PRESIDENT of Spain Pedro Sánchez has travelled to the British Embassy in Madrid to give his condolences in person, and Madrid has declared three days of mourning for the world's second-longest-reigning monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.
Books of condolence have been set up in the UK embassies in Alicante, Bilbao, Málaga, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Madrid, Barcelona and Palma de Mallorca.
Madrid regional president Isabel Díaz Ayuso announced that the city hall flags would fly at half-mast for the three days following the passing of HRH Elizabeth II, and that the Cibeles fountain and city hall itself would be lit up at night during that time in the colours of the British flag.
Sra Ayuso called the late British Queen 'an iconic 20th-century woman who was able to reinvent herself and adapt to the 21st century, whilst also leaving her own, personal stamp on it'.
“A symbol of continuity, stability, of a community of people and faith that extends throughout the entire world,” the regional president tweeted at 21.30 on Thursday, just two hours after the news broke on every continent simultaneously.
Madrid's Cibeles fountain lit up in the colours of the British flag in tribute to Queen Elizabeth II. The entire capital region has declared three days of mourning (photo: Marca)
Madrid's mayor tweeted in English that the people of the city offered their 'sincere condolences'.
Pedro Sánchez, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia met with UK Ambassador Hugh Elliott in the 24 hours following the monarch's passing, and have signed the condolences books.
Gibraltar's First Minister, Fabián Picardo, has also signed the condolence book at the British Embassy, writing: “We were your rock, and you were ours.”
From 'Felipe' to 'Dearest Charles': “We will miss her dearly”
It is likely Felipe VI will attend the funeral, provisionally due to take place on September 19, although he and his father, the retired King Juan Carlos I, will 'discuss the best representation' of Spain.
Juan Carlos I has confirmed he will not be travelling to London from Abu Dhabi, where he now lives – normally, only one national representative, with or without their spouse, would attend a head of State's funeral, and Juan Carlos I has said that if any of the Spanish Royals are there, it should be his son, the reigning monarch.
King Felipe VI has written to 'His Majesty the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland', as the former Prince Charles now is – and who has confirmed he will reign using his given name.
Left to right: Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh; Queen Letizia; Queen Elizabeth II; King Felipe VI, during the Spanish monarchs' State visit to the UK in 2017 (photo by the Royal Household on Twitter, @CasaReal)
The official communication from the Royal Household in Spain, signed off purely as 'Felipe', was entirely in English, a language the Spanish King and his wife, Queen Letizia are fluent in.
“Your Majesty, Dearest Charles,” the missive began, mirroring the letter sent in April last year to Queen Elizabeth II herself after her husband Prince Philip passed away, and which was addressed to her as 'Dearest Aunt Lilibet'.
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