The Royal Household has confirmed that King Felipe VI's congratulatory message to the Moroccan monarch, Mohamed VI, on the occasion of Throne Day, was carried out following the usual protocol. This gesture, which occurs annually, coincided with a moment of tension at the Ceuta border due to the massive influx of migrants from Morocco.
According to the version of the official Moroccan agency MAP, King Felipe VI conveyed, on his behalf and that of the Spanish Government and people, his wishes for happiness, health, and prosperity for the Moroccan people. He also expressed confidence in strengthening the bonds of "brotherhood, friendship, and cooperation" between both countries.
Sources from the House of His Majesty the King detailed that these messages are a "proposal from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs," are prepared in advance, and are processed through the Spanish Embassy. This is a standard procedure between heads of state, which Juan Carlos I also followed with Hassan II, who even attended the celebration of the Moroccan monarch's 25th anniversary on the throne.
The temporal coincidence between the Moroccan festivities and the extraordinary situation at the Ceuta border has placed the congratulation under political scrutiny, although diplomacy has followed its established calendar, maintaining bilateral relations despite the circumstances.
