All change in Spain

It's not the first time that King Juan Carlos has been missing from the traditional family gathering at Easter Sunday Mass in Mallorca. But it is the first time he's been absent since his abdication. As the new monarch, Felipe VI, posed with his wife, Letizia, their two daughters and his mother the radical changes in the Spanish Royal Family were clear for all to see. It's all change.

And then there were five - Spain's Royal Family arrive for Easter Sunday Mass on April 6th 2015

Felipe, Letizia, Leonor and the two Sofias arrived at the Cathedral of La Seu just before midday and were greeted by a crowd of around 600 people. They posed for photographs before greeting the clergy and then entering the church for the service itself. Afterwards, they posed for more pictures.

One king, two queens and the future generation 

And just to emphasise how much things have changed it was the two youngest members of Spain's Royal Family who led the walkabout today. Nine year old Leonor, Princess of Asturias and her seven year old sister, the Infanta Sofia, shook hands and smiled and waved to many of the wellwishers who had gathered there.

Just five years ago, this event saw a much larger royal presence - for many Easters, Juan Carlos and Sofia gathered their whole family around them at the Mass and at one point counted on the presence of all three of their children, their spouses and their eight grandchildren. Now it is a group of five that greets the crowds.

Easter 2014 - a year later King Juan Carlos and the Infanta Elena weren't at the Cathedral of La Seu

But it is the absence of Juan Carlos that really shows the change that has been made. For 38 years he was the head of this family and its centrepoint. Now he has moved into history and his son and successor has taken his place. Spain has had a new royal family for almost a year now but it is this most traditional of events that has really underlined that for this monarchy it really is all change.