Today King Felipe and Queen Letizia were joined by Princess of Asturias Leonor and Infanta Sofia for the military celebrations of National Day. The Royal Family arrived escorted by the squadron of Royal Escort.
Also known as Hispanic Day, the national day is a public holiday in Spain, on which the King of Spain supervises the raising of the Spanish national flag in the center of Madrid Plaza de Lima and then lead a military parade after that accompanied by Prime Minister where jets of Spanish air force present a show in the air.
The commemoration of the National Festival aims to solemnly recall moments of collective history that are part of the common historical, cultural and social heritage, assumed as such by the vast majority of citizens. According to Law 18/1987, dated October 7, which establishes the day of the National Day of Spain on October 12, symbolizes the historical event in which Spain, on the verge of concluding a process of construction of the State from of our cultural and political plurality, and the integration of the Kingdoms of Spain into a single Monarchy, begins a period of linguistic and cultural projection beyond European limits.
This year, the celebration had a special memory for the victims in the attacks in Barcelona and Cambrils, with the presence of ambassadors from countries with deceased foreign nationals (Argentina, Belgium, Canada, United States, Germany, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom, and Australia), as well as the family of Ignacio Echeverria, the young Spaniard who died in the London bombing.
After a parachute jump carrying the Spanish flag, three royal guards, representatives of each of the Armies, a civil guard, and national police transferred the flag, which was raised to the chords of the National Anthem. Then took place the tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain. The Music Unit of the Royal Guard was in charge of interpreting “The death is not the end”, to whose compasses were made the movements of scripts and portacoronas.
After the military parade, King Felipe and Queen Letizia attended a traditional reception at The Royal Palace of Madrid attended by the representation of the Spanish society.
As always, for the national event, Queen Letizia premiered a new look this year too. Letizia chose a Felipe Varela gray-blue fitted gray jacket with a belted waist and paired it with a matching pleated skirt that features a hand-embroidered cheviot. The woolen crepe outfit seemed thick but appropriate for the military event.
Queen Letizia teamed her outfit of the day with Australian pearl and diamond earrings.
On her feet, Nina Ricci’s blue suede salons were seen that complimented the outfit.
Queen carried a Felipe Varela Navy blue satin pleated clutch bag that we also saw during a UK visit this year.
Another highlighted accessory was the Queen of Spain brooch made of a large pale grey pearl, surrounded by diamonds and a hanging pear-shaped pearl.
For the occasion, King Felipe was in his military uniform. Princess Leonor was in a red dress with a matching cardigan and red belle flats with ba ow on top from Carolina Herrera.
Infanta Sofia wore a checked-tweed A-line dress featuring a metal zipper at the back and pockets on the front from Pili Carrera. Her outfit was paired with blue and red two-toned belle flats from Carolina Herrera.
