Politics · Spain · 2 hrs ago
Spain’s king and queen begin first official visits to Ceuta and Melilla
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began a visit to Ceuta and Melilla on 13 October.
It is their first official visit to the two Spanish autonomous cities since Felipe VI became king, and comes nearly two decades after the last visit by a Spanish head of state.
The trip is intended to make royal visits to the cities more routine, rather than exceptional.
Ceuta is still recovering from the arrival of nearly 80,000 people from Morocco on 30 July.
Thousands remain at a temporary reception centre in the port, although about 11,026 people had returned to Morocco since 10 August, according to the territorial policy minister.
In Ceuta, the royals are due to visit a school and pay tribute to people who died at sea on 30 and 31 July.
They are due to continue to Melilla on 14 October, where their programme includes a visit to the city’s assembly and a school.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first official visits to Ceuta and Melilla since his proclamation.
The two-day visit is scheduled for 13 and 14 October.
The visit follows a mass arrival of migrants in Ceuta from Morocco on 30 July.
The royal household says the trip aims to make the monarchs’ presence in the cities more routine.
- Who
- King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, accompanied in Ceuta and Melilla by Spanish government ministers.
- What
- They began their first official visit to the two autonomous cities since the king’s proclamation.
- When
- 13 and 14 October 2026.
- Where
- Ceuta and Melilla, Spain.
- Why
- The royal household says the visit aims to normalise the monarchs’ presence in the cities.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
Nearly 80,000 migrants entered Ceuta from Morocco, according to the article.
The king promised the presidents of Ceuta and Melilla that he would visit.
The royal household and the government agreed on a date for the visit.
The king and queen began their visit in Ceuta.
The royal visit was scheduled to continue in Melilla.
- Visit dates
- 13 and 14 October 2026
- Cities
- Ceuta and Melilla
- Migrants entering Ceuta
- Nearly 80,000 on 30 July
- Returns to Morocco
- About 11,026 since 10 August
- Ceuta minister
- Ángel Víctor Torres, minister of territorial policy
- Melilla minister
- Elma Saiz, minister of inclusion, social security and migration
What people are saying
with eagerness and enthusiasm
is approaching normality
Sources
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