Politics · Spain · 2 days ago
Spain’s king and queen will stay overnight in Ceuta during official visit
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will make their first official visits to Ceuta and Melilla on 13 and 14 October.
They will stay overnight in Ceuta, the first time a Spanish head of state has spent the night there, according to the reports.
The visit comes after a mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta in late July caused a serious crisis for the city.
In Ceuta, the royals will meet local officials, visit a school and attend an ecumenical memorial at a Muslim cemetery for people who died at sea on 30 and 31 July.
They will also meet representatives of Ceuta’s community before travelling to Melilla the next day.
The visits are intended to give the royals a chance to hear about the effects of the crisis and show support for those who responded.
The reports say the visits were agreed with the Spanish government, but Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez will not accompany them.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will spend the night in Ceuta on 13 October during their first official visit to the city as monarchs.
They are scheduled to meet local authorities, visit a school and attend a ceremony for migrants who died at sea.
The ceremony will take place at Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery and honour people who died on 30 and 31 July.
The royal visit will continue in Melilla on 14 October.
The sources differ on whether the overnight stay will be the first by any Spanish head of state in Ceuta or the first in the current democratic period.
- Who
- King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia.
- What
- They will visit Ceuta and spend the night there. Their programme includes meetings, a school visit and a memorial ceremony.
- When
- 13 October 2026; they are due to travel to Melilla on 14 October.
- Where
- Ceuta, including the town hall, Vicente Alexandre school and Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery.
- Why
- The sources say the visit will let the monarchs meet local authorities and residents and pay tribute to migrants who died at sea.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
No direct quotes in the coverage so far.
The king and queen are due to attend a National Day reception at the Royal Palace.
The monarchs are scheduled to arrive at Ceuta town hall for meetings with local authorities.
They are due to attend a memorial ceremony at Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery.
The programme is scheduled to conclude with a meeting with Ceuta residents at the Parador.
The king and queen are due to stay overnight in Ceuta.
The monarchs are scheduled to visit Melilla.
- Overnight stay
- Ceuta, 13 October 2026
- Melilla visit
- 14 October 2026
- Memorial ceremony
- Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery, at 18:00 on 13 October
- School visit
- Vicente Alexandre school
- Arrival at town hall
- 12:30 on 13 October
Sources
Los Reyes dormirán en Ceuta: primera vez desde Alfonso XIII que un jefe de Estado pernocta en la ciudad autónoma
Los Reyes rendirán homenaje a los migrantes fallecidos en un cementerio musulmán y se quedarán a dormir en Ceuta
Los Reyes pasarán la noche en Ceuta: Felipe VI será el primer jefe del Estado que duerma en la ciudad
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