Thread: The Wales’ holiday in Spain
1987
L-R: Queen Sofía of Spain, a cute german shepherd, King Juan Carlos of Spain, Prince William, The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, The Princess of Wales

King Juan Carlos I invited the Wales family to his residence in Mallorca in the August of 1987. The visit was said to be in order “to soothe the rather cold institutional relationships between both monarchies”

The tension between the two royal families had started in 1981 after Diana and Charles chose to begin their honeymoon aboard the Royal Yacht Britannia in Gibraltar. King Juan Carlos was not pleased with this decision and did not attend the royal wedding.

Queen Elizabeth invited the Spanish monarchs to London for an official visit in 1986 to break the ice. King Juan Carlos returned the favour by inviting the Wales family to Spain the next year. Then in 1988, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip undertook a state visit to Spain.

Back to 1987; the Wales family vacationed with the Spanish royals in the King’s residence in Mallorca.

PS: You can spot the current King of Spain, King Felipe, as a teenager in this photo (he’s at the farthest right, in the blue/green shirt)

During their time in Mallorca, the Wales family accompanied the Spanish royals aboard their yacht “Fortuna” to watch the Copa del Rey regatta. They also visited the small island of Cabrera

Group photo
L-R: The Prince of Asturias (now King Felipe of Spain), Queen Sofía, The Prince of Wales, Prince Harry, Prince William, The Princess of Wales, King Juan Carlos I

Cutest moments:
King Juan Carlos with William and Harry
Harry and William playing with the Spanish royal puppy