On day one of the Spanish State Visit, King Felipe VI of Spain shared the limelight. His wife, Queen Letizia, was getting plenty of attention with three outfits in the colours of the Spanish flag while his great grandmother, British born Queen Ena, was being remembered just about everywhere. But day two has been very much about the newest monarch in Europe. Felipe has had a string of high profile engagements on day two and he's still got time for tea before another banquet in his honour this evening. This is how the State Visit spotlight fell on the King of Spain...
The day began early with a visit to the UK Spain Business Forum - after all, State Visits are all about strengthening ties, especially economic ones. The forum took place at the Mansion House in the City of London with King Felipe giving his third speech of the visit.
As the morning came to an end, he was joined by Queen Letizia for a visit to Westminster Abbey. There, their host was Prince Harry who stood alongside them as the King of Spain laid a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. The royal visitors were then given a tour of the Abbey where they visited the tomb of Eleanor of Castile (Leonor de Castilla), queen to Edward I, and one of the many medieval Spanish royals to bear the name they chose for their elder daughter.
Los Reyes, con la colectividad española en el Reino Unido. #SpainStateVisit #VisitaalReinoUnido https://t.co/MY6fZIo2kZ pic.twitter.com/PCuJRjhUyy— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) July 13, 2017
Felipe and Letizia then headed to the Spanish Embassy in London to meet the Spanish community in the city. More focus on Felipe's words as he delivered another speech, again touching on remembering victims of terrorism, before the couple got a chance to meet some of those who had come along to see them.
Last on the to do list for the first part of day two was a trip to Ten Downing Street. The King of Spain took a stroll down the street to meet Prime Minister, Theresa May, who trotted happily past the red carpet to meet her guest half way. Inside, they posed for photos before private talks and a spot of lunch. Felipe will need a rest after that busy morning. Expect another speech from him tonight at the banquet at the Guildhall as day two puts the King of Spain firmly in the State Visit spotlight.
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