Speech at lunch for the King and Queen of Spain

King Juan CarlosYour Majesty,

May I, on behalf of Her Majesty's Government, welcome you and Queen Sofia most warmly on your State Visit to the United Kingdom.

It is a visit which all those in this country who admire and respect Spain—and admire and respect you, Sir—believe to be long overdue. [end p1]

We have looked forward keenly to it and we are all delighted that you are at last among us.

You know, I must confess to some alarm when I heard recently that a certain well-known lady from London was to be transported to Madrid. [end p2]

Happily it turned out to be Goya 's “Marquesa de Santa Cruz” rather than my first visit!

Your Majesty, our two countries—so often and dramatically at odds in the days of our first Queen Elizabeth I Queen Elizabeth—have now drawn closer together.

Both proud nations.

Both unrivalled in their thirst for [end p3] exploration and discovery.

Both fascinated with each other.

“Oh lovely Spain! Renowned romantic land” wrote Lord Byron.

Both now committed to democratic institutions and values.

Both facing common problems. [end p4]

We in Britain have admired greatly your role, Sir, during the last 10 years in overseeing Spain's transition to a fully democratic government—a role which has sometimes demanded outstanding personal courage. The British Parliament paid its own collective tribute to you this morning by according you the rare distinction of an invitation to address both Houses of [end p5] Parliament.

And we all congratulate you upon your magnificent speech.

Britain and Spain both have a long tradition of looking outwards from Europe—we to the Commonwealth, you to Latin America and North Africa. [end p6]

Both our countries have given birth to major world languages.

You know, it is a sad, but remarkable coincidence that today is the 370th anniversary of the death of the two greatest craftsmen of those languages, Shakespeare and Cervantes.

But at a personal level our peoples are certainly no strangers: George Orwell said “I would [end p7] sooner be a foreigner in Spain than in most countries.

How easy it is to make friends in Spain!” Five million British tourists a year—expected to be six million this year—have borne out his words.

Of course, we still have our differences.

What two countries with historical links going back over many centuries do not? [end p8] But today we are handling them together in a co-operative and friendly manner.

In January this year the British people warmly welcomed Spain into the European Community.

The Community as a whole will be the richer for the fresh energy and different experience that Spain brings with her. We had long supported and worked for your [end p9] membership.

We have found membership a demanding as well as a deepening experience and I forecast that you will find the same. The range of business to be discussed within the European Community is so wide that there are no permanent alliances between the many members. [end p10] But I am certain that the United Kingdom and Spain will find common interests in important areas and work closely together. We are both committed to making the Community a success.

We in Britain were also delighted with the commitment to the Western Alliance made by the Spanish people in the referendum last month. [end p11]

We supported Spain's membership in 1982 and have valued her contribution since. The Spanish people's decision on 12 March will greatly assist the Alliance in carrying out its task of safeguarding Western Europe's peace and security.

We should also build up the habit of regular contact at governmental and non-governmental level, and try to establish some regular [end p12] framework for it.

Sir, your visit is a landmark.

It not only puts a seal upon the great improvement made in our relations during your reign, it also marks the opening of a new era of co-operation and friendship between modern Britain and modern Spain.

Your Excellencies, distinguished guests, I ask you [end p13] to join me in a toast to His Majesty the King and Queen Sofia, and to the Government and the people of Spain.