The King of Spain has spoken of the importance of richer countries sending coronavirus vaccines to poorer nations as he welcomed the Secretary General of the United Nations to Madrid.
King Felipe’s appeal came in a speech at a lunch at the Royal Palace in honour of Antonio Guterres as he completed a two day visit to Spain.
Before the gathering, Felipe VI held an audience with Mr. Gutierres, who was recently re-elected for a second term as UN Secretary General.
Queen Letizia joined her husband for the lunch which was also attended by members of UN organisations working in Spain as well as representatives from across the country associated with projects run by the United Nations.
King Felipe, Queen Letizia and UN Secretary General, Antonio Guterres, make their way into lunch at the Royal Palace in Madrid (photo Casa de S.M. el Rey)
The King and Queen of Spain, along with the UN Secretary General, led a now traditional socially distanced greeting line which featured no handshakes. They, along with all guests, wore masks for this part of the lunch.
During the meal, King Felipe spoke of the importance of countries around the world supporting each other as the coronavirus pandemic changes and, ultimately, ends. Focusing on vaccinations, he praised the work which had led to the development of jabs against Covid within months but added ”until we are all free from the pandemic, we will not have defeated it….now it is up to the most developed countries to make an effort so that vaccines reach everyone.”
The speech concluded with Felipe VI reaffirming his country’s commitment to the United Nations. Antonio Guterres later thanked him for that pledge and expressed his hopes that the bonds between the organisation and Spain would continue to grow.
