King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Queen Sofía have welcomed political authorities and representatives from across society in Palma de Mallorca to the traditional royal reception that rounds off their public appearances on the island every summer.
On the evening of 3rd August, the royals stepped out of their residence in Marivent Palace to greet their more than 500 guests, which included the President of the Autonomic Community of Balearic Islands, the Government Delegate in the Community, several Mayors and several members of the National Parliament who represent this territory.
Other guests included representatives of emergency services, whose work was being recognised following devastating climate change-related events on the island not too long ago, as well as members of university boards, prize winners, leaders of religious communities, and sports personalities.
The latter category included a delegation from the Mallorca Palma Futsal, the local futsal team, who were crowned champion of the Futsal UEFA Champions League 2023.
Contrary to other years, the Royal Household released the names of the two chefs that provided the catering for the evening. Siblings Macarena and Daniel De Castro are not new names in the royal world, since they have served this same reception in 2014 and 2017 before, as well as catering for other, more private meetings that the Spanish royals have entertained during their summer stay on the island.
Their business is based on local produce and “familiar luxury”, according to their website; while Macarena is busy in the kitchen, Daniel’s job is hosting.
(Casa de S. M. el Rey)
King Felipe, whose style has hit the headlines in recent weeks, was dressed in a traditional suit in a pinstripe blue fabric with a white shirt and a floral tie in the hues of purple and red. Both Queen Letizia and Queen Sofía brought a summer touch with their light outfits. King Felipe’s wife paired her floral Desigual dress with a pair of traditional espadrille wedges, a staple of her summer island wardrobe.
King Felipe has been seen in Palma at least since the end of last week, and in the meantime he took part in the MAPFRE King’s Cup sailing competition, which is set to end on the 5th of August; the King’s boat, which is handled by a group belonging to the Navy, is currently in 3rd position. His father, King Juan Carlos, returned briefly to Spain to compete in a sailing gala in Galicia, his appearance co-inciding with the third anniversary of his self imposed exile in Abu Dhabi.
In the meantime, Queen Letizia took on her own agenda and, on the 30th of July, presided over the closing ceremony for the Atlántida Mallorca Film Festival, another event that has become a tradition of her summer stay of the island of Palma.
With the reception done, the royals will take some time to spend together as a family, before two big changes: Princess Leonor is expected to report for duty at the Zaragoza Military Academy on the 17th of August, while Infanta Sofía will take off for Wales towards the end of the month – all the more reason why the royals will be making the most out of their time together as a family of four.
