Politics · Spain · 1 hr ago
Spain’s King and Queen visit Ceuta amid tensions with Morocco
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta on Tuesday, their first visit to the Spanish city on North Africa’s coast.
Thousands of residents gathered to welcome them, waving Spanish and Ceuta flags and cheering as the royal couple walked through the city.
Ceuta and nearby Melilla are Spanish territories that Morocco claims as its own.
The visit comes after a July migration crisis, when more than 70,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco over two days, putting severe pressure on the territory.
Morocco recalled its ambassador to Madrid ahead of the visit, and its king criticised what he called the political use of the crisis.
Spain’s government says it does not fear reprisals and describes its relations with Morocco as good.
The royal couple will travel to Melilla on Wednesday after spending the night in Ceuta.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia began their first official visit to Ceuta on Tuesday, 13 October 2026.
Thousands of residents gathered to greet them, waving flags and chanting in support of Ceuta’s Spanish identity.
The royal couple walked through the city, greeted residents and appeared on the balcony of the Palace of the Assembly.
The two-day visit includes meetings with local officials, a school visit and a tribute at the Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery.
The trip is diplomatically sensitive because Morocco claims sovereignty over Ceuta and recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations ahead of the visit.
- Who
- King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are visiting Ceuta.
- What
- They began their first official visit to the city.
- When
- Tuesday, 13 October 2026; the visit is scheduled to continue for two days.
- Where
- Ceuta, a Spanish city on the North African coast.
- Why
- The sources describe the visit as an official engagement and a public show of support for Ceuta. The government said the royals have the right to visit the two Spanish cities.
Spanish government
Morocco
Sovereignty
Spanish government
The government described Ceuta and Melilla as Spanish cities and defended the royals’ right to visit.
Morocco
Morocco claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla.
Diplomatic response
Spanish government
The government said it did not fear reprisals and described relations with Morocco as good.
Morocco
Morocco recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations ahead of the visit; the sources do not give a direct statement on the trip.
The royals’ helicopter landed in Ceuta, according to El Mundo.
Felipe VI and Letizia began walking through the city centre, according to El País.
The royals reached the city government’s headquarters and greeted local officials, according to El País.
The royal couple are scheduled to travel to Melilla.
- Visit began
- 13 October 2026
- Duration
- Two days
- Arrival
- Ceuta heliport; El Mundo reports the helicopter landed at 12:17
- Crowd
- Thousands of residents
- Local president
- Juan Jesús Vivas
- Next stop
- Melilla on Wednesday
What people are saying
The trip of the Kings to two Spanish cities is historic, but it takes place within the most absolute normality.
We cannot fear reprisals.
I want to tell him not to forget the people of Ceuta.
I have come to accompany Ceuta, which is Spain. We have come to see the King of Spain in Spain.
Sources
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