Their Most Catholic Majesties flanked by the Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra to the left and the Representative to the French Co-Prince to the right. Picture by Casa de S.M. el Rey – Spanish Royal Household.
25-26 March 2021, Principality of Andorra: Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain were bid farewell by Spanish dignitaries, at the State Pavilion ‘Adolfo Suárez Madrid’ located at Barajas Airport, before the aircraft carrying them to Andorra took off.
They are accompanied by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, Arancha González Laya as well as an official delegation for their first ever state visit to neighbouring Andorra. The King and Queen arrived in Andorra la Vella, where the State Visit to the Principality of Andorra began.
They were received by the ambassadors of Spain in the Principality of Andorra and of the Principality of Andorra in Spain, Ángel Ros and Vicenç Mateu, respectively, and by the head of Protocol of the Government of Andorra, María Marina. Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia then went to the historic headquarters of the General Council of Andorra – Parliament, Casa de la Vall, where they were officially welcomed by the Episcopal Co-Prince of Andorra, Archbishop Joan-Enric Vives i Sicília, Bishop of the Seu d’Urgell (located in Catalonia) and the Representative of the French Co-Prince (Emmanuel Macron), Patrick Strzoda.
This was followed by the salute to the flag, and Their Majesties the King and Queen were welcomed by the Head of the Government of Andorra, Xavier Espot, and the Syndic General of Andorra, Roser Suñé. Subsequently the national anthems of Spain and the Principality of Andorra were played.
After the official welcome, the King and Queen of Andorra met with the Síndic General of Andorra, and the parliamentary authorities of the Principality and signed the Book of Honour, followed by a visit to the Casa de la Vall.
Afterwards, Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia held a meeting with the staff of the Spanish Embassy in the Principality of Andorra at the Andorra Park Hotel.
To conclude the morning’s activities, Her Majesty The Queen held a working meeting with the Minister of Education and Higher Education of Andorra, Ester Viarrubla, and representatives of the educational community, on the model of inclusion of students with disabilities in the three educational models.
In the afternoon, the King held a meeting with the Cap de Govern of Andorra, Xavier Espot, together with the authorities of the Spanish and Andorran delegations, in the administrative building of the Government of Andorra.
The respective chiefs of diplomacy, Arancha González Laya for Spain, and Maria Ubach Font for Andorra also held a tête-à-tête to discuss bilateral relations, the upcoming Ibero-American Summit, the COVID-19 pandemic, education support the Catalan language in Spain, etc.
To conclude this first day of the State visit to the Principality of Andorra, Their Majesties the King and Queen attended the official dinner offered in their honour by the Co-Princes of Andorra at the Andorra Park Hotel.
On Friday 26 March, Their Majesties the King and Queen continued their State visit to the Principality of Andorra with a visit to the Maria Moline Spanish School; a meeting with the Spanish educational community in Andorra; a visit to the Church of Santa Coloma and the “Espai Columba”; attendance at the official lunch offered by the Cap de Govern of Andorra in honour of Don Felipe VI and Doña Letizia. They concluded this state visit with a visit to the Casa Museo d’Areny-Plandolit.
The State visit to the Principality of Andorra is the first of its kind by Spanish royalty to the Pyrenean country within the framework of the cordial bilateral relations existing between the two countries and framed within the Andorran presidency of the XXVIII Ibero-American Summit of Heads of State and Government to be held on 21 April, in which His Majesty King Felipe VI is expected to partake.
For further information
Spanish Royal Household: https://www.casareal.es/ES/Actividades/Paginas/actividades_viajes_detalle.aspx?data=830
Govern d’Andorra: https://www.govern.ad/afers-exteriors/item/12581-els-reis-d-espanya-inicien-la-seva-visita-oficial-a-andorra
XXVIII Ibero-American Summit: https://www.cumbresiberoamericanas.com
