On October 13, 2026, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia traveled to Ceuta. The visit included a stop at the Vicente Aleixandre school, where the monarchs were received by students and staff. Later that day they attended an ecumenical event at the Sidi Embarek cemetery. The king also delivered a speech on sovereignty, addressing the migration crisis that had been unfolding in the territory.
During his remarks, Felipe VI emphasized that Ceuta is an "indisputable" part of Spain and the European Union’s external border. He repeated the phrase "Ceuta is Spain" three times, underscoring the point. He declared that "The sovereignty and territorial integrity of our country are non-negotiable" and later restated that "Sovereignty and territorial integrity are not negotiable, they are indisputable." He also noted that "Melilla and Ceuta are an irrenounceable part of the political and national reality that is Spain."
The monarch called for unity among Spanish institutions, urging public authorities, local and state bodies, the Crown and political forces to act "without fissures, without ambiguity or half measures, at the height of our citizenship." He highlighted the shared responsibility of EU member states in protecting the union’s external borders and stressed the importance of European solidarity in that effort.
At the same time, he said they "must be required to scrupulously respect the rules of civic coexistence and the rights and freedoms of the people of Ceuta.
Felipe VI stated that those who had entered the territory irregularly must return to their places of origin as soon as possible and through legal channels. He reiterated this point, saying "Those who entered irregularly must return to their places of origin as soon as possible and through legal channels." He also urged the Moroccan government to act in good faith to facilitate such returns.
While advocating for returns, the king insisted that migrants must be treated with dignity and humanity. At the same time, he said they "must be required to scrupulously respect the rules of civic coexistence and the rights and freedoms of the people of Ceuta." He emphasized that migrants must be treated with dignity and humanity while also respecting the rules of civic coexistence and the rights and freedoms of the people of Ceuta.
140 people died on July 30‑31, a tragedy that the king has remembered daily since July 30, 2026. Starting on that date, he began a daily remembrance of the Ceutians lost. The chronology also marks an earlier entry: on July 30, 2023, the phrase "Ante cualquier riesgo" was recorded, a sentiment the king later echoed in his speech.
Among the various claims noted in the briefing materials was the statement that "Modi announced a new policy." These classifications reflect the tone attributed to each actor in the coverage of the king’s visit and statements.