The King of Spain is currently on a visit to Central America and has just arrived in Honduras after a stay in Puerto Rico which saw Felipe VI deliver a speech on colonialsim that has made headlines around the world.
The king’s decision to praise Spanish explorers for bringing civilization and European culture to America has put him on the front pages of newspapers globally. His speech in which he called the Spanish colonialism of Puerto Rico a ”model” has led to debate as has the fact that the king made no reference to indigenous people living in the area when the Spanish conquistadors arrived in the 15th century.
It was set against a backdrop of protest at his presence in the country. Just hours before his arrival on January 24th 2022, to celebrate the 500th anniversary of the founding of San Juan, the capital of the US territory of Puerto Rico, vandals toppled a statue of the Spanish explorer and conquistador Juan Ponce de LeĂłn who founded the first western settlement on Puerto Rico in 1508.
During his visit to Puerto Rico, the King said: “Puerto Rico is a model of colonialism. Spain brought with it its language, its culture, its creed, and with all this it contributed values and principles such as the foundations of international law or the conception of universal human rights”.
King Felipe has now travelled to Tegucigalpa in Honduras to attend the Inauguration of the new President Elect, Xiomara Castro.He arrived at Soto Cano Military Base on January 26th 2022, where he was received by the Spanish ambassador to Honduras and a delegation of Honduras politicians. This is Felipe’s first visit to Honduras as King of Spain. He made a working visit to the nation in 2012 and attended a presidential inauguration in January 2014, both while still Prince of Asturias.
His first day in Honduras saw him visit the Jose Cecilio del Valle Palace, where he held a meeting with the President of the Republic of Honduras, Juan Orlando Hernandez, which also was attended by several Ministers. Later, King Felipe moved to the DEINSA Building, where he held a meeting with the President Elect, Xiomara Castro, which was also attended by the Foreign Minister, the Spanish Ambassador and the Director General for Ibero-America and the Caribbean. Xiomara Castro will be the first woman to serve as President of Honduras.
.King Felipe’s first day in Honduras was concluded with a meeting with a representation of the Spanish community, at the Spanish embassy in Honduras.
