The King and Queen of Spain preside over the main ceremony to commemorate National Day

Paseo del Prado and Recoletos, Madrid

There was a military parade along the Paseo del Prado and Paseo de Recoletos in Madrid, in which 4,177 soldiers, 142 vehicles and 86 aircraft took part.

The commemorations began at 11.00am with the arrival of the monarchs and Princess Leonor at the Plaza de Cánovas del Castillo, where they were received with military honours. King Felipe VI, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff (JEMAD), Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, then reviewed the Honours Battalion.

During the ceremony, Their Majesties and the Princess were accompanied by the acting President of the Government of Spain, Pedro Sánchez; the President of the Lower House of Parliament, Francina Armengol; the President of the Upper House of Parliament, Pedro Rollán; the acting Minister for Defence, Margarita Robles, several Cabinet ministers, and representatives of national, regional and local authorities.

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

After Their Majesties' greeting to the authorities, a team from the Parachute Patrol of the Air and Space Army (PAPEA), made up of Corporal María del Carmen Gómez Hurtado and Corporal Miguel Gómez Rivas, took to the ground carrying the National Ensign. PAPEA is among the best skydiving teams in the world.

The Raising of the National Flag and Homage to the National Flag followed, after which was the Act of Homage to those who gave their lives for Spain, with Felipe VI laying a laurel wreath in memory of the soldiers who had fallen in the line of duty.

Iñaki Gómez/MDE

This tribute coincided with a flight by the 'Patrulla Águila' (Eagle Patrol) across the skies above Madrid flying the colours of the National Ensign, as is customary on this National Day, the commemoration of which is established in Law 18/1987 with the aim of solemnly remembering moments of collective history that form part of the common historical, cultural and social heritage.

This year's celebration coincides with the 35th anniversary of the entry of women into the Spanish Armed Forces, where they currently represent 13% of the total. It also commemorates the 50th anniversary of the creation of the Civil Guard Air Service, the 525th anniversary of the Melilla Sea Company and the 450th anniversary of the 50th Infantry Regiment 'Canarias'.

Pool Moncloa/Fernando Calvo

Fly-by

The events continued with air and land parades by units of the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Army, the Military Emergency Unit (UME), the Civil Guard, the National Police, Customs Surveillance and Civil Defence.

Iñaki Gómez/MDE

A total of 86 aircraft (57 planes and 29 helicopters) took to the skies over Madrid, kicking off the military parade, as is customary. Eurofighter fighter/attack aircraft from the 11th and 14th Wings and F-18s from the 12th and 15th Wings led the 18 formations present. Behind them came 'Harrier' aircraft and aircraft dedicated to flight training, such as the F-5 and 'Pilatus' PC-21 from the General Air and Space Academy.

The next group to fly over the Prado-Recoletos axis consisted of an A400M refuelling aircraft simulating an operation to refuel two fighter jets, followed by A-330 and A-400 operational transport aircraft and other strategic transport, aero-evacuation and reconnaissance aircraft, such as the A-310 and Falcon. These were followed by maritime surveillance and rescue aircraft, and three firefighting 'Canadair' aircraft from the 43 Group and tactical transport aircraft.

Helicopters from the Air and Space Army, the Army and the Navy, and units from the National Police Corps, the State Tax Administration Agency and SASEMAR were the next to take part. The air parade ended with another flight by the seven aircraft of the 'Patrulla Águila', the aerobatic patrol of the Air and Space Army responsible for representing Spain and its Armed Forces in various national and international events.

Ground parade

Iñaki Gómez/MDE

The land parade covered a distance of 1,540 metres, starting from the Emperor Charles V roundabout and ending at the Plaza de Colón, with a total of 142 vehicles and 210 horses taking part. It began with a section of motorbikes from the Royal Guard, followed by the Brotherhood of Veterans of the Armed Forces and Civil Guard, Volunteer Reservists and disabled personnel of the Armed Forces and Civil Guard.

During the parade, vehicles from the Army's 'Centauro' and 'Leopardo', and others belonging to the Navy, the UME, the Air and Space Army, the Civil Guard, the National Police Corps, Customs Surveillance and Civil Protection, among others, were on parade.

The parade of the foot units came next, in which a total of six groups took part and was initiated by the companies of the Royal Guard 'Monteros de Espinosa', whose origins date back to the 11th century, 'Mar Océano' and the 'Plus Ultra' Squadron. These were followed by battalions of students from the Army, the Navy and the Guardia Civil, a squadron of students from the Air Force and a company of students from the Central Defence Academy.

The other groupings involved, among others, a Navy battalion, with a Marine Corps company and a mixed company of Navy units, an Air Force squadron, and companies from the UME and the Guardia Civil.

The parade was followed by a fourth group with the 61st Armoured Regiment 'Alcazar de Toledo', a mixed battalion of Land Forces (FUTER), a battalion of the 1st Regiment 'Immemorial del Rey' and a battalion of the Canary Islands Command.

The fifth grouping was made up of the units of specific passage, with the participation of the Tercio 'Duque de Alba' 2º de La Legión and the Grupo de Regulares de Melilla nº52.

As a novelty, the parade was closed by a sixth grouping with the mounted units of the Royal Battery of the Royal Guard, the Horse Squadron of the National Police Force and the Sabre Squadron of the Civil Guard.

Videoconference with overseas contingents

Iñaki Gómez/MDE

Prior to the main event, the acting Minister for Defence held a videoconference from the headquarters of the Ministry of Defence with the heads of the 4,450 military personnel deployed in the various Spanish detachments taking part in missions abroad, to send them her congratulations on the occasion of National Day.

The acting Minister for Defence pointed out that "Spaniards must know that all the foreign missions in which Spain takes part are essential for world peace and security", expressing that "being with all of you here, even if it is by videoconference, is a source of pride to see how our military leave the Spanish flag flying high".

"From the basis of the pride that all Spaniards have in your work for peace, I would like to congratulate you, and also for today's celebration of the National Day", she added.

She thanked the Spanish military deployed in Lebanon for their work in these difficult times due to the confrontation between Israel and Hamas.

"These soldiers are a source of pride. We believe that in these difficult times in the area where you are, the UN mission is more important than ever," she said.

She once again thanked the soldiers and their families, asking them to "take good care of themselves" and to know that "they are an example to the world".

Last, she reminded them that they make us "feel proud of Spain, of Spain's role and the presence it has. And that is thanks to Armed Forces like yourselves, who are committed, dedicated and recognised by all".

For his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón, reiterated the minister's congratulations and told them to never lower their guard and to take great care of themselves.

"You know that from here we are always ready to help you with anything you may need. Many congratulations for your work and for the celebration of this day," he concluded.

Non official translation