On September 29 and 30, Brigitte Macron and Emmanuel Macron will be received in Madrid by Letizia of Spain and Felipe VI for a state visit combining royal protocol and political meetings. On the agenda: lunch at the Royal Palace, official dinner, discussions on Franco-Spanish relations, and a reception at the French embassy, in a historic palace in the heart of the capital.
This official meeting takes place 17 years after the last state visit of a French president to Spain, that of Nicolas Sarkozy in 2009. Behind the scenes, there promises to be an exciting heritage discovery: the French residence, located at the Arenzana palace, will open its doors for a much-anticipated reception on September 30.
In Madrid, a royal welcome for Brigitte and Emmanuel Macron
The first highlight is scheduled at the Royal Palace of Madrid, where the presidential couple is to have lunch with Felipe VI and speak with the monarch. Brigitte Macron will accompany the president during this protocol sequence, at the heart of a diplomatic visit that highlights the ties between Paris and Madrid.
Emmanuel Macron will then pay tribute to those who died for Spain, before heading to Carlos III University. The announced discussions will focus on youth, social media, and artificial intelligence: very current topics, far from a simple court appointment. The detailed program for these two days is presented in the state visit calendar.
State dinner and discussions on Franco-Spanish relations
At 8 PM, the French president is to return to the Royal Palace for a state dinner hosted by the king and queen. The evening will bring together the ceremonial codes and the political significance of a visit intended to strengthen Franco-Spanish relations. For admirers of the Spanish royal family, this reception is one of the most awaited moments.
The next day, Emmanuel Macron will participate in a Franco-Spanish summit to which Felipe VI will also attend, then have lunch with Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez. This succession of meetings illustrates a visit that combines diplomacy, cooperation, and representation. The key highlights announced in Madrid are also detailed in this file dedicated to the state dinner.
Arenzana Palace: Behind the scenes of the French embassy
On September 30 at 7 PM, a reception is scheduled at the residence of the French embassy, at Arenzana palace, 124 Serrano street. Built in 1879 by architect Francisco de Cubas y González, the neoclassical residence spans nearly two hectares. Its history is linked to the Urquijo banking family before its acquisition by France in 1941.
The main building, damaged during the Spanish Civil War, required significant restoration work. Today, its salons host tapestries from the Gobelins depicting battles of Alexander the Great. The residence also houses a gallery of portraits of ambassadors: a remarkable backdrop for the behind-the-scenes of this official step.
A program of diplomacy, research, and European cooperation
The visit also includes a stop at the European Union satellite center, then at the Casa de Velázquez, an institution dedicated to research in the humanities and social sciences. These stops expand the program beyond the ceremonial: they highlight the scientific and European collaborations that fuel the dialogue between the two countries.
By bringing together Felipe VI, Letizia of Spain, and the presidential couple around public and diplomatic sequences, these two days provide a concrete insight into the ties between France and Spain. For a recap of the main announced meetings, this account of the visit to Madrid offers complementary insights.
From the Royal Palace to the embassy’s salons, this official meeting promises to combine history, political exchanges, and Spanish hospitality. To discover more about Emmanuel and Brigitte Macron, Sébastien Auzière, and the Macron family, find articles on sebastien-auziere.fr dedicated to this historic visit.
