"They have not left, we have them sleeping in doorways": a gigantic crowd hails the Kings in a Ceuta still in a state of 'shock'

Thousands of people have packed the streets of Ceuta to welcome the Kings in the autonomous city. They have shouted slogans such as "the Kings, in Ceuta, are welcome", "Ceuta is not for sale, Ceuta defends itself", "we are mackerels, and we are Spanish." Many have been excited. Carmen, born in Ceuta 70 years ago, boasts that she buried her parents in the city at the age of 96 to show the historical roots of her family. She gets emotional describing the July 30 border violation as "horrible": "My husband has had depression since then," she says tremblingly. And he assures that 19 years ago he was also on the visit of Juan Carlos I and Doña Sofía. At his side, Malika, a Ceutí who professes the Muslim religion, covered with her hijab, says she wants to "greet our Kings." Behind, Patricia González arrived yesterday expressly from Seville: "I have come to accompany Ceuta, which is Spain. We have come to see the King of Spain in Spain," she says.

The bells of the sanctuary of Saint Mary of Africa rang at 12 in the morning. The Plaza de la Virgen was packed and thousands of citizens were waiting for the Kings, who flew to Malaga and there changed to a helicopter that landed at 12:17 p.m., at which time the sun rose in Ceuta. This is a historic day for Ceuta, since since November 5, 2007 they have not received a visit from a head of state. The councilors were waiting at the door of the Town Hall. The expectation is such that there are more than 200 accredited journalists.

Upon the arrival of the Government delegate, David de la Encina, the citizens of Ceuta began to shout: "Out, out." His predecessor, Miguel Ángel Pérez Triano, resigned a few weeks ago, cornered after his chief of staff acknowledged that there were warnings prior to the border violation.

The Kings are accompanied by the Minister of Territorial Policy, Ángel Víctor Torres. Tomorrow, on their tour of Melilla, they will be accompanied by Migration, Elma Saiz. The President of the Government has decided not to attend, despite the fact that Don Felipe invited him. Sources from Moncloa stated that he did not attend because it was a trip within national territory, but he was with the Kings in Paiporta after the damage.

After the arrival of the delegate, the gathered Ceuta residents shouted: "Ceuta will be the tomb of Sanchismo." The trip of the Kings was decided before the electoral advance, but the call for general elections will condition the words that Don Felipe will dedicate to the Ceuta population at the Parador.

The Kings have taken the time to dedicate a few seconds to each of the Ceuta residents crowded on the old Misericordia Street. They went slowly, for more than half an hour shaking hands, fulfilling their desire to show their support to all citizens. In fact, the Queen began to greet on one side of the sidewalk and later crossed to the other side and stepped back to continue shaking hands. Don Felipe has signed those objects that are given to him and touched the heads of the children in the front row. They were accompanied by the regional president, Juan Jesús Vivas, also highly acclaimed.

"This is going to give us a boost of energy, we are holding on but we are really collapsing," says one of the women who greeted the Kings.

After receiving the people of Ceuta, the Kings moved to the City Hall, where they met with representatives of Ceuta from different areas of society to learn about the current situation of the city 75 days after the border violation. There are 12 representatives from different fields who have offered their testimony to the Monarch and his wife.

Don Felipe and Doña Letizia have written in the City Council's Book of Honor that they appreciate the affection of the people of Ceuta on a long-desired and pending visit. "There was a debt that today we settle while transmitting the closeness and affection of all of Spain," appears in the letter signed by both.

They also point out that they have "been very attentive and aware of the very difficult circumstances that you have suffered in recent months." And they have reflected that they want to show "the commitment of the entire country to the future of the people of Ceuta, which is the future of Spain."