Spanish State Dinner

Their Royal Highnesses The Prince of Wales and The Duchess of Cornwall attended a state dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid on Wednesday, 30th March, 2011, hosted by TRH The Prince and Princess of Asturias.

TRH were greeted in the Palace's Salon de Temiers - tapestry room.

Other guests included the Duchess of Alba, and Antonio Vazquez, group chairman of International Airlines Group, formed by the recent merger of BA and Iberia.

During a speech, The Prince of Asturias thanked Their Royal Highnesses for visiting his country.

The Prince of Wales thanked Their Royal Highnesses for their hospitality. In his speech he said:  

“British people have come to know and love Spain as a place to spend their holidays – or even their retirement.  For decades, many millions have been drawn by your beaches, your climate, your culture, your traditions, your food and your wine, but above all if I may say so by your warm and open-hearted hospitality.  In conclusion, let me say that my wife and I really could not be more delighted or more grateful to be enjoying that hospitality tonight.”

The menu for Wednesday night's dinner was artichoke and leek with Spanish ham for the starter, followed by hake for the main course and, to finish, hojaldre - a fruit, cream and pastry dessert based on the French mille-feuilles.

Later Prince Charles was given the symbolic key to the city of Madrid when he met the Mayor, Alberto Ruiz Gallardon. Their Royal Highnesses then had lunch with Their Majesties The King and Queen of Spain at the Zarzuela royal residence.

The royal couple are to travel to Seville on Friday and then leave for Morocco, wrapping up a three-country trip that also took in Portugal.

Members of the Spanish royal family are to attend the wedding of HRH Prince William of Wales to Miss Middleton on the 29th April, 2011.