# French State visit to Spain

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/french-state-visit-to-spain
> Updated: 2026-10-03T05:30:34.000Z. Sources: 4. Developments: 2.

French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron conducted a State visit to Spain, the first such visit from France since 2009. The visit included military honors, a gala banquet at the Royal Palace in Madrid, and a private lunch at the Zarzuela Palace.

During the visit, Brigitte Macron made a surprise visit to the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, where she was presented with a platinum medal and a book. Queen Letizia also attended a reception at the French Embassy to bid farewell to the Macrons.

The official program featured speeches by King Felipe VI, though the visit faced minor logistical delays due to the late departure of the presidential plane from Paris. Notably, Princess Leonor of Asturias was absent from the formal State dinner, as the Royal House is reportedly reserving her debut at a State banquet for a future occasion.

## Timeline

### 2026-10-03: French President Macron conducts State visit to Spain

French President Emmanuel Macron and Brigitte Macron completed a State visit to Spain, featuring a gala banquet in Madrid. Princess Leonor's absence from the dinner is attributed to a planned debut in 2027.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/french-president-macron-conducts-state-visit-to-spain

### 2026-09-30: Brigitte Macron visits Almudena Cathedral during French State Visit

During the French State Visit to Spain, Brigitte Macron visited the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, while Queen Letizia attended a farewell reception at the French Embassy.

2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/brigitte-macron-visits-almudena-cathedral-during-french-state-visit

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Cite as: French State visit to Spain. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/french-state-visit-to-spain