King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain have undergone a successful tour of Morocco, which marked their first trip to North Africa since ascending the throne last month. The Spanish royal family have always enjoyed a strong relationship with their Moroccan counterparts and this two-day visit proved no different. Arriving in Rabat on Monday, Felipe and Letizia were welcomed at the airport by King Mohammed VI and his wife Princess Lalla Salma, who waited at the foot of the plane steps.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain arrive in Morocco
Mohammed greeted Felipe with a kiss on both cheeks and shook Letizia's hand as is customary in Arabic countries. The party then set off for the palace in Mechouar Square, where the Moroccan Royal Guards performed a welcome ceremony. As Letizia, 41, walked the red carpet, the Spanish queen oozed elegance in a charcoal grey blazer and skirt ensemble. Letizia and Felipe listened to national anthems and were then presented with the Wissam Al Mohammadi necklace – the highest order given out by King Mohammed – once inside the palace.
Felipe and Letizia: the king and queen of selfies
Princess Lalla Salma and Queen Letizia cut chic figures at the state banquet
The first day of their tour ended with "iftar" – the evening meal that takes place during Ramadan when Muslims break their fast. Royal watchers noted that Mohammed's willingness to host Felipe and Letizia during the month of Ramadan was a sign of the mutual friendship between the two groups. Only the best was served at the banquet for 200 guests, which took place in the outdoor grounds of the palace. While Felipe, Letizia, Mohammed and Lalla Salma dined on traditional platters in a covered area, the remaining attendees enjoyed their dinner alfresco by the lit-up pool. Letizia looked sensational in a georgette ivory blouse paired with a flowing, silk embroidered skirt by her favourite designer Felipe Varela. The queen kissed her counterpart Lalla Salma on the cheek, who was also dressed to the nines in a kaftan-style white dress.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia made a stylish duo on the second day of their tour
Queen Letizia undertakes first solo engagementDay two of Felipe and Letizia's tour included a visit to the mausoleum of King Mohammed V, also in Rabat, where the queen showed her respects by donning a headscarf. Her other engagement of the day involved Letizia visiting a cancer research centre, while Felipe met with Moroccan premier Abdelilah Benkirane to inaugurate a tourism training centre. The couple's visit to Morocco comes after they travelled to the Vatican and Portugal as part of their debut tour to neighbouring countries, since being crowned king and queen.