New UK ambassador to Spain meets the King

THE newly elected ambassador to Spain, Hugh Elliot, has met King Felipe VI in an official ceremony held in Madrid on Thursday 5 September.

The ambassador wore a traditional 1800s ambassador’s uniform as they met before a formal audience at the Royal Palace in the country’s capital.

Hugh was appointed Her Majesty´s Ambassador to Spain and non-resident Ambassador to Andorra in August 2019. Prior to this, he was Director for Communications and Stakeholders at the Department for Exiting the European Union.

This historic meeting has come at an invaluable time as both governments are at a crucial point in the negotiations regarding the UK’s departure from the EU in October.

In an interview he gave shortly after his appointment as ambassador, Hugh said, “as the United Kingdom prepares to leave the EU on October 31, we enter a new phase of our vibrant bilateral relationship.” Some links with our country that, far from breaking with Brexit, are at their best”

He has also repeated on numerous occasions since entering his role, that both himself and the Spanish governments are focused on protecting the rights of UK citizens on Spain.