During their recent state visit to the Netherlands, King Felipe and Queen Letizia revealed a series of rules that the royal family must follow when traveling.
The national press has revealed the indispensable and sometimes surprising items that accompany the monarchs in their luggage.
Felipe and Letizia’s travel protocol
Although the trip to the Netherlands is the first state visit of the year, it is common for the King and Queen to attend engagements outside the Spanish capital, which forces them to travel regularly.
On each trip, Felipe and Letizia follow a meticulous protocol that includes both strict and more flexible rules.
1. Royal blood reserves
The royal household follows a strict medical protocol on every trip.
One immutable rule is that King Felipe and Queen Letizia’s blood reserves always accompany them.
There is a constant supply of blood, ready to be used in case of emergency.
Queen Letizia’s blood belongs to group 0+, one of the most common, but as a precautionary measure, the Royal House ensures that these reserves always travel with them.
This practice originated because King Emeritus Juan Carlos I’s blood group, A-, is quite rare, representing only eight percent of the Spanish population, which made it imperative that he travel with his own blood for safety.
2. An ambulance available
Health is a priority for the Royal Household when the King and Queen travel.
For this reason, an ambulance is always present at royal events and remains in the vicinity until the event is over.
3. Hospital on call
It is an inviolable rule that when members of the Royal Family travel, a room must be reserved in the hospital nearest to where they are staying.
In the case of the recent state visit, a single room had to be reserved for both Queen Letizia and King Felipe.
This measure extends to guaranteeing space both in the emergency area and on the regular floors of the hospital.
4. Mourning clothes
Following a protocol that could be shared with the British Crown, members of the Royal Family include mourning clothes in their luggage.
This requirement ensures that in the event of a death in the family during their absence, they are prepared to present themselves with appropriate decorum upon their return.
5. Special drinks for the King and Queen
In terms of personal preferences, when Queen Letizia visits the region of Catalonia, the traditional Vichy mineral water is always included in her luggage so that she can enjoy it at any time.
King Felipe, for his part, never travels without his favorite tomato juice, ensuring that his personal tastes are satisfied wherever he goes.