Before dawn on Saturday, 7th June, the streets of Santa Cruz had not yet been set, and locals and visitors alike were already arriving to secure prime spots for the Armed Forces parade held on Avenida de la Constitución. This event ran from just before midday until the early afternoon.
It was an emotional ceremony, particularly for monarchists and military enthusiasts, as well as for the families of recent military inductees at Hoya Fría post-training in Cádiz. The Festivities Councillor, Javier Caraballero, also the artistic director of the Carnival events, shared a word with his colleague Gladis de León, now the Anaga and Equality Councillor and former head of Festivities. He remarked: “I want a procession with the same rhythm as the parade,” to which De León noted she noticed gaps, much like those seen in Carnival parades.
Access through the avenue by the Refinery was shut to traffic to ensure the military area’s security. As a result, Santa Cruz resembled a military encampment, stretching from Avenida La Salle to the sea. Residents of Cabo Llanos could only remove their cars from garages after 4 PM.
The parade featured three queens: Letizia Ortiz herself, and the Carnival Queen of 2025, Elizabeth Ledesma Laker, along with Idaira Afonso Nazco, recently crowned at the May Festivities.
Almost half a queen more, Gladis de León, displayed a striking ensemble that included a waistcoat from the late wardrobe designer Ubaldo Hernández, and a Cordovan hat by Raceu Hats. To champion Canary pride, she wore rings by artisan Juan Gil. Prominent among the attendees was Matilde Zambudio from the socialist municipal group, dressed as if straight from a cocktail attire catalogue, and her leader styled in a ‘guerrilla fantasy’ in red tones, contrasting with the classic cuts ‘Juan XXI model’ worn by housing councillor Belén Mesa and former sports chief Elena Mateo. The authority tribune offered surprises expected to appear in Carnival, although unlikely in political satire lyrics.
On the day, the Queen of Spain, as noted by Europe Press, wore her favourite Carolina Herrera dress: a white frock with a midi skirt, round neck, and short sleeves adorned with blue floral prints. An outfit she had first donned in 2022 for the visit of Sheikh Tamim Bin Hamad Al-Thani of Qatar and his wife to Zarzuela, its elegance and comfort winning praise once more in Santa Cruz.
The Armed Forces Day in Santa Cruz attracted thousands of curious onlookers. The early birds, without invitations, gathered at one of two bleachers reserved by the Tenerife capital’s mayoralty for a thousand guests—the larger occupying the pavement of the Ermita de Nuestra Señora de Regla for seven hundred guests; the other, by the Tenerife Auditorium flags, hosting over three hundred.
The so-called Regla bleacher served presidents and representatives of neighbourhood and senior associations; while the Auditorium bleacher catered to the city’s social and business elite, including leaders from clubs like the Casino, Círculo de Amistad, or Yacht Club. The new president of CD Tenerife, the Loro Parque owners, and Binter, along with dozens of Carnival group leaders, distinguished themselves. Regla’s guests were seen off post-parade, while the three hundred from the Auditorium enjoyed a toast at the César Manrique Maritime Park.
Spectators started arriving at the Regla bleacher as early as 5 AM. By the time security arrived at 8:30 to regulate entry, nearly half the seven hundred seats were taken. Three hours remained until the parade’s start, but space was already occupied. Officials asked the public to vacate for invitees, meeting resistance. Even staff like Patricia Rodríguez Bello, the housing councillor’s secretary, and José Miguel Zamora, CC’s municipal group secretary, were sent to negotiate with the early birds.
Talk was that signage indicating the bleacher was reserved would have preempted confusion. The spectators eventually learned the stand was destined for families of municipal workers; some relocated while others stayed put…
With discussions underway and a few ‘stubborn folks’ unwilling to budge, the official guests started arriving, although invited at 10:30 AM. The concern was that unauthorised occupants might surpass expected allowance, but ultimately, tensions eased, with those first present seeking shade under the Auditorium’s eaves until the sun evenly cast its rays.
