Solemn hoisting of the Flag conmemorating the 8th anniversary of the Proclamation of H.M. King Felipe VI

• The Chair of the Supreme Court and Judiciary's General Council presided over the ceremony, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff

The ‘Descubrimiento’ gardens in Madrid's 'Plaza de Colón' have been the venue for a solemn Hoisting of the Flag ceremony this morning honouring the seventh anniversary of the Proclamation of His Majesty the King Felipe VI. The ceremony was presided over by the Chair of the Supreme Court and the General Council of the Judiciary, Carlos Lesmes Serrano, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, admiral general Teodoro E. López Calderón.

Several members of the Supreme Court and the Judiciary’s General Council, as well as representatives from the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and the Civil Guard attended the ceremony.

The Joint Guard of Honour was made up of 176 troops including Command, Squad of Sappers and Music Unit belonging to the Marine Corps based in Madrid.

Platoons, with 27 members each, belong to the Army 1^st 'Inmemorial del Rey' Regiment, the Marine Corps group in Madrid, the Air Force Security Group and the Reserve and Security Group No. 1 of the Civil Guard.

The ceremony started with the tribute to the Chair of the Supreme Court, followed by the Guard of Honour review. Afterwards, the flag was then hoisted followed by a parade by the Guard of Honour, ending the ceremony.

The hoisting of the flag ceremony at Columbus Square is held every third Wednesday on a monthly basis. Four times per year, the hoisting is performed on an extraordinary manner and is called solemn hoisting. The first of those four takes place on May 15, on the occasion of San Isidro Day. The second one on June 19, the anniversary of the proclamation of H.M. the King. The third one, on July 12 on the occasion of the anniversary of Constitutional Court becoming operative, and presided over by the president of said Court. On December 6, Constitution's Day, is co-chaired by the Speakers of Congress and Senate.

The Flag is 300 square meters (21x14) and weighs 35 kilos. It was hoisted for the first time in 2001, when the previous 21-meter flagstaff was replaced by the current 50-meter one. This flagstaff has a rotating head to spin in the same direction as the wind, thus preventing the flag from wrapping around it, which weighs almost 20 tons and it is anchored on a base that rests on four pillars of the Colón underground car park.