Let the Games Begin....royal style

King Felipe of Spain with some of the athletes heading to Rio to represent Spain at the 2016 Olympics

(photo Casa Real Twitter)

The Olympic Games are now less than a week away and as the build up continues, we've had a right royal send off for one team. King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain headed to Barajas airport in Madrid to wish their fellow country men and women good luck - let the games begin.

Felipe and Letizia of Spain wishing their country's Olympic team good luck

The royal couple arrived at the airport as the team was making its final preparations to head off to Rio de Janeiro for the Olympics which get under way on August 5th. They chatted to some of the 305 sports stars heading off to Brazil and posed for photos and selfies before former Olympian, Felipe, made a speech. The King of Spain, who famously carried his country's flag at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics, told his country's athletes that 'together we are the great team of Spain' and he wished them luck on behalf of himself, his family and everyone else in the land.

King Felipe of Spain addresses his country's Olympic team as they head off to Rio

Felipe and Letizia won't be in Rio. This week they head to Mallorca for the traditional summer stay including visits to the King's Cup sailing event and receptions for local authorities. But King Felipe will be pinging backwards and forwards to Madrid as well as talks continue with the political parties trying to form an administration following the general elections earlier this summer.

Spot the former Olympic athlete, now King of Spain - Felipe in the middle of a selfie session

There will be a big royal turnout in Rio with King Willem-Alexander and Queen Maxima of the Netherlands attending alongside their friends and neighbours, King Philippe and Queen Mathilde of the Belgians. The Princess Royal will be there as will King Carl XVI Gustaf and Queen Silvia of Sweden while Denmark is sending the biggest regal team with Crown Prince Frederik, Crown Princess Mary, Prince Joachim and Princess Marie all set to attend. Prince Albert II of Monaco will also be there although his wife, Princess Charlene, will stay away partly over fears about the Zika virus.  Roll on Rio.

Photo credit: @casareal Twitter.