Spain’s king and queen to visit White House in September

The popular King and Queen of Spain will meet President Obama in September.

Spain’s increasingly popular Royal couple – King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia – are due to meet with US President Barack Obama at the White House on September 15 as part of their official royal visit stateside…

The Royal pair will also make a visit to Miami and St. Augustine in Florida during their trip, which has been arranged to “strengthen and reinforce strong and lasting ties between Americans and Spaniards”, said the White House.

Since being proclaimed as Spain’s monarch last year after the early abdication of his father, King Juan Carlos, King Felipe VI has made great strides in repairing some of the damage done to the Royal Family’s reputation during his father’s reign.

Towards the end of King Juan Carlos’ stint as king, allegations of corruption and simply being out of touch with everyday Spaniards dogged the royals seemingly at every turn.

But King Felipe’s youthfulness and common touch – allied to his wife’s innate elegance and acute sense of style – has helped win over a new breed of followers. A recent poll in Spain’s El País newspaper revealed that 81% of Spaniards approve of King Felipe, while 74% back his wife, who is a former journalist and news anchor.

A picture opportunity with President Obama is certain to be excellent PR for both camps, not least the US president, who will certainly get a boost being seen hobnobbing with Europe’s most photogenic Royal couple.

For Felipe and Letizia, the meeting will underscore their cool, progressive credentials – which could prove important for Spain as the country readies itself to go to the polls later this year.