the ceremony. 

Two centuries of service

Spain’s National Police was created on the 13th of January 1824 with the aim of “guaranteeing public welfare and security”. 200 years later, and the force’s motto remains “Engaged with you”. 

The anniversary celebrations include various acts that will take place throughout the whole of 2024 in various parts of the country. All activities are aimed at “commemorating the main events of the National Police’s history, its image in the citizen’s eyes, the feeling of belonging of its members and their recognition as a reference in public security operations, both nationally and internationally”. 

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