At the traditional ceremony held at the Royal Palace in Madrid, the following ambassadors handed Don Felipe the Letters accrediting them as representatives of their respective nations:
– Mr. Darío Item, Ambassador of Antigua and Barbuda
– Mr. Ayadah M.A. Alsaidi, Ambassador of the State of Kuwait
– Ms. Ana Helena Chacón Echevarría, Ambassador of the Republic of Costa Rica
– Mr. Jakhongir Ganiev, Ambassador of the Republic of Uzbekistan
– Ms. Louise Nzanga Ramazani, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of the Congo
– Mr. Pompeu Andreucci Neto, Ambassador of the Federative Republic of Brazil
– Ms. Mariame Sy Epse Sy, Ambassador of the Republic of Senegal
The Letters of Credence are the documents that accredit a foreign ambassador as the representative and highest diplomatic authority of another country in Spain. The origin of this ceremony dates back to the 18th century and has remained relatively intact to this day.
The ambassadors travelled by carriage from the Santa Cruz Palace, which is the official headquarters of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Cooperation, to the Royal Palace. They were escorted by the Escuadrón de la Guardia Real on horseback and the Escuadra de Batidores de la Policía Municipal. The Royal Guard marching band received the ambassadors in the Patio of the Armory, playing the hymns of their respective countries.
Presentation of credentials: a ceremony remained intact through the years
The diplomatic credentials are the common name for the letters of credence, which are formal diplomatic letters nominating a diplomat as an ambassador to another sovereign state.
The letters of credence are generally written in French, but they may also be written in the official language of the home country.
The credentials are presented by the ambassador to the receiving head of state in a dedicated ceremony.
During this ceremony, the foreign minister and the ambassador meet to plan a hearing with the head of state.
There must be two different copies of the Credentials: one sealed and one unsealed. The ambassador gives the unsealed copy to the Foreign Minister on arrival and hands over the original copy
to the Head of State.
On this occasion, the ambassador arrives at the presentation ceremony by an official vehicle, which is provided by the receiving state, and he is accompanied by a military escort.
