MADRID, July 12 (Xinhua) -- British Ambassador to Spain, Simon Manley, expressed his optimism that the visit of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain to Britain, which began on Wednesday, will help deepen two-way ties, according to the Spanish digital newspaper The Diplomat.
The first state visit to Britain by a Spanish Monarch, since King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia made an official visit in 1986, saw Felipe and Letizia welcomed by Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles at the start of a busy agenda.
Felipe and Letizia will be guests at an official reception with Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as well as holding talks with British Prime Minister, Theresa May.
The Spanish King also makes an intervention at a joint session (House of Commons and House of Lords) of the British Parliament and be the guest of honor at a gala dinner with the Lord Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan.
However, despite Manley's optimism that the visit will lead to "even deeper" links in areas such as "trade, tourism, science, education, defense and security", the visit comes at a difficult time due to the possible effect of the Brexit.
Around 300,000 British citizens are currently residents in Spain and 130,000 Spaniards live and work in Britain. Meanwhile Britain is a major market for Spanish products and 2016 year saw "18 million UK visitors" to Spain.
The Ambassador expressed his desire that Brexit will not affect the lives of Britons in Spain and Spaniards living in Britain. "We want them to stay, just like the UK nationals that have settled in Spain," he said.
Another thorny issue is the status of the British Crown Colony of Gibraltar.
Gibraltar, located on the southern tip of the Iberian Peninsula at the entrance of the Mediterranean, was ceded to Britain as part of the Treaty of Utrecht in 1713. Spain has persistently sought to regain the tiny southern territory.
A row has erupted after draft Brexit negotiating guidelines drawn up by the European Council identified future arrangements for Gibraltar as one of its 26 core principles.
Manley's communique also highlights that "Spain and the United Kingdom are close allies and partners in the NATO, the UN, the G7 and the G20, amongst many other international organizations."
He adds that Britain is the "top destination for Spanish investment in Europe". Around 400 Spanish companies are registered in Britain, whilst 700 British companies are investing in Spain.
"I hope that the images of the coming days... are the best symbols possible of two countries that are friends and partners, that share joint values and challenges, and that look to the future with hope," Manley concluded.
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