MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Spanish Guardia Civil officers attend Queen's Birthday parade in Gibraltar

The two officers followed protocol to the letter, saluting along with local and UK military and law enforcement personnel as the RGR carried out the ceremony.

Two uniformed Spanish Guardia Civil officers attended the Queen’s Birthday Parade in Gibraltar, in a development that is unprecedented in recent times.
Spanish law enforcement officers are invited by The Convent every year to the event but, on the occasions they have attended in the past, they have done so in civilian clothing.

 According to the Gibraltar Chronicle it was not clear why the two unarmed officers donned uniforms, including the distinctive tricorn hats worn only for ceremonial occasions.

But all the indications were that it may have been a misunderstanding by two relatively junior officers - a lieutenant and a second lieutenant - recently posted to the Campo de Gibraltar and assigned to attend.

The two officers followed protocol to the letter, saluting along with local and UK military and law enforcement personnel as the Royal Gibraltar Regiment carried out the ceremony.

They then briefly attended the garden party in The Convent, chatting with several guests before leaving back to Spain.

Dignitaries and guests at the two events - even at senior level - were surprised to see the two officers in uniform, although many saw it as a positive gesture from Spain given that they were attending a formal event in Gibraltar.

However their presence quickly hit the social media networks and drew a negative reaction from many who saw the uniforms as a provocation, particularly given events over recent years, concludes the Gibraltar Chronicle.