April 30, 1954 marked the final day the Spanish Consulate General in Gibraltar remained open to the public. Dictator Francisco Franco, in a surprising move, ordered its closure before the royal delegation arrived at the port of the British colony. The newly crowned monarch, Queen Elizabeth II, was touring the Commonwealth, a group of nations historically tied to the British Empire from Africa to the Pacific. Gibraltar, known as The Rock, stood as Franco’s last stop on that journey. He did not want the Spanish consul to receive the regent in a formal reception, a move that would invite diplomatic protocol and potential offense. This stance was described to El Periódico de España and to the Prensa Ibérica group after World War II, with Louis Romero, the author cited, offering a different perspective on events. Romero explains that, given the absence of the Spanish consul at the reception, no offense could be considered a crime, which shaped the decision to close the consulate before the arrival. This incident helped cement the reality that no Spanish consulate has ever resumed operations in this disputed area, a longstanding point of friction between Spain and the United Kingdom, which contends the territory as its own. II. Following Elizabeth’s hospitality, El Calpense reported that Her Majesty underscored the strength, loyalty, and strategic importance of Gibraltar.
Disagreements between Spain and the United Kingdom over Gibraltar would persist in later decades. In 1981, The New York Times ran a front-page note about a royal wedding and honeymoon plans in Gibraltar. Spanish kings, after their notable nuptials, were known to pause at The Rock as part of royal travels. King Juan Carlos I once offered to berth the royal yacht Britannia to a nearby Spanish port, but the offer was declined, a gesture that fed into whispered stories of tension and pride on both sides. The tale has since grown into a legend that is difficult to verify, though it persists in memories about postwar relations. The Rock, or El Peñón, has long been recognized as ceded to the British Crown in 1715 under the Peace Treaty of Utrecht.
Relations gradually settled over the years. In 1986, Juan Carlos I visited the United Kingdom and met Queen Elizabeth II in London. The two leaders exchanged greetings and continued exchanges in subsequent years. In 1988, Juan Carlos and his wife visited Madrid with the Duke of Edinburgh. Their five-day itinerary included a formal dinner at the Royal Palace with King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, followed by visits to Seville and Barcelona. The trip concluded in Mallorca on October 22, with Britannia landing at the western quay. Diario de Mallorca noted favorable weather that gave the impression of summer, and the royal party spent time touring the island’s west coast with stops at Camp de Mar, La Mola, and Port d’Andratx.
Thirty years later, in 2017, the newly crowned monarchs Felipe VI and Letizia made their next state visit. Their arrival featured a state dinner at Buckingham Palace hosted by Elizabeth II. A conversation with this newspaper described Elizabeth as a highly intelligent woman with a lively sense of humor, someone who, despite appearances on television, behaves and gestures in ways that feel distinctly human. The article also touched on Elizabeth’s concern and interest in the English community living in Spain.
prudent in political matters
Elizabeth II showed a careful approach to British political affairs and to foreign relations with other nations, including Spain. A British journalist notes that she acted with a consistent focus on protocol and restraint, avoiding direct interference in political events. Unlike some leaders, she did not use public influence to shape political outcomes in specific situations, including moments of tension or constitutional questions in the 1980s and beyond. The queen’s style contrasted with more interventionist approaches observed in other monarchies during delicate times.
In 2015, Gibraltar prepared to mark the anniversary of its national day, a referendum indicating support for remaining under British rule. The Rock Government invited Elizabeth II to join the festivities, backed by thousands of signatures. Elizabeth declined participation, expressing appreciation for the loyalty of Gibraltar’s people while noting that travel outside the United Kingdom would be limited. The stance reflected a measured balance between ceremonial involvement and the need to maintain wide political reach.
Correspondent Guy Hedgecoe has reflected on stories connected to Elizabeth’s royal household. In 1994, a paparazzi incident in Mijas, Málaga led to negotiations over topless photos of a public figure. European press agencies initially circulated the images, while a local magazine reportedly acquired them but chose not to publish, and major outlets suggested different approaches to handling the material. The episode highlights how royal image management intersected with press freedom and public fascination during the era.