During the conversation, the King also conveyed to the president of Ceuta his recognition of “public servants, volunteers, associations, professional groups and representatives of the various faiths for their efforts in managing this crisis.”
This morning, the Royal Household had already published a message on its social media accounts championing “our city” and defending “unity, coexistence and the future.” Accompanied by an image of the Zarzuela Palace with the flags of the autonomous city, Spain and the European Union, the Royal Household said: “The Crown and everyone, with our city.”
Today, September 2, is Ceuta Day.
The Crown and everyone, with our city.
Unity, coexistence and the future. pic.twitter.com/UEFJ4hSCQ1 — Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) September 2, 2026
In that message, which comes amid controversy over a possible visit by Felipe VI to Ceuta, confirmed this week by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez, the Zarzuela Palace added: “Unity, coexistence and the future.”
Since the crisis began, the King has remained in contact with Vivas, whom he called on the night of the mass arrival of migrants in the city. At that time, the monarch had already conveyed “words of encouragement and firmness” to the president of Ceuta. Two days after the crisis began, the King expressed his “great concern and indignation” over the serious events that had occurred in Ceuta and, to a lesser extent, also in Melilla.
The head of state called at that time for “all those measures that would convey in a united, clear and decisive manner to the populations of Ceuta and Melilla the support and affection of the rest of Spain.”
“The state must ensure their security and prevent these events, which have also resulted in the sad and tragic loss of dozens of lives, from happening again,” sources at the Zarzuela Palace said after tens of thousands of people entered Spanish territory irregularly.
In August, the head of state received the city’s president, Juan Jesús Vivas, at the Marivent Palace in Palma de Mallorca and conveyed his desire to visit Ceuta.
