King Felipe of Spain took command as an unprecedented accident hit one of the biggest military events in the country.
As the Spanish king stood to take the salute on the country’s National Day for the Armed Forces, the flag that was being hoisted above the ceremony suddenly broke loose and tumbled to the ground.
The giant flag fell on several military officers keeping guard beneath, leaving them covered.
The incident came at a pivotal moment in the ceremony and officials rushed to gather up the flag.
King Felipe then called to them to bring the flag, as it was, towards him and a salute followed.
At his side was Princess Leonor, who is just completing her military service. The heir to the throne was dressed in the uniform of Spain’s air force – her third and final year of training has been spent with that service following a year with Spain’s navy and another with its army.
Queen Letizia was also at the ceremony which took place in the north western city of Vigo under grey skies. The weather also led to the traditional fly past being cancelled.
The fall of the flag and the lack of an aerial display was taken by some commentators as a sign of the current dissatisfaction felt in parts of Spain around the country’s ongoing political disputes as well as the sometimes bumpy path of the country’s royal family.
However, King Felipe seemed totally in control of events and didn’t miss a beat before taking command of the ceremony as the situation unfolded.
The National Day for the Armed Forces was established in Spain in 1978 as a way of honouring military personnel throughout the country.
Following the ceremony, King Felipe spoke at a reception held to mark the special day. Ahead of toasting all the military personnel present, he spent several minutes speaking of the training his daughter has undertaken and congratulating her on it.
Princess Leonor will complete her year with Spain’s air forces this week and is set to begin university studies this autumn. In the meantime, she is expected to carry out a series of public engagements across the summer. She will take a leading role as Spain welcomes Pope Leo XIV for a Papal Visit in early June which is expected to bring hundreds of thousands to the streets of Spain.