At 10 AM, following Councillor Caraballero’s suggestion, all corporation members—not just the governing team—convened to travel by minibus from the town hall to the authority tribune on Avenida de la Constitución. The last time CC and PP shared a ride was five years prior for a censure motion against then-socialist mayor Patricia Hernández. PSOE’s spokesperson opted to assume her role on the Canary Islands Parliament’s board over accompanying the Corporation.
Cool calm reigned over the municipal bleacher by the Auditorium flagpoles, adorned with Spanish flags. First guests included the esteemed municipal protocol head turned Canary Islands Parliament consultant, José Arturo Navarro Riaño, with decorations on his jacket, akin to former French consul Jean Dekany. Navarro was joined by previous Círculo de Bellas Artes president, Alejandro Tosco.
The front row hosted Tenerife Council Vice-President Lope Afonso next to CC’s second in command, José Miguel Ruano, plus councillors like Dámaso Arteaga, Blanca Pérez of CC, José Carlos Acha, and Manuel Fernández of PP, among others.
The ‘Auditorium bleacher’ gathered prominent figures from Santa Cruz’s politics, culture, business, and society, including Abbas Moujir, head of the Canary Urban Area Federation; new CD Tenerife President Felipe Miñambres, who skipped the King’s Marítimo reception for errands, and La Caixa Foundation’s President, Andrés Orozco.
With an hour till the parade, Casino de Tenerife President Miguel Cabrera Pérez-Camacho arrived, deftly posting himself atop the bleacher for the best vantage point over the military procession from the fair grounds down Anaga Avenue, where Cabrera enjoyed a smoke—an enduring vice.
Invitations under the mayor’s seal ensured meticulous consultation, overseen by Chief of Staff Noemí Carreras, Protocol Head Vicky Fariña, and Councillor Caraballero, ensuring a Carnival contingent. Attendees ranged from Manolo Peña, Mamel’s Society President, Bambones Murga President Juan Antonio Rodríguez, to Carlos Estévanez of La Sonora. Behind them, the Coello family led by Guachi Infantil President Juanjo Coello, Guachinquietas Director, Fernando Rivero of Rondalla Mamel’s, and Luis Hernández. Further down stood the Presidents of Diablos Locos and Loro Parque’s owner; nearby were Carnival 2025 Gala Directors Daniel Pages, Paula Álvarez, Yeray Piñero, alongside the manager of the new Santa Cruz Festivities Public Enterprise, Patricia Castillo, and Chaxiraxi music ensemble representative and celebrated May Designers’ Guild member, Texenery Moreno.
Carnival artist ranks included Designers Association President Santi Castro and Carnival Queen’s advocate Alexis Santana.
Citizen Participation veterans, like Mayor’s father Severiano Bermúdez, alongside church representatives including the new Nivariense Bishop Eloy Cabrera and deans Juan Manuel Yanes and Miguel Ángel Navarro, made appearances.
Dual honorary Citizen and Artist, Caco Senante, watched from the ‘Auditorium bleacher’ along with two of Santa Cruz’s ‘Fantastic Five’ strategists, Marta del Castillo and Luis Gutiérrez.
One of the parade’s loudest applause moments was for the Emergency Military Unit. A telling interaction: a young Diego asked his mother about the figures in yellow, to which she replied: “The UME, darling. They’re our local heroes.”
The parade went whistle-free, barring a brief ambulance obstruction, swiftly resolved amidst public protest. The incident coincided with the Canary Executive Head, Fernando Clavijo, arriving to cheers as he waved to onlookers en route to the presidential stand.
Post-parade, comments included Manolo Peña’s playful claim, “This parade wasn’t orchestrated solely by the Army; a top-notch production company must’ve been involved,” as he headed to the Marítimo nibble. Some retreated to the ermita for a breath of fresh air, others to the royal toast, while many journeyed towards the intercambiador busy with buses heading to Puerto… All hoping it won’t be another 39 years until Tenerife hosts another Armed Forces Day.
