Thousands of people from Granada took to the streets on Saturday to support over 3,000 military personnel participating in the Armed Forces Day parade, presided over by the King and Queen of Spain, who were warmly welcomed with cheers and applause from the public.
The military parade, held annually in a different location across the country to coincide with the Feast of San Fernando, spanned 1.3 kilometers through the center of Granada this year. Residents lined the parade route from early in the morning, waving Spanish flags and displaying them on nearby balconies.
The King and Queen arrived by car at 12:00 PM at Albert Einstein Square in the Andalusian city, where the royal tribune is located. They were greeted by authorities including Defense Minister Margarita Robles; Chief of Defense Staff, Admiral General Teodoro López Calderón; President of Andalusia, Juan Moreno; and acting Mayor Francisco Cuenca.
The recent municipal and regional elections held on May 28, as well as the anticipated general elections announced by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, have left their mark on the military parade. In contrast to the October 12 parade, which the entire government attends and where whistles and insults towards Sánchez have become customary in recent years, the Prime Minister did not attend the Armed Forces Day events, thus avoiding public scrutiny.
In exchange, the citizens offered enthusiastic applause to King Felipe (dressed as Admiral General of the Navy) and Queen Letizia during their car ride. The forecasted rain was replaced by bright sunshine in Granada’s sky, encouraging locals to take to the streets.
The event continued with the raising of the flag and a tribute, followed by the central act featuring military honors for Their Majesties, the King’s review of the Honors Group, and the raising and tribute to the national flag and those who gave their lives for Spain, with a special mention to those who lost their lives in the past year.
One of the most emotional moments was the parachute jump by Corporal Carmen Gómez Hurtado, who carried a 15-kilogram, 53-square-meter Spanish flag. This marked the first time a woman has taken on this responsibility during Armed Forces Day, coinciding with the 35th anniversary of women’s entry into the Spanish Armed Forces.
