King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain hosted King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola of Belgium on their State Visit to Spain on this day in 1978, which was the first incoming State Visit of their Reign. The Spanish Couple had visited Belgium the previous year and hosted the next Belgian State Visit to Spain in 1994.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain received King Baudouin and the Spanish-born Queen Fabiola of Belgium at the Airport in Madrid, where the two Kings inspected the Guard of Honour. Later, King Baudouin became the first Monarch of an EU Country to address the Spanish Cortes.

In the evening, King Juan Carlos (wearing the Order of Leopold and the Order of the Golden Fleece) and Queen Sofia of Spain (in the Order of Leopold) hosted a glittering State Banquet in honour of King Baudouin (wearing the Order of the Golden Fleece and the Order of Leopold) and Queen Fabiola (in her Spanish Wedding Gift Necklace) at the Royal Palace of Madrid.

In Seville, King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola (in her Tunisian Parure) received the Keys to the City, before visiting Segovia with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, travelling in a motorcade though the city.

Queen Sofia (wearing the Niarchos Ruby Parure) and Queen Fabiola were also photographed attuning another Gala Dinner, which was also without Tiaras as the newly restored Spanish Monarchy was still striving to maintain stability after King Juan Carlos’ restoration of democracy.