A Royal Affair
One Texas city rolls out the red carpet for a visit from European royalty

The King and Queen of Spain will make their first-ever visit to San Antonio on June 16-18, as part of the city's year-long Tricentennial celebration. King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia plan to honor the city's deep Spanish roots, as well as conduct the inaguration of two landmark art exhibitions.
During their two days in Alamo City, the royal couple will have a full itinerary. A tour of San Antonio historical sites that reflect a longstanding connection to Spain — including the Spanish Governor’s Palace and Mission San Jose, a UNESCO World Heritage Site — will be among the highlights. They are also scheduled to attend the Young Hispanic Leaders Summet, a conference bringing together thought leaders in business, politics, and media for the purpose of strengtehnining ties between Spain and the U.S.
“San Antonio is proud to commemorate the special bonds that tie us to Spain. We welcome Their Majesties to visit San Antonio during our Tricentennial year to collaborate and build a stronger foundation now and in the future," said Mayor Ron Nirenberg in a release. “The everlasting impact of Spain’s culture is woven into the fabric of San Antonio’s legacy for generations to come.”
The reinging Spanish monarchs will open the exhibition Designing America: Spain's Imprint in the U.S., presented by the Fundación Consejo España-Estados Unidos, and hosted by the Bexar County Courthouse. The interactive art installation reflects the Spanish imprint on San Antonio's culture, history, and politics, and explores 500 years of shared history between the United States and Spain.
The second exhibition, Spain: 500 Years of Spanish Painting from the Museums of Madrid, showcases more than 40 masterpieces from major collections in Madrid. Never before seen in the U.S., the collection includes work from Pablo Picasso, Diego Velasquez and El Greco, among others. Hosted by the San Antonio Museum of Art, the show will be open to the public from June 23 to September 16.
Closing out the visit, their majesties will be honored with an official dinner at the historic Pearl brewery. Celebrating San Antonio’s designation as a UNESCO Creative City of Gastronomy, the dinner will feature dishes prepared by famed local chefs Johnny Hernandez, Elizabeth Johnson, and Steven McHugh.
Following their time in Texas, the king and queen will travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump on June 19.