It took nearly four decades for the Armed Forces parade to return to the capital of Tenerife. On Saturday 7 June, Santa Cruz thronged with people eager to celebrate this grand occasion, which had kept the city bustling all week. Attendees of the main event enjoyed a meticulously planned parade, delighting both young and old, especially when the local island-based units appeared, earning the most applause.
The main events began past eleven in the morning, in a city where traffic was virtually impossible—not due to traffic jams, surprisingly sparse thanks to the extensive planning, but because the parade route closed off key access and circulation roads. Nonetheless, few incidents occurred, and the festive atmosphere was palpable from early morning. Many rose early to attend despite it being the weekend.
No one wanted to miss the parade marking the tenth anniversary of Felipe VI’s coronation, the second time the capital hosted it, 39 years since the first. Back then, the king himself, as heir, marched bearing the Spanish flag as a cadet in the General Military Academy.
Everything was set up on Constitution Avenue near Tenerife Auditorium, with a grandstand presiding over the parade. The Royal Guard’s Music Unit opened with the first notes as the public approached the barriers and invited guests filled the stands. At 11:30, as planned, the kings arrived and were greeted by Defence Minister Margarita Robles; Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón; Canary Islands President, Fernando Clavijo; and Santa Cruz Mayor, José Manuel Bermúdez.
Just moments before this meeting, Robles and Clavijo shared a special moment as they broke protocol to greet Salvador Morales, President of the Canarias Physical Disability Coordination (CoordiCanarias), who couldn’t access the stands, as they weren’t adapted for those with limited mobility.
Throughout the morning, up to 3,266 military personnel from the Army, Navy, Space, Emergency Military Unit (UME), Royal Guard, and Civil Guard marched along a 1,120-metre route near the coast. Only 13% of participants were women, and this year’s parade featured the Eurocorps flag, carried by a Spanish officer escorted by non-commissioned officers from Germany, Belgium, France, Luxembourg, and Poland.
The parade’s arrival in the Canaries altered routines not only in Tenerife but also in Gran Canaria, where a prelude event took place on Friday 6th, attended by King Felipe VI at a dynamic display on Las Alcaravaneras beach in the Gran Canaria capital. A notable first was the inclusion of the S-81 Isaac Peral submarine.
This year also saw the absence of horses traditionally escorting the king and part of the mounted group during the foot parade. The stress of transportation from the mainland, crowded conditions, and the day’s heat meant they were absent. Not missing was the iconic legion goat, named Camarón, parading with the Legion’s Duque de Alba division, quickly covering the route with its distinctive 160 steps per minute.
At the slower end were the Melilla n.º 52 Regular Group’s Gastador Squad, taking only 90 steps per minute, known for their pace and as one of the most decorated units in the Spanish military.
The kings arrived on Constitution Avenue for the parade at 11:30. Felipe wore the full-dress Naval uniform, and Letizia donned a favourite Carolina Herrera dress in white with blue floral prints. They appeared where crowds were thinner than at past parades, likely due to the chosen location, invited by Santa Cruz Mayor José Manual Bermúdez for this year’s Armed Forces Day commemoration.
Despite fewer attendees, enthusiasm remained high, intensifying when the king reviewed the Honour Battalion and greeted civil and military authorities, allowing citizens closer access. One of the most thrilling moments was the parachute jump by the Air Force’s acrobatic patrol (Papea) from 1,000 metres, with three military personnel landing near the presidential stand, marking a perfect farewell for Corporal Francisco Vico, carrying a 24-square-metre Spanish flag weighing 15 kilos. Vico, retiring to the reserve after a parachuting career with over 12,000 jumps and many awards, marked the occasion.
Following the flag-raising and a tribute to those who gave their lives for Spain—one of the morning’s most solemn moments—seven Águila patrol planes traced the Spanish flag in the sky, kicking off the aerial display. However, adverse weather required last-minute changes.
The low cloud cover resulted in 11 formations with 45 aircraft flying, 18 being fighter jets, and the rest helicopters. The F-18s tasked with Canary Islands airspace defence from Gando, Gran Canaria, and Bhelma VI helicopters from Los Rodeos were crowd favourites due to their proximity.
A total of 2,896 military members, including Civil Guard, participated in the ground parade, led by the Civil Guard Motorbike section on Harley Davidson Road Kings. In total, 86 vehicles and 36 motorbikes travelled along Constitution Avenue.
The UME also received cheers for their showcase of their varied and valuable work across Spain. After this remarkable display, the Águila Patrol flew over again to conclude the main Armed Forces Day event.
However, this parade isn’t the last chance for civilians to engage with the military. After a week of activities, there’s still time on Sunday to explore the static and dynamic military equipment exhibition on Avenida Marítima in the capital.
