King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain have led a minute’s silence for the tens of thousands of people who have died of Covid-19 in their country. The tribute came as Spain began a period of ten days national mourning for all those who have lost their lives because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The King and Queen of Spain were joined by their daughters, the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia, for a simple ceremony in the grounds of the Zarzuela Palace outside Madrid. The Royal Family stood in front of their country’s flag and bowed their heads in remembrance at midday local time on May 27th 2020 as towns and cities across the country fell silent. Millions across Spain joined the tribute.
The moment of national reflection is the official start of a period of national mourning which will be the longest since Spain became a democracy. Flags will be flown at half mast while the country’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, has said it will be a time to ”express our sorrow and pay tribute to all those who have died.”
In a tribute on Twitter, following the silence, the Royal Family said that ”Spain continues to weep for the many thousands of compatriots we have lost in this pandemic. Many continue to face it. To all of them, and their families, we owe our commemorations, our grief and our love.” The Spanish royal website has also added a black ribbon to its front page and to its Twitter profile.
There have been 27,117 deaths from coronavirus in Spain since the pandemic began.
