• Prince Charles (L) and Camilla (R), Duchess of Cornwall, greet King Felipe VI (2-L) and Queen Letizia (2-R) at their hotel in central London.
    Prince Charles (L) and Camilla (R), Duchess of Cornwall, greet King Felipe VI (2-L) and Queen Letizia (2-R) at their hotel in central London.
  • Queen Elizabeth II stands with King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Prince Philip during a ceremonial welcome in London.
    Queen Elizabeth II stands with King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and Prince Philip during a ceremonial welcome in London.
  • Prince Philip rides in a carriage with Queen Letizia, following their ceremonial welcome and parade in central London. Matt Dunham
    Prince Philip rides in a carriage with Queen Letizia, following their ceremonial welcome and parade in central London. Matt Dunham
  • Queen Elizabeth II and King Felipe VI travel in a state carriage along The Mall in central London on the first day of the three day state visit.
    Queen Elizabeth II and King Felipe VI travel in a state carriage along The Mall in central London on the first day of the three day state visit.
  • Prince Charles (2-R) and Camilla (L), Duchess of Cornwall, greet King Felipe VI (2-L) and Queen Letizia (R) at their hotel in central London.
    Prince Charles (2-R) and Camilla (L), Duchess of Cornwall, greet King Felipe VI (2-L) and Queen Letizia (R) at their hotel in central London.
  • Prince Charles (L) and Camilla (R), Duchess of Cornwall greet King Felipe VI (2-L) and Queen Letizia (2-R) at their hotel in central London.
    Prince Charles (L) and Camilla (R), Duchess of Cornwall greet King Felipe VI (2-L) and Queen Letizia (2-R) at their hotel in central London.
  • Britain's Prince Charles (L) chats with King Felipe VI (R) at a hotel in central London.
    Britain's Prince Charles (L) chats with King Felipe VI (R) at a hotel in central London.
  • King Felipe VI (2R) and Queen Letizia (2L) look at a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (C) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L) at Buckingham Palace in central London on July 12, 2017. Neil Hall.
    King Felipe VI (2R) and Queen Letizia (2L) look at a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection with Britain's Queen Elizabeth II (C) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L) at Buckingham Palace in central London on July 12, 2017. Neil Hall.
  • Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, stand next to a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection during the state visit of Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at Buckingham Palace in central London on July 12, 2017. Neil Hall.
    Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, stand next to a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection during the state visit of Spanish King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at Buckingham Palace in central London on July 12, 2017. Neil Hall.
  • King Felipe VI (R) and Queen Letizia (2L) look at a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection with Queen Elizabeth II (2R) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L), at Buckingham Palace. Neil Hall.
    King Felipe VI (R) and Queen Letizia (2L) look at a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection with Queen Elizabeth II (2R) and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh (L), at Buckingham Palace. Neil Hall.
  • King Felipe VI (R) and Queen Elizabeth II look at a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. Neil Hall.
    King Felipe VI (R) and Queen Elizabeth II look at a display of Spanish items from the Royal Collection at Buckingham Palace. Neil Hall.

Europe

UK welcomes king and queen of Spain with military pomp

The three-day state visit by King Felipe VI and his wife, Queen Letizia, came amid rising tensions between Spain and Britain over what Brexit means for the future of Gibraltar, a tiny British territory which borders Spain.

Associated Press

July 12, 2017

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LONDON // Britain's Queen Elizabeth II and her husband welcomed the king and queen of Spain with an extravagant military ceremony on Wednesday.

The three-day state visit by King Felipe VI and his wife, Queen Letizia, came amid rising tensions between Spain and Britain over what Brexit means for the future of Gibraltar, a tiny British territory which borders Spain.

There was no sign of discord as the Spanish royals arrived at Buckingham Palace, however, with Britain treating them to the full pomp and pageantry traditionally rolled out for visiting heads of state.

Queen Elizabeth's husband, Prince Philip, and King Felipe first inspected troops at central London's Horse Guards Parade, a former royal jousting yard. Dozens of soldiers on horseback then escorted both monarchs and their spouses in a spectacular procession down The Mall, decorated with Union Jack and Spanish flags. King Felipe rode with the queen in the 1902 State Landau, a gilded carriage built for the coronation of King Edward VII, while Prince Philip travelled with Queen Letizia in a separate carriage.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia are the first Spanish monarchs to visit Britain since King Felipe's father toured the country in 1983.

King Felipe is expected to speak about Gibraltar when he addresses the British parliament later onWednesday.

He and his wife will then dine at a state banquet in the ballroom of Buckingham Palace, where they are staying.