King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia visited Ceuta and Melilla on Tuesday, marking their first trip to both cities since 2007. The royal couple traveled to the North African exclaves to show solidarity with residents facing the aftermath of a severe migration crisis.
The visit comes months after a mass influx of migrants from Morocco in July, with reports indicating that between 70,000 and 80,000 people crossed the border. While the majority of those individuals have returned to Morocco, thousands remain in Ceuta. During their visit, the King and Queen stopped at a Muslim cemetery where most of the more than 100 migrants who died during the July crossing were buried.
The royal trip takes place amid strained relations with Morocco, which claims sovereignty over Ceuta and Melilla. Tensions in the city have risen since the July crisis, and authorities cleared makeshift camps from the beaches ahead of the royal arrival. While intended as a show of support, the visit has divided local residents.