King Felipe and Queen Letizia greeted by ‘Ceuta is Spain!’ chants as royals make historic visit to African enclave two months on from migrant crisis

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain arrived in Ceuta on Tuesday, marking their first visit to the Spanish autonomous city since he ascended to the throne two and a half months ago. This historic trip aimed to show solidarity with Ceuta, particularly following an unprecedented influx of migrants from neighboring Morocco two months prior. It's the first such visit by a Spanish head of state since 2007.

The royal couple commenced their tour with a warm welcome in Ceuta, greeted by enthusiastic crowds who cheered as they walked through the city. They spent a considerable amount of time interacting with residents, taking photographs, and shaking hands. The visit featured meetings with local authorities, including Ceuta's president Juan Jesús Vivas, who thanked the monarchs for their presence during a "difficult moment" in the city's recent history.

Vivas described Ceuta as a "pressure cooker" and emphasized the need for a return to normalcy, calling for the legal return of migrants who entered the city in an "illegal" manner. The monarchs also paid tribute to those who died during the July crisis, acknowledging Ceuta's historical ties with Spain and expressing their commitment to the city's future. The visit is a significant gesture in the context of strained relations with Morocco, which claims sovereignty over both Ceuta and Melilla.