The Kings celebrate half a century of summer vacations in Mallorca with a reception for civil society
The Marivent gardens were decked out again this Thursday to open up to Balearic civil society. Felipe VI and Doña Letizia repeated the call in the palace, and that this year they held a dinner with more than 500 guests. This occasion was much more symbolic, since the Royal Family celebrates half a century of summer vacations in Mallorca, 50 years of memories and anecdotes that have guaranteed their continuity in Doña Leonor and Doña Sofía. Because since the princess was born 17 years ago, she has never missed her appointment with the island.
The Heiress and her sister did not participate yesterday in the appointment with civil society. Following the custom of the House, as long as they do not reach the age of majority, they are exempt. But the Kings were joined by Doña Sofía, who has been installed on the island since the end of July. The three of them left the main Marivent building minutes after nine at night.
The Kings and the mother of Felipe VI were placed on the esplanade in front of the house. Doña Letizia chose a white dress with a blue print, while Doña Sofía put on a set of shirt and pants with plant motifs. The King, in a suit, endured the night better after the drop in temperatures and the northeast wind that blew. Doña Sofía has enjoyed these days with her granddaughters, who due to school obligations will barely see this course. The Princess of Asturias enters the General Military Academy on the 17th and the Infanta Sofía leaves for Wales at the end of the month, where she will attend the last two years of school at UWC Atlantic College.
The greeting to the half a thousand guests began when they had all arrived at Marivent. The Balearic authorities opened the queue, who were making their debut at this event after the change of government, led by the popular Margalida Prohens.
The new regional executive has shown a position openly related to the figure of the King since its first weeks of existence. Prohens herself praised the fact that the Monarch spends the summer in Mallorca and asked him personally last week, in the formal hearing of La Almudaina, to come more often.
It is a change of heart regarding a faction of the outgoing Balearic government, some of whose members have always declared themselves expressly opposed to the Monarchy. Last year, without going any further, some prominent members of these parties even exhibited their refusal to attend Marivent's reception despite having been formally invited. Former President Francina Armengol (PSOE), however, did always attend.
Among the local authorities invited yesterday were also the President of the Balearic Parliament, Gabriel Le Senne; the Government delegate in the Islands, Aina Calvo; the president of the Consell de Mallorca, Llorenç Galmés; their counterparts in Ibiza and Menorca, Vicent Marí and Dolfo Vilafranca; the mayor of Palma, Jaime Martínez, as well as regional deputies and senators and a large group of mayors from all the municipalities of the Islands. From the judicial sphere, the president of the Superior Court of Justice of the Balearic Islands, Carlos Gómez; the new regional superior prosecutor, Julio Cano or the chief colonel of the Civil Guard, Alejandro Hernández. The world of universities, culture and sports was also represented, with members of the Mallorca Palma Futsal team, champion of the 2023 UEFA Champions League.
The attendees were placed on the esplanade in front of the main entrance to Marivent, where there were small round tables, and enjoyed a cocktail based on typical island products, designed by Macarena and Daniel de Castro. Its restaurant, Maca de Castro, is distinguished by a star from the Michelin Guide and located in Puerto de Alcudia. It is the second year that they serve the reception dinner, in which they premiered in 2021.