Queen Sofia has been given a prestigious award of her support for a Spanish community.

The queen was presented with the Gold Medal of the Balearic Islands at a ceremony in Palma de Mallorca.

The award was given in recognition of her long and widespread work in the Balearic Islands and her dedication to social and welfare action. There was a special mention for her environmental campaigning there as well as her support for organisations working with those with dementia. The medal also recognises Queen Sofia’s work to showcase the islands and their culture.

The Gold Medal was presented by the President of Balearic Islands, Marga Prohens, who spoke of Queen Sofia’s long standing commitment to the area.

She said the queen had taken an interest in ”the most vulnerable” and had become, for all those living there, ”another one of us”.

As she accepted the award, Queen Sofia spoke said ”I have always felt here as if I was at home”. Her words won another ovation from the audience.

Queen Sofia ended by looking to the future, noting that ”I have had the privilege of enjoying these wonderful islands and their people for more than half a century, together with my family, where we have always been welcomed with so much affection. I hope to continue doing so for many more years.”