On 6 January, King Felipe and Queen Letizia, including Princess Leonor, attended the Military Easter at the Royal Palace in Madrid.
The royals were welcomed by Spanish President Pedro Sanchez, then proceeded to the Plaza de la Armería to meet with other government and military officials. In the Throne Room, the royal family greeted members of the Royal Household and then proceeded to the Gasparini Salet to meet with military officials such as the Central Defence Body and Defence Staff, Royal Brotherhood of Veterans of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard and others.
The King awarded 20 commissioners with orders and addressed the audience saying that he was proud to have held this celebration for ten years, especially happy that Leonor joined him on the tenth anniversary.
King Felipe gave a speech about the ceremony: “This celebration is not just another one for the Crown. It is the 10th Military Easter that I have the honour of presiding over and it happily coincides with the fact that, that for the first time, the Princess of Asturias accompanies us; who, as a Lady Cadet of the General Military Academy, has started her military training plan this year. So – along with the Queen and the Princess –, as Supreme Commander, I am happy I would like to convey my congratulations and annual recognition to the members of the Armed Forces and the Civil Guard, to the members of the National Intelligence Center and to the group of men and women, civil and military, who, in the Ministry or in any field, serve the Defence and National Security.”
The event dates back to the reign of King Charles III of Spain in 1782 and marks the beginning of the military year and is held annually on 6 January.
