King Felipe of Spain's Christmas speech is all about unity

King Felipe of Spain's second Christmas message was all about unity. Speaking to his fellow citizens from the huge throne room in the Royal Palace in Madrid, Felipe looked to the way the country's past had built its future and told his viewers that staying together was important.

King Felipe VI of Spain during his 2015 Christmas broadcast

(photo casareal.es)

Coming just days after elections left Spain facing weeks of negotiations by political parties trying to form a coalition, Felipe's speech touched on the dialogue and compromise needed when political plurality was delivered at the ballot box. And the newest king on the continent also talked about the way the past had built the Spain of today.

The setting of the speech added to that feel of the past as Felipe sat, by himself, in the middle of the huge expanse of the Royal Palace with images from his country's history all around him. He began by telling his viewers that the palace belonged to everyone in Spain and throughout his message touched on the contribution of the arts and science to the creation of the Spain of 2015.

King Felipe of Spain makes his 2015 Christmas speech (photo casareal.es)
He ended by looking to the future and there was a new focus on what is to come in the Spanish monarchy as well. A brief collection of photos of the country's royals followed with the standout image a previously unseen picture of the king with his heiress, Princess Leonor. It was a snapshot of a happy father and daughter but also the image of a dynasty in evolution.

Felipe and Leonor in an image from the king's 2015 Christmas broadcast (photo Casa Real TV)
The speech has been generally well received and marks a change from the less formal approach taken by the king in his first Christmas broadcast. Felipe looked to the future as well as the past in this festive message - 2016 will be a big year for the king and his country.