Their royal highnesses leave for Ibiza today

Menorcans extend a warm welcome to the royal visitors

Arrival. The royal couple surrounded by Arturo Bagur, Joana Barceló and Jaume Matas

The Prince and Princess of Asturias were showered with presents during their visit including artwork, jewellery, shoes, gifts for the baby and local produce

Christine Watterson.Maó

Although the weather may not have offered a very warm welcome to the Prince and Princess of Asturias yesterday, the Menorcan people certainly did, lining the route and cheering as the young couple passed by on their first official visit to the Balearic Islands.

Their Royal Highnesses were driven from the airport to the Consell Insular headquarters in Maó, where they were greeted by Joana Barceló, the President of the Island Council, and Arturo Bagur, Mayor of Maó. Having been introduced to other members of the Island Council and the island´s mayors, they signed the book of honour and received various gifts before going to the Council Room where both Joana Barceló and the Crown Prince gave short speeches.

From the Plaza Biosfera, the royal couple travelled to the centre of Maó and, after a short walkabout, arrived at the Claustre del Carme for a working meeting with representatives of Menorca´s business sectors which lasted for approximately ninety minutes.

Lunch followed at the Restaurante Jágaro in the port of Maó, to which local authorities, mayors and representatives of the industrial sector were also invited.

In the early evening Prince Felipe and his wife were driven to Alaior for a visit to the COINGA cheese factory where they were welcomed by Pau Morlà, the Mayor of Alaior, and the co-operative´s president and governing council. The royal visitors were presented with a photo of the Prince´s father taken on his visit to the factory in 1973, plus samples of COINGA´s products.

The next stop on the tour was the Plaça des Born in Ciutadella with greetings from local dignitaries, and then on to the Cathedral to meet the Bishop of Menorca, Monsignor Joan Piris Frígola, and enjoy a short concert from the Capella Davídica. From there the Spanish heir and his wife walked to the Museum where they signed Ciutadella Council´s book of honour.

Their final appointment for the day was a reception in the Claustre del Seminari, attended by local authorities and various representatives of Menorcan society.

Then, after a full day, it was back to Maó for a night´s rest at the Port Maó Hotel before leaving for Ibiza today.

Baby expected in November

A statement issued by the Royal Palace last Sunday put an end to recent speculation in the Spanish media by announcing that the Princess of Asturias is three months pregnant and that the royal couple are expecting their first child in November.

The baby will be the Spanish King and Queen´s seventh grandchild and, if a boy, will be second in line to the throne, after his father. Even if the child is a girl she could become queen as the Spanish Law of Succession may shortly be changed to allow equal rights of succession to both sexes.

It is a year which will see several royal births in Europe, as the princesses of Denmark, Belgium and Norway are also expecting babies.

The Prince and Princess of Asturias will shortly be celebrating the first anniversary of their wedding, which took place in the Almudena Cathedral, Madrid, on 22nd May last year.