Following the conclusion of the Armed Forces parade—where the only absence was the seaplanes—the Spanish Royals hosted a reception at the César Manrique Maritime Park. Attended by around one thousand guests, among these were seven hundred military personnel and families of those who lost their lives in the line of duty since the Covid era, along with three hundred representatives from Tenerife’s society.
Under a large marquee, King Felipe VI expressed his gratitude for the warm reception to the event held on Saturday, 6th June, reminiscing fondly about his previous visits to Tenerife. He highlighted two significant moments: first, as a cadet, he marched in the 1986 Armed Forces celebration in Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Thirty-nine years on, he remarked on reuniting with some colleagues who now “wear many medals.”
“Lastly,” he continued, with a nod to the Queen, he mentioned his visit as Prince of Spain to the Palmétum on 28th January 2014, built on the site of the old Lazaretto. Moreover, he expressed gratitude for the dedication of all military personnel who have fallen on missions. The event concluded with a photo session capturing the royal visit.
Words from Bermúdez
The Mayor of Santa Cruz, José Manuel Bermúdez, delivered a speech at the reception, affirming, “Today, we not only commemorate a significant date on the military calendar, but we also celebrate everything that unites us as a society: commitment to democracy, harmony, and solidarity, at a time when these values are more necessary than ever.”
