Spain schedules first royal visit by King Felipe VI to Ceuta and Melilla for 13 and 14 October

Official schedule and royal itinerary

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will travel to the autonomous cities of Ceuta and Melilla on 13 and 14 October 2026. The Royal Household and the Spanish government confirmed the itinerary on 1 October 2026, scheduling the trip directly after Spain's Fiesta Nacional on 12 October. The visit will be the first to either North African enclave by Felipe VI since his accession to the throne in June 2014. Under the agreed schedule, the royal couple will visit Ceuta on Tuesday, 13 October, before traveling to Melilla on Wednesday, 14 October. While attending the opening of the 12th Ibero-American Parliamentary Forum at the Congress of Deputies in Madrid, Felipe VI confirmed his positive anticipation for the trip when questioned by reporters.

Background and summer border crisis

The announcement follows months of institutional discussions after a mass border crossing in Ceuta on 30 July 2026. News agencies reported large-scale arrivals at the border, with estimates ranging between 70,000 people over two days and more than 80,000 individuals from Morocco. Royal officials indicated that an official visit had been in planning before the summer border events developed. Following the July influx, Ceuta President Juan Jesús Vivas met with the King in Palma de Mallorca in early August to convey local interest in a royal visit. The trip will represent the first visit by a reigning Spanish monarch to Ceuta and Melilla since King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofía visited both cities on 6 and 7 November 2007.

Government representation and constitutional role

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez does not plan to accompany the royal delegation during the first day of the visit on 13 October. Moncloa officials explained that Sánchez will remain in Madrid to chair the regular weekly meeting of the Council of Ministers. Government representatives noted that the schedule for Wednesday, 14 October, remains open, leaving undecided whether the Prime Minister will join the events in Melilla. Under Article 64 of the Spanish Constitution, all official acts of the monarch must receive countersignature from the Prime Minister or responsible cabinet ministers. The government will designate a minister to attend alongside the monarchs if Sánchez does not participate in the regional delegation.

I was ambassador to Morocco when their majesties King Juan Carlos and Sofia visited Ceuta and Melilla, and now the kings have decided to visit Ceuta; it seems to me within normality, the functioning of institutions.

Parliamentary and regional reactions

Regional and national officials across several political parties responded to the scheduling of the visit. Juan Jesús Vivas confirmed that Felipe VI contacted him directly on 1 October to confirm the travel dates, noting it was the monarch's fifth phone call to him throughout the process.

There is no state authority more interested and involved for Ceuta than the King.

In Madrid, People's Party spokesperson Ester Muñoz expressed support for the travel plan while criticizing the government for earlier delays. Vox spokesperson Pepa Rodríguez de Millán welcomed the announcement as a normal institutional step for the head of state. Sumar deputy and United Left spokesperson Enrique Santiago endorsed the scheduled dates, while stating that the delegation should have taken place earlier following the summer crisis.