King Felipe of Spain made the long journey to Chile to be present for the inauguration of the country’s new President, Gabriel Boric.
His Majesty left Adolfo Suárez Madrid-Barajas International Airport accompanied by a delegation of Spanish authorities that include the President of the Senate and the Ministers of Labour and Equality.
The royal plane landed at Comodoro Arturo Merino Benítez International Airport in Chile’s capital of Santiago in the morning of Thursday, 10 March, where the Spanish delegation was welcomed by the Spanish Ambassador to Chile and personnel from the Embassy, as well as the Chief of Protocol of the Chilean Republic and the General Commander and Chief of Santiago’s Aerial Gasket.
His Majesty and the Spanish delegation were then transported to the Municipality of Santiago’s Palace, where they held a meeting with President-elect Gabriel Boric and his designated Foreign Relations Minister.
In La Moneda Palace, only a short drive away, His Majesty then held a meeting with the outgoing President, Sebastián Piñera, and both a Spanish and a Chilean delegation. La Moneda is Chile’s Presidential Palace (the equivalent of the American White House or Madrid’s Royal Palace) and is located in the capital’s centre.
King Felipe closed his day with a reception for the Spanish population residing in Santiago at the Spanish Stadium of Las Condes and a dinner offered by President Piñera for all heads of state and government that travelled to Chile for the inauguration of his successor.
The Spanish King is expected to take part in the inauguration ceremony for President Boric on Friday 11 March, which will be followed by a lunch offered by the new President and First Lady in Cerro Castillo Presidential Residence, located in Viña del Mar, a coast town northwest of Santiago.
According to the Royal Household’s website, this will be the eighth Presidential Inauguration of a Latin American country that King Felipe takes part in, something that Spain has a long tradition of doing. Latin American countries and Spain maintain a privileged relationship, and the King’s presence is seen as a way of reinforcing diplomatic and economic ties.
