The British Royal Family hosted King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain at Windsor Castle during their State Visit to Britain on this day in 1986, which was followed by the British State Visit to Spain in 1988 and another Spanish State Visit to Britain in 2017.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain were welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales at Heathrow Airport before an Official Welcome at Windsor Castle, which included a carriage procession and a review of the guard, which was followed by the Spanish Monarchs meeting members of the British Royal Family. The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh and King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain were all descendants of Queen Victoria, while three, with the exception of King Juan Carlos, were descendants of King Christian IX of Denmark.
In the evening, the Queen held a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia in St George’s Hall at Windsor Castle. Both the Queen and King gave speeches.
The Queen (in Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara and the King George VI Festoon Necklace) and Duke of Edinburgh with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (wearing the Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara and Diamond Rivière).
The Queen Mother (wearing the Greville Tiara) and the Princess of Wales (in Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara)
The Princess Royal (wearing Princess Andrew’s Meander Tiara) and Princess Margaret (in the Poltimore Tiara)
The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester (in the Diamond Bandeau Tiara)
The Duchess of Kent (in the Pearl and Diamond Fringe Tiara)
Princess Alexandra of Kent (in the Ogilvy Tiara), and Prince and Princess Michael of Kent (in the Kent Festoon Tiara)
Other events included a visit to Prince Minister Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street, a visit to an art gallery, and a speech by King Juan Carlos to the Houses of Parliament.
On the second evening, the Lord Mayor and the City of London held a Banquet for King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (wearing the Mellerio Shell Tiara) at the Guildhall in London.
At the end of the State Visit, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (in the Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara) held a Return Dinner at the Spanish Embassy in London for the Queen (wearing the Vladimir Tiara) and members of the British Royal Family
Queen Sofia, the Princess of Wales (wearing the Spencer Tiara) and Princess Irene of Greece (wearing Queen Sophie’s Diamond Circle Tiara)
The Princess Royal (in her Diamond Festoon Tiara), Infanta Elena (in the Spanish Floral Tiara), and Infanta Cristina (in the Prussian Diamond Tiara).
Princess Alexia of Greece (wearing the Antique Corsage Tiara)
The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh bid the Spanish Monarchs farewell from Windsor Castle, along with Queen Sofia’s siblings, King Constantine II of Greece and Princess Irene of Greece.
Two years later, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain hosted the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh on their State Visit to Spain at the Palacio Real de Madrid.
The British Royal Family hosted King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain at Buckingham Palace on their State Visit to the United Kingdom in 2017.
Spanish Fleur-de-Lys Tiara
Prussian Diamond Tiara
Spanish Floral Tiara
Mellerio Shell Tiara
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Cartier Pearl Tiara
Queen Maria Christina’s Loop Tiara
Niarchos Ruby Parure
Joyas de Pasar
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Earrings
Queen Victoria Eugenie’s Diamond Bracelets
Queen Frederica’s Ruby Pendant
Queen Sofia’s Wedding Necklace
Queen Sofia’s Emerald Suite
Queen Sofia’s Sapphire Suite
Queen Sofia’s Baguette Diamond Necklace
Queen Sofia’s Pearl Earrings
Queen Sofia’s Ruby Dove Parure
Queen Sofia’s Omani Diamond Suite
Queen Sofia’s Shell Pendant
Queen Sophia’s Star Sapphire Brooch
Queen Sofia’s Diamond Flower Brooch
Queen Sofia’s Montellano Earrings
Countess of Barcelona’s Pearl Brooch
Countess of Barcelona’s Pearl Bracelet
Queen Maria Christina’s Mellerio Pearl Necklace
King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain start their State Visit to the UK tomorrow, where they will be hosted by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh. Click HERE to check out the detail of the visit. In honour of the visit, we are featuring the last Spanish State Visit to the UK, made in 1986 by King Felipe’s parents, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia. Take a look at some highlights below-
Embed from Getty Images
Some photos of the State Visit of King Juan Carlos to the UK in 1986 to celebrate this week's #SpainStateVisit to the UK. (Photos: @hola) pic.twitter.com/DmzvEaCGXr
— RoyalArjan (@RoyalArjan) July 10, 2017
Some photos of the State Visit of King Juan Carlos to the UK in 1986 to celebrate this week's #SpainStateVisit to the UK. (Photos: @hola) pic.twitter.com/DmzvEaCGXr
— RoyalArjan (@RoyalArjan) July 10, 2017
Some photos of the State Visit of King Juan Carlos to the UK in 1986 to celebrate this week's #SpainStateVisit to the UK. (Photos: @hola) pic.twitter.com/FWCtCTPamq
— RoyalArjan (@RoyalArjan) July 10, 2017
Some photos of the State Visit of King Juan Carlos to the UK in 1986 to celebrate this week's #SpainStateVisit to the UK. (Photos: @hola) pic.twitter.com/FWCtCTPamq
— RoyalArjan (@RoyalArjan) July 10, 2017Embed from Getty Images
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were welcomed by the Prince and Princess of Wales at Heathrow Airport on April 22nd. Afterwards, they attended the Official Welcome at Windsor Castle, which included a carriage procession and a review of the guard, which was followed by the Spanish monarchs meeting members of the British Royal Family.
