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Spain’s Prince Felipe recalls Gibraltar at state dinner for Prince of Wales

Saturday, April 2nd 2011 - 20:37 UTC
Full article 109 comments
Felipe toasted for progress towards a solution to “our historic bilateral controversy” Felipe toasted for progress towards a solution to “our historic bilateral controversy”

Spain’s longstanding claim over the sovereignty of Gibraltar looked destined to continue into the next generation of Spanish politics as the heir to the Spanish throne, the Prince of Asturias, used a state dinner for the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to reiterate Spain’s desire to ‘progress’ on Gibraltar.

There were glittering scenes at the Royal Palace of Madrid last Wednesday night as the wives of Britain and Spain’s future monarchs sparkled at the state dinner.
In his speech, Prince Felipe referred to - but did not mention by name - the issue of Gibraltar.

After thanking Charles and Camilla for visiting his country, the Prince of Asturias said: “I also express my wish that our authorities make progress towards a solution to our historic bilateral controversy, which is still pending”.

Spanish journalists watching the speech from the press room of the Palacio Real said that, for them, it was the headline event of the day.

The Prince of Wales made no mention of the British territory in his speech, which reflected on the nature of Anglo-Spanish ties. He said: “I know that the relationship that exists between the UK and Spain is one of the oldest, deepest and - how can I put it - most intense that exists between any two nations.

“We have at times been bounded by trade, by politics, by Treaty and by marriage. And, at other times, we have been divided by war, by religion and by economic rivalry. But I think I can say without fear of contradiction that throughout the centuries, one thing we have never lacked is mutual respect and admiration, irrespective of the side of the argument on which we have found ourselves”
 

Categories: Politics, International.

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  • briton

    It seems that everyone is jumping on the band wagon,
    and the reply is, [the lion is still asleep]
    as the American president once said, [Britain,, a nation of lions, led by donkeys‘] so, nothings changed then .

    Apr 02nd, 2011 - 08:51 pm 0
  • artillero601

    I am not afraid of an army of lions led by a sheep; I am afraid of an army of sheep led by a lion.
    Alexander the Great

    Apr 02nd, 2011 - 09:37 pm 0
  • briton

    poor Greeks

    Apr 02nd, 2011 - 11:03 pm 0
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