King attended a solemn tribute at the Rota Naval Base in Cádiz on Friday, 11 September 2026, to honour the victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks. Accompanied by Defence Minister , the monarch marked the 25th anniversary of the tragedy.
The ceremony, co-organised by Spanish and US forces, featured a parade by the Honor Guard and a flyover by naval aircraft. Felipe VI and US Ambassador Benjamín León Jr. laid floral wreaths, supported by representatives from the US Navy and the Fire Department.
Marking nearly 3,000 lives lost, the event concluded with the 'Last Alarm' bell tolls and a religious invocation. This was the King's second such tribute at Rota, following his initial visit as Prince of Asturias just days after the attacks in September 2001.