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Spanish frenzy over Gibraltar's royal visit
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by Leo Olivero
Over the years we have become familiar if not somewhat immune to the usual Spanish anti-Gibraltar rants, particularly every time the Spanish government get wind of a royal visit to Gibraltar.
Although the visit of Prince Edward and the Countess of Wessex that ended yesterday was a slightly different story, the entire royal visit to Gibraltar was catapulted by the Spanish media as a major main line story which the ‘one dimensional Spanish media’ on the other side of the frontier constantly reported day and night on. Obviously Spanish press reports from Gibraltar regarding the royal visit were for Spanish consumption, and in line with the current mood in Madrid regarding Gibraltar.
The press in Spain went absolutely bananas. No recent royal visit to Gibraltar has been covered so intensely by the press than the one that came to end yesterday, when the royal couple flew out of Gibraltar after an ‘extremely successful royal visit’ by the Queen's youngest son and his wife on the occasion of his mother's Jubilee Celebrations.
Yet one thing was clear ‘This Royal Visit Was One of the Best Ever’ - I’m not sure what it was - but ‘Royal Fever hit the Rock’ in a big way. Apart from the fact, that the royal couple themselves arrived in Gibraltar relaxed with an inspiring presence about them, and with an eagerness and visible sincerity to meet the people of Gibraltar from all walks of life (which they did) won them the affection of the population, and the admiration of the very few who are not really all that monarchy inclined!
And if the Spanish press and others thought they were going to spoil our party they in fact know little about this community and less, about the British royal family. Because Prince Edward and the Countess were completely unfazed particularly regarding the silly political games being played out from the other side of the frontier regarding every minute and aspect of their visit to Gibraltar.
The Spanish public information services turned the royal visit into another negative high profile Gibraltar related story…that was reported to the Spanish public in a very shallow, unbalanced, unprofessional and totally Spanish government orientated manner.
But it was evident the royal visit to Gibraltar was stirring and exciting the Spanish media who were hell bent on carrying or reporting on just one journalistic angle regarding this local royal occasion, as they insisted in creating a scenario of ‘controversy’ around the royal visit. In fact ‘controversy’ was the Spanish media buzzword on every news bulletin covering the royal visit to the Rock; this is how the Spanish press sold it to the Spanish nation.
Although not that many people cared in Gibraltar, particularly the royal visitors themselves, but this was another glaring example how the Spanish media machine negatively and in an unbalanced and unprofessional manner do little justice to their own profession!
Although to be fair, the Spanish media just about hit the target when they reported that the Chief Minister Fabian Picardo said that ‘Gibraltar was under attack.’
Hopefully in the UN later this week the Chief Minister will be able to expose Spain even further - for what they really are!
An example of the state of the ‘Spanish Mind at the Moment’ regarding anything Gibraltar, is the various descriptions surrounding reaction of the Spanish government to the royal visit, this ranged from being furious, anger over the visit, outrage and down to deeply unfortunate. But has anyone told the Madrid government just what right do they have to feel anything, regarding a royal visit of any kind from the ‘British Monarchy’ particularly one to Gibraltar where the British Royal Family has reigned supreme since 1704.
An the news yesterday was that King Juan Carlos will be visiting Algeciras next Wednesday, which has been described as a royal gesture of support for the guardia civil and all the Spanish patrol boats that perform surveillance and protection duties of the Spanish fishing boats in waters around the Rock.
14-06-12
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