Ceuta crowds affirm Spanish identity during royal visit

Loading the video No Comment Video. Ceuta crowds affirm Spanish identity during royal visit Copy/paste the link below: Copy/paste the article video embed link below: Updated: 13/10/2026 - 15:38 GMT+2 King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia received a rapturous welcome in Ceuta on Tuesday, 13 October, as they began their first visit to the Spanish North African territory since 2007. Thousands of residents lined the streets, waving Spanish and Ceuta flags, cheering the royal couple and holding signs reading: “Welcome to your home, Your Majesties.” ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT After landing at Ceuta’s heliport, the King and Queen stopped to greet people along the route to City Hall, shaking hands and speaking with residents. They later appeared on the balcony of the Palace of the Assembly, overlooking Plaza de África, alongside Ceuta’s president, Juan Vivas. The visit begins two days of engagements, including meetings with local officials, a school visit, a tribute at the Sidi Embarek Muslim cemetery to people who died during July’s mass sea crossings, and talks with civil-society representatives. The visit is diplomatically sensitive. Morocco claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla, the two Spanish cities on the North African coast, and reacted sharply to the last royal visit in 2007. It follows July’s migration crisis, when more than 70,000 people entered Ceuta from Morocco over two days, placing severe pressure on the territory. Morocco recalled its ambassador to Madrid for consultations ahead of the trip, while King Mohammed VI criticised what he called the political “instrumentalisation” of the crisis. For many in Ceuta, the large turnout was a public affirmation of the city’s Spanish identity. The royal couple will spend the night in Ceuta before travelling to Melilla on Wednesday. Spain Ceuta King Felipe VI Morocco Melilla Top stories Now playing Next Ceuta crowds affirm Spanish identity during royal visit Now playing Next Kazakhstan’s first Open Asian Falconry Cup showcases ancient hunting heritage Now playing Next Russia pounds Kharkiv and Lviv region with missiles and drones, killing three civilians Now playing Next Latest news bulletin | October 13th, 2026 – Midday Now playing Next Moment French Navy boards 'shadow fleet' oil tanker in the Indian Ocean Now playing Next Emergency call about Christa Pike’s botched execution released Now playing Next Pakistan: Passenger train derailment kills at least five, injures more than 30 Now playing Next Hochvogel mountain at risk of major rockslide Now playing Next Fire totally destroys oldest covered food market in Paris Now playing Next Spain national day: 4,380 troops and 82 aircraft take part in parade Now playing Next Trump claims Ukraine-Russia energy ceasefire as Baltics stay on alert Now playing Next Nepal orders evacuations after landslide triggers Budhi Gandaki flash flood Now playing Next Lake Tuzkan – life and tourism around Jizzakh’s desert lakes Now playing Next Pearls, diamonds and the stories behind Doha’s international jewellery show Now playing Next One dead, two arrested as Portugal seizes 3.7 tonnes of cocaine off Faro coast Now playing Next 'Our future is being robbed': Greta Thunberg joins France student protests against school conditions ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT No Comment Ceuta awaits King Felipe after summer migration crisis No Comment Belgium: 9 minors arrested as clashes erupt near Brussels-Midi No Comment Spain: National Day highlights territorial unity from Barcelona to Ceuta No Comment Paris’s oldest covered food market gutted by major overnight fire Europe News EU ends anti-corruption funding curbs on Hungary, freeing €4.2bn Europe Today EU sovereignty is ‘a need’ in the space, Sateliot CEO says USA US actress Selma Blair accused of attacking cabin crew members on flight to New York Europe Today Europe Today: NATO warns Russia amid escalating hybrid attacks from Moscow USA US theme park operator Six Flags shuts nine roller coasters after man dies Europe Today 'People survive on one meal a day': Oleshky official warns against giving Russia more territory Europe News At least 11 missing after two ships struck off Bulgaria in latest Black Sea attack, official says Cinema ‘We’re not waiting anymore’: Media mogul Mo Abudu opens a new hub for African cinema in London ADVERTISEMENT Culture news RJ Mitte, 'Breaking Bad' actor and disability rights champion, dies at age 34 Health news Can AI help healthcare move from treatment to prevention? Economy Citroën's iconic 2CV returns as an all-electric model Europe News French investigators use DNA and vehicle tracking to solve stolen Renoirs case Europe News NATO commander unveils strategy to make any attack on alliance ‘utterly futile’ Tech News Greece's social media ban for under-15s: What you need to know Cult Explore the patterns of Qatar’s visual identity and architectural language Business Gijs de Best urges shared enforcement to curb illicit trade ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT