Spanish National Day

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were joined by the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia for the Spanish National Day Celebrations on October 12th in Madrid. Traditionally referred to as the Día de la Hispanidad, the La Fiesta Nacional de España commemorates the discovery of the Americas by Christopher Columbus for Spain on 12 October 1492.

The day began with a ceremony that paid homage to the National Flag in Madrid’s Plaza de Lima, after which the Royal Family attended the Spanish National Day Military and Air Force Parade, where King Felipe and the Princess of Asturias laid a wreath as a tribute to those who have given their lives for Spain.

The celebration began with the raising of the National Flag. The Air Force and Space Parachute Demonstration Team performed a jump carrying a flag identical to the one that was later raised. Three Royal Guards, representing the three branches of the Armed Forces, along with a Civil Guard officer and a National Police officer from the Security Service of His Majesty the King’s Household, carried the National Flag, which was raised to the strains of the National Anthem.

Following this, a tribute was paid to those who gave their lives for Spain. During the ceremony, the guidons and wreath bearers of the participating units were placed at the foot of the platform as the strains of “Death Is Not the End” played. His Majesty the King and Her Royal Highness the Princess of Asturias, accompanied by the head of the Military Household, proceeded to the platform to lay the laurel wreath. The chaplain of the Royal Guard offered a prayer, and after the sounding of Taps, the “Plus Ultra” Squadron fired a rifle salute. The tribute concluded with a flyover by the “Mirlo” formation, composed of six E-27 (Pilatus) aircraft from the Air Force and Space.

Following the tribute, the air and ground parade took place, with the participation of units from the Army, Navy, Civil Guard, Military Emergency Unit, Royal Guard, State Security Forces and Corps, and various Security, Civil Protection, and Emergency agencies. The parade concluded with another flyover by the “Mirlo” formation, thus bringing the military review to a close.

Once the events were over, His Majesty the King received the report from the Chief of the Defence Staff, after which Their Majesties the King and Queen and Their Royal Highnesses descended from the Royal Tribune and greeted the commanders participating in the parade.

Afterwards, the Royal Family returned to the Royal Palace of Madrid, where King Felipe, Queen Letizia, the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia hosted the traditional National Day reception for dignitaries in the Throne Room of the Palace.