On the occasion of the tenth anniversary of this proclamation, numerous institutional and festive events were held in Madrid on 19 June 2024, most of them in and around the Royal Palace.
These were those acts, in chronological order:
1. In the morning, a solemn changing of the guard at the Palace, similar to the one held on the first Wednesday of every month, but with some variations due to the special nature of the occasion and the presence of the Royal Family.
2. This was followed, in the Palace's Column Hall, by the presentation of decorations of the Order of Civil Merit to various deserving individuals for their work for the benefit of others.
3. Then, a lunch in the Gala Dining Room of the Palace for a representation of the powers of the State and of society.
4. In the afternoon, the Royal Family met with a group of young people and visited the Royal Collections Gallery, attached to the Royal Palace.
5. In the evening, the Royal Guard Music Unit gave a concert on the esplanade in front of the Palace for all the public who wished to attend.
6. Afterwards, the violinist Ara Malikian performed from the Palace balcony a piece specially composed for the occasion addressed to the Royal Family and all the public present on the esplanade.
7. And as a final act, a videomapping was projected on the east façade of the Palace showing the most important events of this decade.
I was able to attend the first of the events, the solemn changing of the guard. As the different acts of this ceremony are held in different places, this time I came early enough to be able to get into the Plaza de la Armería, where the main events took place.
On previous occasions when I was able to attend this event, I was forced to stay outside the Palace and was only able to take pictures and videos of the events that happened there. That's how I posted it on the forum.
http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=26084
http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=26527
These are different pictures that I was able to take (not of very good quality due to the large number of people present, which made the work very difficult).
South façade of the Royal Palace facing the Plaza de la Armería, adorned with various tapestries and a canopy on the main balcony, intended for the presidency of the Royal Family. Before the ceremony began, the square was already occupied on the east side by all the spectators and photojournalists who were able to access the space, including myself.
The Spanish flag flies permanently on the left mast at the top of the façade. Only when the King is present in the Palace is the banner of Felipe VI added on the right flagpole, as was the case when the Royal Family arrived.
At the different gates of the Palace were the infantry and cavalry guard posts that would be relieved during the ceremony.
Before the arrival of the Royal Family, the Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Guard with his General Staff, the outgoing guard from inside the Palace and the incoming guard from outside (preceded by the Pioneers Squad and the Music Unit of the Guard), successively joined the Plaza de la Armería.
Each of the guards included three infantry sections, one cavalry section and two artillery pieces.
The flag of the Royal Guard was added to the formation to the sounds of the national anthem and the regulatory artillery salutes.
Next, the Royal Family arrived at the Plaza de la Armería to the sound of the national anthem and artillery salutes.
They took their position on the main balcony, the Colonel and his staff below them, and then the ceremony went on, with the changing of the various guard posts.
In two moments of the event, the Patrulla Águila (Eagle Patrol) of the Air Force traced the colours of the national flag in the sky over the Royal Palace.
I wasn't able to attend the rest of the events that were held during the rest of the day, although I did take a walk through the center of Madrid to see that the official buildings, public buses, etc., were decorated for the occasion with Spanish flags, portraits of the King and messages alluding to the anniversary.
These are some pictures I took.
Casa de la Villa, former site of the Madrid City Hall.
Modern City Hall and Plaza de la Cibeles, with national flags and royal standards.
Palacio de Correos, site of the government of the Community of Madrid, located in Puerta del Sol.
Congress of Deputies.
Military Archbishop's Church.
Buenavista Palace, site of the Army Headquarters, where another colourful changing of the guard is celebrated, which I have already posted twice in the forum.
http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=26781
http://bennosfiguresforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=26805
Two other buildings belonging to the City Hall.
Madrid's Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena, located in front of the Plaza de la Armería of the Royal Palace.
Public buses.
Informative screen in the Madrid subway.
I also recorded many moments of the changing of the guard on video and with all of them I created the following one that I have on YouTube, for anyone who want to see it and learn a little more about this beautiful ceremony. Please excuse the poor quality of some of its parts due, as I already mentioned, to the large crowd present.
https://youtu.be/AcPbf2G_U68
Likes and free subscriptions are very welcome.
I apologize for the length of this post, thank you for your attention and hope you like it.
Best regards, dear hobby colleagues.
Santi.
Moderator