Macron begins his state visit to Spain with a meeting with the Royals

French President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Spain for a two-day state visit, being received at the Royal Palace by King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. This event marks the first official visit by a French president to Spain since 2009.

Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, arrived nearly an hour later than scheduled. During the welcome ceremony, the couple was accompanied by heralds, a band of trumpets and drums, as well as cavalry and lancers.

Macron will meet with Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, who has been working on a cooperation treaty between the two countries that was recently approved by the Constitutional Court.

During the gala dinner hosted by the Royals, King Felipe VI addressed the situation in Ceuta, emphasizing that the crisis of mass entry of people is a shared responsibility that the European Union must address. The King called for greater cooperation and resources for countries at the EU's external borders.

Throughout his visit, Macron has defended the image of the European Union. In a meeting with students, he highlighted the need to 'rehumanize' social networks and reaffirm the importance of the European continent in the current context.

Macron is set to receive the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic during his stay, further solidifying the symbolism of this visit within the framework of Spanish-French relations.