King Felipe assists Princess Leonor with the Order of the Golden Fleece during ceremony

King Felipe and Queen Letizia headed the principal Madrid ceremony, showcasing a unified royal image before a major official visit to Ceuta and Melilla. Accompanied by Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, the monarchs received enthusiastic support from thousands of residents. While the family stood for the national anthem, the king noticed Leonor's Order of the Golden Fleece had fallen and guided her to retrieve and secure it.

After the anthem, the king again assisted her in correctly placing the insignia on her black tie. Television commentators described the scene as a rare display of the monarch’s personal involvement with the highest royal distinction, which he originally awarded to her in January 2018. Leonor also wore the Order of Carlos III and the Grand Crosses of Military, Naval and Aeronautical Merit, all in white, and exchanged subtle protocol gestures with the king throughout the parade. The event concluded with a reception at the Royal Palace for government and civil society representatives.