Royal Salute Interrupted: Flag Plummets at Spain's Armed Forces Day

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Royals (1 / 1) 01.06.2026 16:56 / Torben

A surprising moment stole the spotlight at Spain's Armed Forces Day parade in Vigo — a flag slipped from the pole while King Felipe and Princess Leonor saluted. Read on to discover the full story!

Flag mishap in front of the royals

During the May 30, 2026 ceremony, a Spanish flag being raised suddenly fell and landed near soldiers as the band played. King Felipe, 58, and his eldest daughter Princess Leonor, 20, followed the descent with their eyes but maintained their salutes while the flag was quickly recovered. Spanish outlet The Olive Press reported the fall was caused by a snapped hook on the flagpole.

Weather curtails aerial show

Organizers also scaled back parts of the program: Hola! said a planned parachute jump and some aerial displays were canceled because of strong winds and cloud cover, altering the day’s schedule.