The rain falling on Madrid and the cloudy sky forced the suspension of the National Day air parade, celebrated this Saturday, in which 85 planes were going to participate.
The decision of the Ministry of Defense was delayed until the last moment while waiting for the development of weather conditions and finally, a few minutes before the start of the event, the cancellation of the air show was announced.
In addition, the jump of the Acrobatic Parachute Patrol of the Air and Space Force (PAPEA) was suspended and, even if it seemed to be able to fly, the passage of the Eagle Patrol, which paints the sky every year, was also suspended. canceled. of the capital in the colors of the national flag. The exhibition of 56 planes and 29 helicopters was planned.
The parade, chaired by Don Felipe and Doña Letizia, will begin at 11:00 a.m. with the arrival of the kings in Neptune Square, near the Royal Tribune, where they will be received with military honors. Princess Sofia will accompany the monarchs, dressed in the midshipman’s uniform, just a month and a half after entering the Marín Naval School, where she continues her military training.
Upon their arrival, the monarchs will receive military honors and Felipe VI will review the honors battalion of the Royal Guard. They will then greet the authorities present, led by the President of the Government, Pedro Sánchez, the Minister of Defense, Margarita Robles, the Minister of the Interior, Fernando Grande-Marlaska, and the Chief of Defense Staff ( Jemad), the admiral. Theodoro. Lopez Calderon.
A total of 4,092 members of the Armed Forces are participating this year in this parade which constitutes the central event of the national holiday.
