State visit from Spain

Topic: Report

17 October 2022

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender welcomed King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to Germany for a three-day state visit on 17 October. The Federal President and King Felipe VI, among other things, attended the German-Spanish Forum in Berlin together and opened the Frankfurt Book Fair at which Spain is the Guest of Honour. The Spanish royal couple had last visited Germany in 2014.

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and King Felipe VI of Spain at a joint press conference at Schloss Bellevue

Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender welcomed King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to Germany for a three-day state visit on 17 October.

The Federal President and Elke Büdenbender welcomed King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain with military honours at Schloss Bellevue on the morning of 17 October. They then held talks together. In the evening, the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender hosted a state banquet in honour of the Spanish King and Queen.

The Federal President attended the German-Spanish Forum on the morning of 18 October, together with King Felipe VI. At the same time, Elke Büdenbender and Queen Letizia visited the exhibition Escribir todos sus nombres, which is part of the collection of the Helga de Alvear Museum at the Palais Populaire. In the afternoon, the Federal President and King Felipe VI opened the Frankfurt Book Fair, at which Spain is this year’s Guest of Honour. The day then ended with a reception at the invitation of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia. The Spanish royal couple attended further appointments in Frankfurt am Main on 19 October.

The last joint visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia to Germany had taken place in December 2014. Federal President Steinmeier and Elke Büdenbender travelled to Spain most recently in October 2018.

Overview of the programme:

Monday, 17 October

  • Schloss Bellevue
    Welcoming of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain with military honours by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender.
  • State banquet in honour of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain, hosted by the Federal President and Elke Büdenbender

Tuesday, 18 October

  • Berlin, Bertelsmann building
    Joint attendance of the German-Spanish Forum with speeches by the Federal President and King Felipe VI of Spain
  • Frankfurt am Main, Messe Frankfurt
    Opening of the Frankfurt Book Fair with speeches by the Federal President and King Felipe VI of Spain