Prince Ricardo De La Cerda
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark and the Danish Royal Family are still hosting King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain on their State Visit to Denmark from November 6th to the 8th. While the focus of the State Visit is green transition, the pharmaceutical industry and shipping, the Danish and Spanish Royal Families have close family ties, as both Sovereigns are descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark and Queen Victoria. The last Spanish State Visit to Denmark was in 1980, while Queen Margrethe made a Return State Visit to Spain in 1983.
On the morning of their final day in Denmark, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain took leave of Queen Margrethe at Fredensborg Palace, where they traditionally signed a window pane with a diamond-tipped pen.
Afterwards, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary joined King Felipe and Queen Letizia for a visit to the Danish Architecture Center in BLOX, for a round table discussion on sustainable urban development and planning, following a tour of the exhibition “Copenhagen in Common” in the Danish Architecture Center about Copenhagen’s urban development from 1947 until today.
Before their departure for Spain, King Felipe and Queen Letizia met Spaniards living in Denmark at a Reception at the Moltke’s Palace in Copenhagen.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were received by Queen Margrethe II of Denmark, Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary and Princess Benedikte at the Vilhelm Lauritzens Terminal at Copenhagen Airport, where King Felipe and Queen Margrethe inspected the Royal Life Guard.
An hour later, Queen Margrethe rode in a Carriage Procession with King Felipe and Queen Letizia, escorted by the Guardhussar Regiment’s Horse Squadron from the Kastellet in Copenhagen to Christian VII’s Palace at Amalienborg, ahead of tonight’s State Banquet at Christiansborg Palace.
In the evening, Queen Margrethe hosted a State Banquet in honour of King Felipe and Queen Letizia at Christiansborg Palace.
The Danish Royal Family and the Spanish King and Queen then received the guests, which included the government, representatives of Danish and Spanish business, representatives of culture and sport, the Spanish delegation, representatives of the Court and others.
At the start of the State Banquet in the King’s Hall, King Felipe and Queen Margrethe both gave Speeches:
“The relationship between Denmark and Spain has hardly been closer than today.”
With admiration we have followed His Majesty’s tireless work for Spain and the Spanish people. It is my hope that these days in Denmark will further strengthen the friendship between our countries and our people and between our two close families. ”
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark wore the Danish Emerald Parure with the Order of the Golden Fleece, which she received in 1985 but was wearing for the first time.
King Felipe VI wore the Order of the Elephant while Queen Letizia worethe Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara with Queen Sofia’ Sapphire Earrings, Fleur de Lys Brooch, and Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Bracelets with the Order of the Elephant.
Crown Prince Frederik wore the Order of Isabella the Catholic, and Crown Princess Mary was wearing her Diamond Necklace Tiara and Diamond Flower Brooch with the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Princess Benedikte wore the Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg Fringe Tiara and Queen Alexandrine’s Diamond Sautoir with the Order of Isabella the Catholic
Countess Kirsten Moltke
King Felipe VI of Spain with his godson, Prince Vincent of Denmark.
Queen Margrethe II of Denmark (wearing the Connaught Pearl Brooch)
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain (in Queen Sofia’s Ruby Dove Earrings)
Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary (wearing her Ole Lynggaard Brooch and Diamond Flower Earrings)
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On the morning of the second Day of the State Visit, King Felipe and Crown Prince Frederik participated in the opening of a business conference at the NH Collection Hotel in Copenhagen with the participation of representatives of Danish and Spanish companies. Afterwards, Crown Prince Frederik and Crown Princess Mary joined King Felipe and Queen Letizia (wearing Queen Sofia’s Emerald Earrings) to take part in wreath-laying at the Monument on Kastellet.
In the afternoon, the Royal Group joined Queen Margrethe for a visit to Copenhagen City Hall, where there was a Reception, ahead of a visit to the University of Copenhagen, where there was a presentation of the book “El Libro de Los Epitomes”.
Queen Letizia and Crown Princess Mary visited the Mary Elizabeth Hospital while the King and Crown Prince attended a business lunch in the Spanish residence with business leaders from Danish and Spanish companies.
In the evening, King Felipe and Queen Letizia (wearing Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings) hosted a Return Reception for Queen Margrethe (in her Wedding Earrings) and the Danish Royal Family at the Glyptoteket in Copenhagen, following a tour of the ‘Joaquín Sorolla – Light in Motion’ Exhibition.
The last Spanish State Visit to Denmark was in 1980, while Queen Margrethe made a Return State Visit to Spain in 1983.