Historic Moment for King Felipe VI As He Made His First State Visit to Germany During His Reign

Their Majesties, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are currently in Germany for a three-day official state visit. They left Spain on Sunday, October 16, and were officially welcomed to Bellevue Palace in Berlin by the President of the Federal Republic of Germany, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, and his wife, Elke Budenbender.

This is a historic moment for the reigning Spanish monarch because this is his first official state visit to Germany since he ascended the Spanish throne in 2014. The last state visit of a Spanish king to Germany was in 1997 during the reign of King Juan Carlos.

Bellevue Palace in Berlin is originally a home to Hohenzollern Kings of Prussia

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia welcomed by German President and his wife

Another historic moment was when King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia stepped out for the first time to Bellevue Palace, also known as Schloss Bellevue or Bellevue Castle, the former home of the king's royal ancestors, the Hohenzollern Kings of Prussia, and eventually Germany. His maternal great-great-grandfather, Kaiser William II, the last Emperor of Germany, used Bellevue Palace as the private school of his seven children.

German President and First Lady welcomed the King and Queen of Spain

When the monarchy in Germany was abolished in 1918 at the conclusion of World War I, William II went to live in exile in The Netherlands, Bellevue Palace was acquired by the Free State of Prussia in 1928, and later became the official residence of the President of Germany.

This state visit of the Spanish monarch to Germany was originally scheduled for 2021 but was delayed for a year due to the pandemic. 

Spanish State Visit to Germany 2022

During the welcome ceremony at Bellevue Palace, King Felipe VI delivered a short speech highlighting their state visit as an "excellent opportunity to give renewed impetus to our bilateral relationship, within the framework of the year of meetings between our two countries". 

Queen Letizia and German First Lady, Elke Budenbender

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain

He also added that hopefully, the visit "can contribute to the deepening of ties, even more, the friendship between the Spanish people and the German people, and the collaboration between our institutions".

Queen Letizia stepped out in elegance wearing this Carolina Herrera blue dress

After the welcome ceremony, the King and Queen laid a wreath of flowers during a visit to the national monument for the victims of war and tyranny at the Neue Wache. Accompanied by the German president, King Felipe VI visited the Fritz Haber Institute of the Max Planck Society, he also held a meeting with German Chancellor, Olaf Scholz.

State Dinner for King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia are scheduled to travel to Frankfurt for the opening of the Book Fair, where Spain is the guest country. The royal couple will also visit the European Central Bank.

Queen Letizia stepped out in style for the first day of their state visit, wearing an elegant blue dress from Carolina Herrera with embellishments on the shoulder. She also wore a pair of blue suede pumps from Magrit shoes and completed her look with Bulgari earrings.

Queen Letizia wore a one-cape shoulder Stella McCartney dress

The German president hosted a state dinner for the visiting Spanish royals on October 17. Unlike other state dinners where the host country is a monarchy, state banquets in non-monarchy nations usually do not have displays of tiaras and royal regalias such as sash and medals.

However, Queen Letizia still stepped out in elegance and looked glamorous in an orange gown from Stella McCartney which featured a one-shoulder cape and sleeveless, a pair of gold metallic leather sandals from Jimmy Choo, and a Magrit gold leather clutch.

Queen Letizia's style during the state visit

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia at their arrival in Berlin, October 16

The next big public appearance of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will be at the Princess of Asturias Awards where their daughters, Leonor, the Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofia, will accompany them. Princess Leonor will also turn 17 this coming October 30! It will be a highly anticipated fashion moment for the Spanish royal ladies.

Queen Letizia wore a pair of fuchsia trousers from Boss upon arrival in Berline