On Sunday, both His Majesty King Felipe of Spain and His Royal Highness Grand Duke Henri of Luxembourg were in Aix-la-Chapelle, in Aachen in Germany, to attend the events accompanying the Prix International Charlemagne Prize Award. This year’s award was presented to French President Emmanuel Macron.
His Majesty King Felipe arrived on Wednesday afternoon at the NATO Air Base in Geilenkirchen, where he was received by the Ambassador of Spain to Germany. He then moved to the Market Square in Aachen, where he was received by the mayor of the city, the spokesperson of the Steering Committee of the Society for the Awarding of the Charlemagne International Prize and the Consul General of Spain in Düsseldorf.
The King of Spain together with the Grand Duke during the award ceremony on Sunday. Photo: Casa de S.M. el Rey.
On Saturday evening, both His Majesty the King of Spain and His Royal Highness the Grand Duke of Luxembourg attended a dinner at the Aula Carolina Hall of Aachen, held in honour of the President of the French Republic, Mr Emmanuel Macron. A large number of European leaders also participated in the dinner in addition to the two royals.
Early Sunday morning King Felipe and Grand Duke Henri attended the Pontifical Mass at the Aachen Cathedral, accompanied by the President of France, the President of Lithuania, and the Chancellor of Germany, Angela Merkel. Later, the two royals moved on to the Town Hall, where a reception was held with former winners of the prize and the members of the Charlemagne Prize Board.
The President of France receives the award. The King of Spain is on the left, while the Grand Duke of Luxembourg is on the right. Photo: Casa de S.M. el Rey.
The Prix international Charlemagne d’Aix-la-Chapelle was first given in 1950 and reflects individuals or institutions recognised for their commitment to European unity. The International Charlemagne Prize of Aachen is the oldest and most well-known prize awarded for work done in the service of European unification. The prize is named for Charlemagne, the Franconian king revered by his contemporaries as the ‘Father of Europe’.
© Andreas Herrmann
The Grand Duke of Luxembourg has sponsored the presentation of the prize since 2004. Former winners of the award include Pope Francis, Pope John Paul II, Martin Schulz, Henry Kissinger and former UK Prime Minister Winston Churchill, and in 1986 the people of Luxembourg, to mention a few.
