King Felipe VI visits Ceuta following summer migration crisis

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain are expected to visit the Spanish enclave of Ceuta on Tuesday, 13 October. Euronews reported that the royal visit follows a major migration crisis in the North African territory. Ahead of the arrival, local authorities handed out Spanish flags and tightened security across the city, according to HESPRESS English. [1][5][7]

Security forces cleared the last major migrant settlement ahead of the royal visit. Euronews and Morocco World News both reported that the final migrant camp was cleared by authorities. Euronews added that on Sunday, more than 350 police officers and soldiers took part in an operation to clear the informal settlement at El Guano and transferred its residents to reception centres. [1][6]

The clearance follows border events earlier in the year. Euronews reported that on 30 and 31 July, more than 70,000 people crossed the border into Ceuta from Morocco. That total approaches the entire population of the enclave, which stands at 80,000 people. Although most individuals returned within hours, thousands remained in makeshift camps and emergency shelters for several weeks. [1]

Felipe VI has reigned as the King of Spain since 2014. As FTMQ News reported earlier, Spanish forces stationed in Ceuta remained deployed in the enclave during Spain's National Day parade in Madrid, and no military units from the territory attended the event. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia presided over that ceremony prior to their journey to Ceuta. [7][10]