Solemn Flag Raising on the XI Anniversary of the Proclamation of H.M. King Felipe VI

•  The ceremony was presided over by the President of the General Council of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court, accompanied by the Chief of Defence 

This morning the Solemn Raising of the Flag in Madrid's Plaza de Colón Gardens hosted the Solemn Raising of the Flag on the occasion of the eleventh anniversary of the Proclamation of His Majesty King Felipe VI. The ceremony was presided over by the President of the General Council of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court, María Isabel Perelló Doménech, accompanied by the Chief of Defence Staff, Admiral General Teodoro Esteban López Calderón. In addition to various members of the General Council of the Judiciary and the Supreme Court, representatives of the Army, the Navy, the Air and Space Forces and the Civil Guard were also present.

The Joint Honours Company was made up of four sections, one from each Army, one from the Navy and one from the Guardia Civil; with Command, the Gastador Squadron, the Music Unit, the flag and bugle of orders, from the Marine Infantry Group of Madrid.

The Sections, of 27 members each, belong to the Regiment of Infantry “Inmemorial del Rey” number 1 of the Army; to the Marine Infantry Group of Madrid of the Navy; to the Honours Squadron of the Security Group of the Air and Space Army; and to the Reserve and Security Group number 1 of the Civil Guard.

The hoisting team was made up of personnel from the two armies, the Navy and the Guardia Civil.

The sequence of events was as follows:

•  Arrival of the CHOD
• Arrival of the President of the SC and CGPJ. She is received by the CHOD.
• Honours for the President of the SC and CGPJ by the Joint Honours Company.
• Raising of the Flag
• Parade of the Joint Honours Company
• Farewell to the Authorities.

The flag-raising ceremony in the ‘Plaza de Colón’ is held on a regular monthly basis. It is also held on four occasions a year on an extraordinary basis and is called a “solemn hoisting”. The first of these four solemn hoisting ceremonies is on 15 May, on the occasion of the feast of San Isidro, and is attended by the Mayor of Madrid. The second is on 19 June, the anniversary of the proclamation of HM the King, and is presided over by the President of the Supreme Court and the General Council of the Judiciary. The third is on 12 July, coinciding with the anniversary of the date on which the Constitutional Court came into operation, and is presided over by the President of the Constitutional Court. The last of the year is held on 6 December, the day of the Spanish Constitution, and is co-chaired by the presidents of the Congress and the Senate.

The flag is 300 square metres (21 x 14) and weighs 35 kilos. It was raised for the first time in 2001, when the previous 21-metre mast was replaced by the current 50-metre mast. This mast has a rotating head to turn in the same direction as the wind, thus preventing the flag from wrapping around the mast, which weighs almost 20 tonnes and is anchored on a footing resting on four pillars in the Colón underground car park.