King Felipe VI delivered his tenth Christmas Eve speech from a symbolic setting: the Royal Palace.
This choice, used for the second time in the history of Spanish democracy, highlighted the special character of the anniversary of his proclamation.
However, the speech was marked by an unavoidable theme: the tragedy caused by the floods that hit Spain recently.
The Christmas Eve speech of King Felipe VI
With a tone of empathy and firmness, the monarch stressed the importance of not forgetting what happened. “We must not forget,” he said on several occasions as he addressed the magnitude of the catastrophe.
In his message, Felipe VI paid tribute to the more than 800,000 people affected and to those who worked tirelessly to mitigate the damage.
From volunteers to emergency corps, all received special recognition for their work in restoring some semblance of normalcy to the lives of the victims.
He also referred to the emotions that arose during the tragedy in Paiporta: frustration, pain and impatience, but also solidarity.
According to the king, these emotions have a common origin, “the awareness of the common good, the expression of the common good or the demand for the common good”.
The common good was the central theme of the speech. In addition to addressing issues such as immigration and access to housing, Felipe VI called for dialogue and the search for joint solutions.
The crisis of democracies also featured prominently, with a reflection on the importance of defending human rights and the foundations of the democratic system.
“Spain and the other member states of the European Union must continue to defend with conviction and firmness the foundations of liberal democracy,” he said.
The monarch linked this defense to the Constitution, describing it as the great coexistence pact.
To work for the common good, he explained, is also to preserve the rights and freedoms that underpin the Social and Democratic Rule of Law. Although time has passed, the concord that gave rise to this agreement remains essential.
In a society facing divisions, the King stressed the need for a serene, generous and elevated dialogue.
He gave as an example the constitutional reform to improve the rights of people with disabilities, an achievement that he considered the fruit of unity and which demonstrates what can be achieved by working together.
Felipe VI closed his message with a note of hope, recalling the spirit of solidarity that was experienced during the dana tragedy, especially the role of young people.
“They have filled us with pride as they turned out en masse to give their best in the streets of the affected towns,” he commented emotionally.
Finally, on behalf of Queen Letizia and her daughters, the king sent a message full of optimism and confidence in the future, reaffirming his commitment to the collective welfare.
King Felipe VI’s Christmas Eve speech was carefully accompanied by a scenography charged with symbolism.
At his side, a table of fine woods from the time of Charles III, belonging to the National Heritage collection, housed elements of great significance.
Among them were a framed photograph showing the joint work of citizens, volunteers and the Armed Forces after the flood tragedy, a facsimile edition of the Spanish Constitution and a Christmas scene with a nativity scene of the Christ Child with the Virgin Mary and St. Joseph.
These details were complemented by a Christmas tree and the flags of Spain and the European Union, reinforcing the spirit of unity and tradition.
The monarch wore an elegant navy blue suit, accompanied by a white shirt and a light blue tie with small geometric motifs in different shades.
This color, associated with the House of Bourbon, symbolizes stability, harmony, peace and trust, as well as being a reflection of the purpose of the message: to connect with citizens from a place of serenity and reflection.
The speech began with the national anthem, accompanied by night images of the majestic Royal Palace, which took the spectators from the facade in the Plaza de Oriente to the Columns Hall.
This visual tour was a perfect prelude to the King’s message, which concluded with the anthem again, this time accompanied by a family photograph.
In it, King Felipe appears next to Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, in an image taken at the Campo del Moro on the occasion of the twentieth anniversary of the royal wedding.
With a total duration of 15 minutes and 9 seconds, the message managed to convey a balance of these ten years of reign while touching on key issues for Spanish society, showing both a reflective and relatable approach.