Embed from Getty Images
Glittering Banquet at Windsor Castle during the 1986 Spanish State Visit: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 @royalarjan via Hola pic.twitter.com/DWEirj9O3t
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017
Glittering Banquet at Windsor Castle during the 1986 Spanish State Visit: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 @royalarjan via Hola pic.twitter.com/DWEirj9O3t
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017
In the evening, the Queen (wearing Queen Alexandra’s Kokoshnik Tiara) hosted a State Banquet at Windsor Castle in honour of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia (wearing the Fleur de Lis Tiara). Both the Queen and King gave speeches. Also present were the Queen Mother (wearing the Greville Tiara), Prince and Princess (wearing Queen Mary’s Lover’s Knot Tiara) of Wales, the Princess Royal (Meander Tiara), Princess Margaret (Poltimore Tiara), Duke and Duchess (in the Iveagh Tiara) of Gloucester, Duke and Duchess (in the Kent Pearl Fringe Tiara) of Kent, Princess Alexandra (in the Ogilvy Tiara), and Prince and Princess (in the Kent Festoon Tiara) Michael of Kent.
Events during the 1986 Spanish State Visit to the UK: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/GGj86OA7gu
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017
Events during the 1986 Spanish State Visit to the UK: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/GGj86OA7gu
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017Guildhall Banquet during the 1986 Spanish State Visit: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/WClzH2GNsO
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017
Guildhall Banquet during the 1986 Spanish State Visit: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/WClzH2GNsO
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017Other events included a visit to Prince Minister Margaret Thatcher at 10 Downing Street, a visit to an art gallery, a speech in Parliament by King Juan Carlos, and a Banquet at the Guildhall (at which Queen Sofia wore the Mellerio Shell Tiara).
Queen Sofia with the Princess of Wales and Princess Irene of Greece during the Return Banquet at the Spanish Embassy in London during the 1986 Spanish State Visit to Britain! https://t.co/vHYhzgclQ3 pic.twitter.com/geRxDCEQgE
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) June 2, 2020
Queen Sofia with the Princess of Wales and Princess Irene of Greece during the Return Banquet at the Spanish Embassy in London during the 1986 Spanish State Visit to Britain! https://t.co/vHYhzgclQ3 pic.twitter.com/geRxDCEQgE
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) June 2, 2020Embed from Getty Images
One of the last glittering events was a Return Dinner hosted by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the Spanish Embassy in London for their British Royal Hosts. Queen Elizabeth II (wearing the Grand Duchess Vladimir Tiara), attended alongside the Duke of Edinburgh, Prince and Princess (wearing the Spencer Tiara) of Wales, and the Princess Royal (in her Festoon Tiara). Also present were Infanta Elena (in the Mellerio Floral Tiara), Infanta Cristina (in the Prussian Meander Tiara), and Princess Irene of Greece (wearing Queen Sophie’s Diamond Circle Tiara).
Farewell at Windsor Castle during the 1986 Spanish State Visit to the UK: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/IcvgPaeOKz
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017
Farewell at Windsor Castle during the 1986 Spanish State Visit to the UK: https://t.co/Kpkf1X600L 📸 Getty Images pic.twitter.com/IcvgPaeOKz
— The Royal Watcher (@saadsalman719) July 11, 2017The Queen and Duke of Edinburgh bid the Spanish Monarchs farewell from Windsor Castle, along with Queen Sofia’s siblings, King Constantine and Princess Irene of Greece.
