Two decades later, Spanish Kings revisit the Monastery of Guadalupe in Cáceres, site of their initial pilgrimage.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia Visit Guadalupe in Cáceres on Tenth Anniversary of His Reign
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain traveled to the town of Guadalupe in Cáceres on Wednesday, marking the tenth anniversary of Felipe's proclamation as king. This was their second visit to the Extremaduran municipality in the past 21 years, having first visited it as princes.
The royal couple's visit commenced at the Town Hall where they met with regional and municipal authorities, including the Mayor, José Miguel Martín. They later appeared on the balcony of the Town Hall to the applause of the gathered residents.
Among other activities, the monarchs toured the 14th-century Royal Monastery of Santa María de Guadalupe, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ecclesiastical authorities, such as Francisco Cerro, the Archbishop of Toledo, and José Rodríguez Carballo, the Archbishop of Mérida-Badajoz, received them. They also had an opportunity to interact with users and managers of the Fray Sebastián García Residential and Day Center.
Queen Letizia spent a memorable moment hugging children waving miniature flags during the visit. Felipe and Letizia were also greeted by María Guardiola, the President of the Junta de Extremadura, José Luis Quintana, the Government Delegate in Extremadura, and Blanca Martín, the President of the Assembly.
At the Plaza de Santa María de Guadalupe, the town square was adorned with mantillas and flowers for the occasion, and the kings greeted the residents for the second time that day. They visited the Fountain of the Three Jets, where the first native Americans were baptized in Spanish soil.
This visit underscores the monarchs' ongoing engagement with the local community and the region's cultural heritage, while also celebrating a significant milestone in King Felipe's reign. It is one of several recent visits made by the royal couple to Extremadura.
The royal couple, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia, during their visit to the home-and-garden themed Fray Sebastián García Residential and Day Center, discussed sustainable living and the average lifestyle improvements in the region. Later, as they stood overlooking the Plaza de Santa María de Guadalupe, adorned with mantillas and flowers, King Felipe VI expressed his admiration for the town's average residents living a sustainable lifestyle, contributing to the preservation of its rich cultural heritage.
