Suits and ties are dead, long live the King!

There was a new dress code at the royal reception at Marivent Palace in Cala Mayor on Monday night, no suits or ties for the men. An informal gathering and summer shirts were the order of the day. The summer heat is not ideal for suits so this year the royal household announced a change which was well received.

A few diehard suit lovers (me included) politely declined the new dress code but we were definately in a minority. King Felipe and Queen Letizia always hold a summer reception at the end of their holiday on Mallorca. For the first time this year they were joined by their daughters, the Infantas´ Leonor and Sofia. Also present was the Queen Mother, Queen Sofia.

More than 600 people had been invited to the event from across the Balearics and they included tennis star Rafa Nadal, the Chief Executive of Melia Hotels, Gabriel Escarrer, the President of the Bulletin publising company, the Serra Group, Carmen Serra and Bulletin editor Jason Moore. The President of the Balearic government, Marga Prohens was also present along with leading members of various charitable institutions and the business community.

It was certainly a night to remember and the Spanish newspapers all praised the two infantas and how well they did at their first royal reception in Mallorca.

Guests were taken to the Marivent Palace in coaches with the Porto Pi naval base becoming a giant car park for the night.