Cairo, Egypt – Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi and First Lady Entissar Amer El-Sisi formally welcomed King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain at the Al-Ittihadiya Palace on Wednesday, marking the second day of the Spanish monarchs’ first state visit to Egypt.
The royal couple, accompanied by Spain’s Foreign Minister José Manuel Albares and senior officials, arrived in Cairo on Tuesday for a four-day visit aimed at strengthening bilateral ties.
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The welcoming ceremony featured national anthems and an honor guard, with Queen Letizia and Egypt’s First Lady standing side by side as the proceedings unfolded. Earlier in the day, King Felipe and Queen Letizia paid tribute at Cairo’s Unknown Soldier Monument, built in 1974 to honor the martyrs of the Yom Kippur War and later chosen as the final resting place of President Anwar Sadat.
Inside the palace, both sides exchanged greetings before holding separate meetings, followed by a joint bilateral session. The Spanish delegation included Foreign Minister Albares, Royal Household Chief Camilo Villarino, Ambassador to Egypt Álvaro Iranzo, and Secretary of State for Trade Amparo López Senovilla. Egypt was represented by President El-Sisi, Foreign Minister Abdr Abdelatt, and Minister of Investment and Trade Hassan Al-Khatib, among others.
During the ceremony, King Felipe VI was awarded the Collar of the Nile, Egypt’s highest honor, while Queen Letizia received the Order of Al Kamal. In return, President El-Sisi was presented with the Collar of the Order of Isabel the Catholic, and Egypt’s First Lady was decorated with the Grand Cross of the same order.
The day’s program also included an official luncheon at the palace in honor of the Spanish royals. Later, King Felipe was scheduled to meet Hanafy El-Gabali, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and Abdel Wahab Abdel Razek, President of the Senate.
This visit comes just months after El-Sisi’s trip to Madrid in February, where he and King Felipe VI signed a Strategic Partnership Declaration. It is the second meeting between the two leaders in 2025, underscoring the growing depth of Egypt–Spain relations.
The royal itinerary will conclude with cultural visits to the Valley of the Kings, the Luxor Museum, and Spanish-led archaeological projects, including the renowned Proyecto Djehuty, before their departure.
SOURCE : EFE. & DT | Follow Us: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter | Youtube
