Spain’s royals host reception in the Balearic Islands

King Felipe VI of Spain has welcomed politicians, community leaders and high profile members of the local community to a special reception held on Mallorca. The Spanish monarch was joined by his wife, Queen Letizia, and his mother, Queen Sofia, for the event which marks the royal family’s annual stay on the island.

Felipe, Letizia and Sofia hosted the reception at the Royal Palace of La Almudaina in Palma de Mallorca. The celebration took place on August 7th 2019 as their first week on the island of Mallorca came to an end.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia also spent time meeting some of the wellwishers who had gathered to see them as they made their way into the reception.

The royals were joined at the reception by politicians from across the region including the President of the Balearic Islands, Francina Armengol, and the President of the Parliament there, Vincenc de Paul Thomas.

King Felipe has held a series of audiences with political leaders and representatives since arriving in Mallorca including a meeting on Wednesday with Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, who is still trying to form a government having been left short of an overall majority in the general election held earlier this year. Pedro Sanchez now has two months to set up an administration or Spain will have to go to the polls again. Asked about the possibility of a fourth general election in four years, King Felipe said ”It’s best to find a solution before going to elections” and added ”hopefully there is room for the parties to find a solution”.

King Felipe’s remarks came as he and his family posed for journalists at the Marivent Palace in Mallorca. He was joined for that photocall by Queen Letizia and their two daughters, Princess Leonor who is now 13 and 12 year old Infanta Sofia.

The Spanish Royal Family traditionally spend part of their summer holidays in Mallorca and arrived on the island at the start of August this year. Since then, Queen Sofia has been spotted taking Leonor and Sofia to see The Lion King and enjoyed another trip to the cinema with her two other granddaughters, Victoria de Marichalar and Irene Undangarin.

Queen Letizia has also been seen out shopping with her children and mother in law while King Felipe took part in the King’s Cup sailing regatta where he joined King Harald of Norway on the water.