Spain’s King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia will visit the disputed North African enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla later this month, with royal household sources saying the trip is scheduled for October 13 and 14.

The planned visit comes after a border crisis this summer that leaves Spain and Morocco with tense relations. Multiple outlets describe the trip as Felipe’s first visit to Ceuta and Melilla during his 12-year reign, highlighting its symbolic and diplomatic sensitivity. Several reports say the move could further affect Madrid–Rabat ties, given the enclaves’ contested status and the role such visits can play in bilateral negotiations.

While all accounts focus on the timing and the location, they differ mainly in emphasis: some underline the potential diplomatic strain following the summer border crisis, while others stress that the itinerary marks Felipe’s first such visit as king. No source provides new details of the crisis itself beyond noting that it has already heightened tensions.