Today King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain visited Covadonga Principality of Asturias with Princess of Asturias Leonor and Infanta Sofia to mark the XVIII Centenary of Kingdom of Asturias and 1st Centenary of the Canonical Coronation of the Virgin of Covadonga and 1st Centenary of the creation of the National Park of the Mountain of Covadonga.
Asturias is celebrating triple unique ephemeris this year centered on Covadonga and its surroundings. There is the historic coincidence of three centenarians simultaneously: the Coronation of the Virgin of Covadonga, the creation of the National Park of the Mountain of Covadonga and the thirteenth centenary of the origins of the Kingdom of Asturias. Three Covadongas in one: the historical, the spiritual and the natural. Upon arrival royals were received by the Santa Cueva by the President of the Principality of Asturias and Government delegation of Asturias.
The royal family toured the Holy Cave of Santa Cveva. The Santa Cueva de Covadonga is a Catholic sanctuary located in Asturias, northern Spain. It is a cave in the Picos de Europa Mountains. The name Covadonga (from Cova Dominica, “cave of Our Lady”) refers to the sanctuary, dedicated to the Virgin of Covadonga.
Lady of Covadonga is a title of the Blessed Virgin Mary, and a Marian shrine devoted to her at Covadonga in the province of Asturias in North West Spain. At the Covadonga Anthem of the Virgin of Covadonga -which is exactly 100 years since its premiere-, by the piper, José Ángel Hevia was recited.
The archbishop of the Covadonga presented medals of the Virgin of Covadonga to the Princess of Asturias Leonor and Infanta Doña Sofía.
Next, the royal family saw burial mound of Don Pelayo. Don Pelayo is a sculpture of the Spanish artist Gerardo Zaragoza located on the esplanade of the Basilica of Santa Maria Real de Covadonga. The pedestal of the statue bears an inscription in Spanish:
“Nuestra esperanza está en Cristo. Este pequeño monte will be the salvación de España. Crónica de Alfonso III” that means, “Our hope is in Christ. This little mountain will be the salvation of Spain. Chronicle of Alfonso III”.
Then the royal family visited Basílica de Santa María la Real de Covadonga – a Catholic church located in Covadonga, Cangas de Onís, Asturias that was designated as a basilica on September 11, 1901. The temple was designed by the German architect Roberto Frassinelli and built between 1877 and 1901 by architect Federico Aparici y Soriano. It is a Neo-Romanesque church made entirely of pink limestone.
Then a Solemn Eucharist was held at the Basilica and after the ceremony royal family signed the holy book of Abbey.
In the Basilica the Anthem of Asturias was recited by the band of Bagpipes of Cangas de Onís before honouring Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofia. Two children of Cangas de Onís dressed in typical Asturian costumes presented floral bouquets to royal ladies.
Next, the royal family arrived at the Capitular House, the residence of President of Kingdom of Asturias, where the President presented gifts to Spanish Princesses.
The Royal Family also enjoyed an exhibition “Covadonga real y mística” exhibiting the chronological photographic series of the Kings of Spain.
After the tour of the exhibition, Don Felipe and Doña Letizia, and their daughters, the Princess of Asturias and the Infanta Doña Sofía, after receiving the greeting of the director of Institutional Relations of the National Factory of Currency and Timbre-Real Casa de la Moneda , Rafael Feria, toured the museum and saw commemorative coin of the 1300th anniversary of the Kingdom of Asturias, the die, the sketches and the history of its manufacture.
Spanish Royal Family enjoyed the natural beauty offerings of Covadonga in Asturias. In the end, the royal family attended an institutional reception at the hotel, where the family was staying.
The last stop of the day was to meet and greet the members of the pubic waiting to see the royal family in Asturias.
It was one of the rare days when Leonor and Sofia met public during walkabouts. Both Princesses were looking really calm and natural while greeting the public.
Coming to the sartorial details of the day, Queen Letizia was looking regal and radiant in red. She was wearing a custom-made Carolina Herrera dress. The colour was a sartorial nod to the visit as the mantle of Lady of Covadonga is also in red.
The full-sleeved shift dress features round neckline with a keyhole opening at front, slightly puffed shoulders, a structured pencil silhouette with a pleated bodice with hidden zip closure at back and fitted waistline.
A closure look at the dress.
Letizia paired the dress with nude Carolina Herrera patent leather sling back pumps costing €270 that she also owns in navy and camel colour.
She was carrying a matching red suede Magrit suede clutch with flap closure.
The bag was custom made using the label’s Kares model, shown here in white leather.
Queen finished her looks with ruby and white gold earrings that she has in the wardrobe for a long time.
It was a historic day for Asturias. Today also marked Princess Leonor’s first visit to her Principal seat.
👍loved reading it.