SPAIN AND GERMANY AT THE ROYAL PALACE: DIPLOMACY, TRADITION AND INSTITUTIONAL ELEGANCE
In a setting defined by diplomacy, protocol and institutional subtlety, Spain and Germany engaged in a new chapter marked by deliberate gestures and an atmosphere of refined formality. The day once again demonstrated how details can become the true language of a State visit.
The State visit of German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and First Lady Elke Büdenbender concludes this Friday with an event of strong symbolic weight in Gernika, where the German president and King Felipe VI will jointly honor the victims of the 1937 bombing. The gesture will mark the end of a trip characterized by an intense agenda that has included official receptions, economic meetings, a gala banquet and parallel high-profile cultural activities.
While the heads of state led institutional events, the German First Lady carried out an independent agenda in Madrid. Büdenbender visited the Mariemma Professional Dance Conservatory, accompanied by choreographer and director of the Hanover State Ballet, Goyo Montero. During the visit, she held a close exchange with students of classical, Spanish and contemporary dance, spoke with them about their training and even attended a live class. The institution described the visit as an “event of special relevance” and highlighted the conservatory’s close relationship with Montero’s family, particularly his mother, Rosa Naranjo, one of the great masters of Spanish ballet.
The cultural program preceded one of the central events of the visit: the gala dinner at the Royal Palace. The building was once again adorned to host a banquet that brought together Spanish authorities, notable civil society figures and the German delegation. The warm rapport between both couples visible from the moment the guests arrived marked the evening, according to sources close to protocol. The Queen and the First Lady, as well as Felipe VI and Steinmeier, shared relaxed gestures from the receiving line to the main table.
One of the most talked-about elements of the night was Queen Letizia’s choice of the Cartier tiara, an art deco piece of diamonds and pearls that belonged to Queen Victoria Eugenia and had not been worn since 2018. The tiara, designed in the 1920s and part of the “to pass on” jewels transferred from queen to queen, has played a significant role in the history of the Spanish monarchy. Its appearance coincided with the television release of a series on the life of Victoria Eugenia, whose warm reception underscored the cultural weight of the figure.
In his opening speech, Felipe VI greeted the audience in German and concluded in the same language a gesture interpreted as a sign of closeness toward the visiting delegation. The King highlighted the values shared by both countries and stressed the importance of a united Europe in the face of current challenges. The German president, in turn, emphasized historical memory and the importance of the visit to Gernika as an act of reconciliation.
The gala menu was prepared by chef Paco Roncero, who served salted fish with celery juice, manchego cheese and confit tomatoes; sea bass with beurre rouge and artichokes; and a licorice cream dessert. The Royal Guard Music Unit accompanied the evening with classical pieces and Spanish melodies from the 1980s, including the emblematic Noelia by Nino Bravo.
The visit reaffirmed the strong political and cultural ties between both countries, blending diplomacy, history and protocol in an atmosphere of solemnity and elegance.