Annual Diplomatic Corp Reception - Spain

Every year, the King of Spain holds a Reception for the Diplomatic Corp in Spain (Recepción del cuerpo diplomático). The event is held at the Royal Palace in Madrid, usually in January. This event was started by King Alfonso XIII of Spain. 

Guest include heads of Embassies, Consulates, and various international organizations, plus their spouses. In addition to the Royals, Government officials like the Prime Minster and the Minister of Foreign Affair also attend. 

Schedule:

The Monarch and other royals greet guests in receiving line in Gasparini Room. 

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo. Palacio Real, Madrid - 22.1.2019
Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain, via Wikimedia Commons

Reception in Throne Room. 

• Speech by 
• Dean of Diplomatic Corp, The Apostolic Nuncio to Spain
• Monarch
• Discussing various aspects of Spain's Foreign Policy

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo. Palacio Real, Madrid - 22.1.2019
Ministry of the Presidency. Government of Spain, via Wikimedia Commons

Dress code:

Morning coat /Day dress

Uniform or National Dress

Live Stream:

The event is usually live streamed on the Monarch's Youtube channel @CasaRealTV.

Attending: 

King Felipe' Reign (2014-Present)

Royal	2021	2022	2023	2024	2025 Jan 9th
King Felipe	X
Queen Letizia	X

Notes: 
2021 & 2022 - The event was modified and attendance was reduced due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, with no spouses invited. Handshakes were replaced with nods. 

Royal	2015	2017	2018	2019	2020
King Felipe	X
Queen Letizia	X

Notes: 
2015 - First held during King Felipe's reign.

2016 - Postponed/canceled due to political crisis. 

2020 - Held in February. 

King Juan Carlos' Reign (1975-2014)

Royal	2010	2011	2012	2013	2014
King Juan Carlos	X
Queen Sofia	X
Prince Felipe	X
Princess Letizia	X

Note: 

2014 -  Held in February. 

Denmark Royal Coat of Arms - Updated 2024

On December 20th, 2024 King Frederik passed a royal resolution, updating the Royal Coat of Arms. (The new coat was released to the public on January 1st, 2025). The change creates "a contemporary royal coat of arms that both reflects the Commonwealth and takes into account history and heraldic tradition."

The Royal Coat of Arms is used by both the Monarch and the State. It is used on many things including official documents and in the seals that are minted in royal appointments and original laws. 

The Royal Coat of Arms dates back to the 12th century, but has been changed many times over the years. The two previous monarchs, Queen Margrethe II and King Frederik IX, both updated the coat of arms at the start of their reign. 

New Coat of Arms

In the middle of the Royal Coat of Arms is the shield. The shield has 4 fields representing, in order: Denmark, Greenland, Faroe Islands, South Jutland/Schleswig. The shield is divided by the red Dannebrog cross. At the heart (center) is the shield of the Oldenborg family, marking the dynastic origin of the royal family. The shield is surrounded by the chains of the Order of the Elephant and the Order of the Dannebrog. The two supporters are "wildmen." 

Changes from Royal Coat of Arms during Queen Margrethe II's reign:

• The Faroe Islands and Greenland are now given their own field (Quarter). 
• This gives them equal place with Denmark, as they are all countries in the Kingdom of Denmark.  
• South Jutland/Schleswig is a former Duchy, which is now half in Denmark and half in Germany. 
• The Three Crowns, a symbol of the former Kalmar Union (1379-1523) has been removed, as it is no longer relevant. 
• The Kalmar Union was a personal union of then Denmark, Sweden (which included much of Finland), Norway, and Norway overseas territories (which included Iceland, Greenland, etc.)
• Dannebrog cross has been changed back to the outward-curved.
• This is more historical.

Official Blazon: 

"The shield is quartered by an outwardly curved silver cross with a red border. 1st field: In gold, three walking gold-armed blue lions with red tongues and with gold crowns, accompanied by nine red hearts (Denmark); 2nd field: In blue, a silver ram with gold armament and red tongue (Faroe Islands); 3rd field: In blue, an upright sitting silver bear with red tongue (Greenland); 4th field: In gold, two walking gold-armed blue lions with red tongues (South Jutland/Schleswig). Heart shield: In gold, two red beams (Oldenborg). The shield is surrounded by the chains of the Order of the Dannebrog and the Order of the Elephant.

Shield holders: Two naturally colored wild men with green oak leaves around their heads and loins, each holding a naturally colored club in the averted hand, standing on a stone console. All within a tent of arms crowned by the Danish royal crown."