King Felipe VI of Spain Welcomes Colombian President For State Visit

President Gustavo Petro of Colombia and his wife, Veronica Alcocer, arrived in Spain on May 3 to begin their official state visit. They were welcomed in Madrid by Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain.

The Colombian President aimed to seek support for his peace plan for the South American country. He also asked for greater action against climate change from Europe.

King and Queen of Spain welcome the Colombian President and First Lady

Colombian State Visit to Spain. Image: Royal Portraits Gallery 

One of the main topics that President Gustavo Petro laid out is his peace process with the National Liberation Army (ELN), a communist-inspired guerrilla organization still active after the dissolution of FARC, a group that spent decades pursuing rebellion.

Colombia’s government and the ELN started talks in November, shortly after Petro was elected president. He called the talks a cornerstone of his effort to resolve a conflict that dates back to the 1960s.

King and Queen of Spain receive Colombian President and his wife. AP News

Petro, an ex-rebel who became Colombia’s first leftist president last year, seeks Spain's full support for his plan, which he will likely explicitly obtain from Spanish Prime Minister, Pedro Sánchez, according to reports from high-ranked officials in the European country.

Image: Royal Portraits Gallery 

Beginning in July, Spain is set to hold the European Union's rotating presidency, a six-month period in which Madrid aims to revitalize Europe’s relations with Latin America.

Image: Royal Portraits Gallery 

Image: Royal Portraits Gallery 

Colombian First Lady Veronica Alcocer and Queen Letizia of Spain. Image: Royal Portraits Gallery 

Queen Letizia and Colombian First Lady Veronica Alcocer both wore a white midi dress during the welcome ceremony. But while the Spanish Queen wore a semi-sleeveless dress to combat the hot weather in Madrid, revealing her toned muscles, the Colombian First Lady wore a dress with elaborate sleeves and a slit in front. 

Nonetheless, both ladies looked gorgeous and immaculate in their gorgeous white ensembles. Queen Letizia also wore a pair of nude sling shoes from her favorite brand, Magrit shoes.

Queen Letizia of Spain in Sfera white dress

Spring vibe from Queen Letizia and Colombian First Lady

Updated

Their Majesties King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia hosted a state banquet for Colombian President Gustavo Petro and his delegates at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

Before the reception began, both King Felipe VI and President Petro delivered a short speech assuring their nations of solidarity and cooperation.

For the night, Queen Letizia repeated her bright red Carolina Herrera dress in a peplum waistline, and a pair of her favorite Magrit shoes. She also wore her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia's Floral Tiara. 

This tiara is said to be a wedding gift from former Spanish dictator, Francisco Franco, a royalist, to Princess Sofia of Greece and Denmark, for her 1962 wedding to the future Spanish king, Prince Juan Carlos. 

This is a convertible topper is designed in Three five-petaled diamond flowers and connected by a garland of diamond leaves and foliage. This can be worn as a necklace or can be broken as brooches. 

Meanwhile, Colombian First Lady, Veronica Alcocer looked resplendent in a cobalt blue cape dress, and even outshone the stylish Spanish Queen in fashion.