The Royals News

Queen Máxima paid a visit to the Drentheplantsoen residential care location for the mildly mentally handicapped of the Middin foundation in The Hague. She heard how the organization provides care and support, taking into account the current corona measures. With approximately 3,300 employees, Middin offers support and care in South Holland at residential locations, activity centers, at school or at home to about 5,700 clients with intellectual disabilities. Drentheplantsoen in The Hague consists of 25 apartments in five apartment buildings. 41 clients with a (mild) intellectual disability live there. Queen Máxima spoke to family members and members of the client council about how contact with clients. In a second meeting, a number of residents' supervisors discussed the impact of the corona measures on the residents and employees of this location in more detail. Finally, the Queen spoke to the Chair of the Board of Directors of Middin and members of the Middin-wide...

   An official ten days of mourning have been declared, which will be the longest period of mourning in Spanish democracy. Flags will fly at half-mast across the nation, including on navy vessels until the 5th of June to pay tribute to the 27,118 who have lost their lives. The Spanish royal family was accompanied by staff from the Headquarters of the State in a solemn memorial ceremony in the gardens of Zarzuela Palace. 

  The Scientific Council is a consultative body of the Institute and  Their Majesties engaged in an analysis session on the effects of COVID-19 on the world via a video conference with members of the Scientific Council, who are experts from different geopolitical areas.  King Felipe VI is the honorary president of the ERI, which was established in 2001 as a non-profit foundation. 

  Mercados Centrales de Abastecimientos de Madrid is the main wholesale market of fresh products in Spain. Located in Villa de Vallecas in Southeastern Madrid, it is a public enterprise jointly participated by the Ayuntamiento de Madrid.  The King and Queen of Spain paid an early morning visit to learn about the challenges in getting food to Spanish households during the COVID-19 pandemic.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain attended the presentation of COTEC Foundation's Annual Report -  private non-profit organisation whose aim is to promote innovation as an engine for economic and social development,  and also a round table meeting on "innovation for economic recovery".

Upon arrival, Queen Letizia joined a meeting where the general coordinator of the Spanish Red Cross explained the evolution of the RESPONDE Red Cross plan, which has reached its target two months after launch.  She  participated in activities carried out by volunteers, she was shown basic necessity kits (food hygiene products) which are prepared and delivered through Social Response Units.  Cruz Roja’s General Contingency Plan for COVID-19 aims to increase the care provided to 400,000 people throughout the country who it has identified as being particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus: older people, people with disabilities, people with chronic diseases.   ​

  King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Cecoel - Red Eléctrica's Electricity Control Centre at the Red Eléctrica de España in Madrid. Cecoel is responsible for the coordinated operation and real-time monitoring of the generation and transmission facilities of the national electricity system. 

Archie Mountbatten-Windsor Archie, who turns one today, shows off his first teeth as he smiles at his father behind the camera while his mother, reads him children's book Duck! Rabbit!. The sweet video, filmed last weekend in California, it  was shared on the Save the Children Instagram account this morning,  in support of the charity's #SavewithStories campaign, which aims to raise funds for children and families struggling due to the coronavirus crisis in the UK and around the world.