Seven things we learned during the Spanish royal visit to United States
As King Felipe and Queen Letizia's US trip draws to a close on Friday, The Local takes a look at seven things the world learned from the royal visit.
Felipe has a great English accent
Unlike the Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, Felipe VI conversed easily with President Obama. And revealed his English accent sounds ever so slightly like former James Bond, Sean Connery’s. He highlighted Spain's "strong American identity" during a speech following a seminar entitled "A Transatlantic Conversation".
Letizia likes gardening
First Lady @MichelleObama and the Queen of Spain. Official Trip to the USA. http://t.co/hsVwTau3Vi #EspañaUSA pic.twitter.com/gxNUIhb1nl
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) September 15, 2015
Or at least pretended to while being shown around the White House’s organic garden by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Felipe studied in the US
King Felipe graduating from Georgetown University in 1995. Photo: Jamal Wilson/AFP
The Spanish monarch visited his alma mater Georgetown University during the trip. He graduated with a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in 1995. Being so far from home must have been difficult for the future king, but at least he had a familiar roommate - his cousin, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.
Felipe is still a bit iffy on kissing protocol
AFP Photo/Pool/Casa Real/Francisco Gomez
On greeting US First Lady Michelle Obama, King Felipe went in for the gentlemanly hand-kiss, but despite bringing her hand up towards his lips, quickly thought better of it, resulting in possibly the most awkward greeting of the monarch’s US trip (watch the clip below).
Obama wants to visit Spain
The US President told reporters during a joint press conference with King Felipe that he is aiming to visit Spain before the end of his term. "I hope that I can travel to Spain before the end of my presidency. There’s no country that I’d enjoy more for a visit. And I think that sentiment is shared by the American people. We feel a great affinity and a great friendship with the Spanish people," Obama said.
King Felipe responded: "Mr President, I would like to stress the fact that we would very much enjoy and appreciate to see you in Spain and if it’s possible before you finish your term, we would very gladly welcome the opportunity."
Obama’s view on Catalonia
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP
Stepping into a thorny Spanish political issue, President Obama told King Felipe that he wants to see the country “strong and unified” amid a strong independence drive in Catalonia.
"As a matter of foreign policy, we are deeply committed to maintaining a relationship with a strong and unified Spain," Obama said, sitting beside the new monarch. "We think that Spain's presence is important not only in Europe, but also in the United States and also in the world."
The oldest town in the US is Spanish
On Friday, the Spanish royals are due to visit St Augustine in northern Florida to celebrate the town’s 450th anniversary. The city - San Agustin in Spanish - was founded by Spaniard Pedro Menédez de Avilés on September 8th 1565.
Queen Letizia's birthday
Queen Letizia of Spain celebrated her birthday in very good company: http://t.co/qALoL19h3f pic.twitter.com/D9Y1qgu3SG
— HELLO! (@hellomag) September 16, 2015
The Spanish queen turned 43 on September 15th. She was born in Oviedo, the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias.
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Felipe has a great English accent
Unlike the Spanish prime minister Mariano Rajoy, Felipe VI conversed easily with President Obama. And revealed his English accent sounds ever so slightly like former James Bond, Sean Connery’s. He highlighted Spain's "strong American identity" during a speech following a seminar entitled "A Transatlantic Conversation".
Letizia likes gardening
First Lady @MichelleObama and the Queen of Spain. Official Trip to the USA. http://t.co/hsVwTau3Vi #EspañaUSA pic.twitter.com/gxNUIhb1nl
— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) September 15, 2015
Or at least pretended to while being shown around the White House’s organic garden by First Lady Michelle Obama.
Felipe studied in the US
King Felipe graduating from Georgetown University in 1995. Photo: Jamal Wilson/AFP
The Spanish monarch visited his alma mater Georgetown University during the trip. He graduated with a Master of Science in Foreign Service from Georgetown’s Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service in 1995. Being so far from home must have been difficult for the future king, but at least he had a familiar roommate - his cousin, Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece.
Felipe is still a bit iffy on kissing protocol
AFP Photo/Pool/Casa Real/Francisco Gomez
On greeting US First Lady Michelle Obama, King Felipe went in for the gentlemanly hand-kiss, but despite bringing her hand up towards his lips, quickly thought better of it, resulting in possibly the most awkward greeting of the monarch’s US trip (watch the clip below).
Obama wants to visit Spain
The US President told reporters during a joint press conference with King Felipe that he is aiming to visit Spain before the end of his term. "I hope that I can travel to Spain before the end of my presidency. There’s no country that I’d enjoy more for a visit. And I think that sentiment is shared by the American people. We feel a great affinity and a great friendship with the Spanish people," Obama said.
King Felipe responded: "Mr President, I would like to stress the fact that we would very much enjoy and appreciate to see you in Spain and if it’s possible before you finish your term, we would very gladly welcome the opportunity."
Obama’s view on Catalonia
Photo: Mandel Ngan/AFP
Stepping into a thorny Spanish political issue, President Obama told King Felipe that he wants to see the country “strong and unified” amid a strong independence drive in Catalonia.
"As a matter of foreign policy, we are deeply committed to maintaining a relationship with a strong and unified Spain," Obama said, sitting beside the new monarch. "We think that Spain's presence is important not only in Europe, but also in the United States and also in the world."
The oldest town in the US is Spanish
On Friday, the Spanish royals are due to visit St Augustine in northern Florida to celebrate the town’s 450th anniversary. The city - San Agustin in Spanish - was founded by Spaniard Pedro Menédez de Avilés on September 8th 1565.
Queen Letizia's birthday
Queen Letizia of Spain celebrated her birthday in very good company: http://t.co/qALoL19h3f pic.twitter.com/D9Y1qgu3SG
— HELLO! (@hellomag) September 16, 2015
The Spanish queen turned 43 on September 15th. She was born in Oviedo, the capital of the northern Spanish region of Asturias.
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