Queen Letizia of Spain radiated elegance on Tuesday evening as she and King Felipe hosted French President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte, at a lavish state banquet.
The Spanish queen made a striking entrance at Madrid’s Royal Palace in a floor-length Carolina Herrera gown in a rich shade of blue, completed by her much-loved Spanish Floral Tiara.
The historic tiara was presented to her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia, by the Spanish Government to mark her wedding in 1962. It remains one of Letizia’s most frequently worn jewels for state dinners and important diplomatic occasions.
The refined royal, 54, teamed the embellished crepe dress with Martinelli Redondo metallic leather platform sandals, priced at £200.
King Felipe looked equally polished in a black suit and white bow tie. He smiled broadly while greeting the French president and first lady during the historic visit.
Brigitte Macron opted for a sleek white column dress featuring silver detailing along the sides. She completed the look with a sparkling white clutch and elegant drop earrings.
Reflecting the close bilateral relationship between France and Spain, Emmanuel Macron wore the insignia of the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic.
The state banquet featured an exquisite menu overseen by Michelin-starred chef Joan Roca, who was said to have created a special selection for the Spanish-French occasion.
Queen Letizia of Spain looked effortlessly elegant as she and King Felipe welcomed Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron to a lavish state banquet on Tuesday evening
The Spanish queen was a vision in blue at Madrid’s Royal Palace, wearing a floor-length Carolina Herrera gown and the Spanish Floral Tiara
The sophisticated royal, 54, paired the embellished Crepe Gown in Cloudy Blue with £200 Martinelli Redondo ‘Monroe’ Metallic Leather Platform Sandals
Both Emmanuel Macron and King Felipe delivered speeches during the dinner. The French president also acknowledged Felipe and Letizia’s daughter, Leonor, who recently began university studies at Madrid’s Carlos II University.
The two-day visit marked the first French state visit to Spain since 2009 and was intended to strengthen political, economic and diplomatic ties between the neighbouring nations.
Earlier on Tuesday, King Felipe and Queen Letizia welcomed Emmanuel and Brigitte in the courtyard of the Royal Palace before hosting a luncheon at the Palace of La Zarzuela.
Emmanuel Macron and King Felipe also reviewed a Royal Guard battalion and watched a parade before holding talks on bilateral relations.
The Friendship and Cooperation Treaty, signed by Mr Macron and Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Barcelona in January 2023, was believed to be among the central issues discussed.
The state visit followed an emotional appearance in France, where Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron welcomed Princess Charlene of Monaco and Prince Albert II.
The French couple were photographed warmly greeting the Monegasque royals as they arrived for the ‘At the Roots of Europe for Peace and Unity’ meeting near the German border.
Pope Leo XIV addressed the conference on the final day of his four-day visit to France, speaking about a ‘new stage’ in the story of ‘contemporary Europe’.
Brigitte Macron displayed her impeccable style in a white column dress with silver side detailing, accessorising with a sparkling white clutch and a pair of elegant drop earrings
Gifted to Queen Sofia by the Spanish Government to mark her wedding in 1962, the historic Spanish Floral Tiara is one of Letizia’s most-worn headpieces for state dinners and key diplomatic events
In recognition of bilateral relations between France and Spain, Emmanuel wore insignia to mark the Collar of the Order of Isabella the Catholic, while Brigitte also marked her recently-honoured Grand Cross of the same order
Emmanuel and Brigitte arrived in Spain on Tuesday for a two-day trip designed to help strengthen political, economic and diplomatic ties
Met with a standing ovation, Pope Leo called for younger Europeans to ‘not give in to the mentality of violence and oppression’ and ‘not be afraid to work tirelessly for the good of your communities, including through political engagement’.
The event in Metz, hometown of Robert Schuman, a founding father of the European Union, saw Princess Charlene, 48, and Prince Albert, 68, join the French leader in a bid to strengthen ties between European nations.
All EU heads of state and the heads of European institutions were invited to attend the conference. The French president, 48, is also set to join Pope Leo for Mass in the city of Metz later today.
For the occasion, Charlene stepped out in a striking white suit ensemble, paired with a statement collar and matching handbag with gold detailing.
The royal mother-of-two’s all-white ensemble was in line with the ‘privilège du blanc” – an exception to the historic dress code that permits only queens and princesses from Catholic countries to wear white when meeting the Pope.
She is one of fewer than ten women in the world who are permitted to wear white when meeting with the Pope.
Called le privilège du blanc in French or il privilegio del bianco in Italian, the special tradition is extended solely to designated Catholic queens and princesses and is reserved for important events such as private audiences, canonisations, beatifications and special masses.
Normal protocol for papal audiences requires that women wear a long black dress with a high collar and long sleeves, and a black mantilla.
In-keeping with this tradition, Brigitte, 73, was seen wearing a striking black dress with a gold brooch, and was all smiles as she greeted the Monaco royals for the historic event.
During his address, Pope Leo urged Europe to draw from its Christian roots in a bid to overcome the ‘desire for domination’ driving today’s wars, and also called for a willingness to ‘give up some positions for the greater good of peace’.
The pontiff also called for European unity to fight ‘lies and deceit’.
