SPAIN: Thousands of police are out on the streets of Madrid, as crowds gather for the swearing-in of King Felipe VI

Record ID: 450899

  • Title: SPAIN: Thousands of police are out on the streets of Madrid, as crowds gather for the swearing-in of King Felipe VI
  • Date: 19th June 2014
  • Summary: MADRID, SPAIN (JUNE 19, 2014) (REUTERS) EXTERIOR OF SPANISH CONGRESS BUILDING POLICE STAND IN FRONT OF CONGRESS DOOR, THROUGH WHICH SPAIN'S NEW KING FELIPE WILL ENTER PEOPLE BEHIND FENCE AWAITING ARRIVAL OF NEW KING WOMAN HOLDING FLAG WOMEN WEARING T-SHIRTS WITH PHOTO OF NEW ROYALS WOMAN SEATED BEHIND FENCE VARIOUS OF PEOPLE GOING THROUGH SECURITY CHECK POLICE VANS PARKED NEAR MADRID'S ROYAL PALACE VARIOUS OF SECURITY AROUND ROYAL PALACE / HELICOPTER IN SKY MAN RUSHING TO SECURE A PLACE ON FRONT ROW BEHIND FENCE IN FRONT OF ROYAL PALACE, SAYING (Spanish): "Long live the King!" GROUP STANDING BEHIND FENCE / MAN WEARING SPANISH FLAG LADY RUNNING TO FENCE, SAYING (Spanish): "Nobody is going to take my place after spending two nights here." WOMAN WEARING A HAT READING "MAXIMA" AND HOLDING FAN WITH PHOTO OF THE NEW KING AND HIS WIFE AND SAYING (Spanish): "Long live the King!" (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH CITIZEN, ALEJANDRO CANCHO, SAYING: "We have come to get front row places to exclusively greet the new king and queen of Spain. It's an historical day for Spain and we want to be here so we don't miss this great day." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) SPANISH CITIZEN, SOLEDAD HOLGUIN, SAYING: "I like seeing them. We didn't get to see the king's (Juan Carlos) coronation so we have come to see his son." (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) UNIDENTIFIED MAN SAYING: "I am here to defend the Spanish monarchy because it's a humble monarchy, it's a monarchy that supports the people so what we ask from the new king and queen is to take the example of the previous ones." WOMAN SHOWING SPANISH FLAG WITH PICTURE OF FELIPE AND LETIZIA VARIOUS OF PEOPLE WAITING OUTSIDE ROYAL PALACE VARIOUS OF MEDIA OUTSIDE PALACE CAMERA MOVING STATUE OF CIBELES IN FRONT OF MADRID CITY HALL EXTERIOR OF MADRID CITY HALL
  • Embargoed: 4th July 2014 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Spain
  • Country: Spain
  • Topics: Royalty
  • Reuters ID: LVABCNFN4O0C01Y5JN1JJHWMD97A
  • Story Text: Madrid woke to a heavy police presence on Thursday (June 19) ahead of a ceremony to mark the swearing-in of King Felipe VI.
    The 46-year-old succeeded his father, King Juan Carlos, at midnight.
    Approximately 7000 police were deployed for the coronation and there were 120 snipers on duty, local media reported.
    Some people ran to secure vantage points behind fences on the streets of Madrid to get optimum views of the new royal couple.

    "We have come to get front row places to exclusively greet the new king and queen of Spain. It's an historical day for Spain and we want to be here so we don't miss this great day," said Alejandro Cancho.
    Felipe becomes king after his father, Juan Carlos, abdicated earlier this month following a series of scandals that led many Spaniards to question the role of the monarchy itself.
    The ceremony, at Spain's lower house of parliament, has little pomp and circumstance compared with royal handovers in other countries. It is more of a legal process, attended by lawmakers, high-level politicians and some members of the royal family. No foreign leaders have been invited.
    Supporters of the Spanish monarchy arrived early to take positions on the streets to witness the historic day.

    "I like seeing them. We didn't get to see the king's (Juan Carlos) coronation so we have come to see his son," said Soledad Holguin as she waited by the roadside.
    Others were keen to see King Felipe and Queen Letizia carry on the legacy of their predecessors.

    "I am here to defend the Spanish monarchy because it's a humble monarchy, it's a monarchy that supports the people so what we ask from the new king and queen is to take the example of the previous ones," one man told Reuters.
    The event has been designed to chime with times of austerity, palace officials say, mindful that more than one in four Spanish workers is jobless despite an incipient economic recovery.
    Following the parade, the royals will make their way to the Royal Palace by car, driving past various Madrid landmarks where well-wishers are expected to line the streets.
    King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia did not attend the swearing in ceremony in parliament but will be present when the new king and queen wave to crowds from the the balcony of the Royal Palace.
    King Juan Carlos announced his surprise abdication, in favour of his son, on June 2.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
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