30.05.2026 23:10
During the Armed Forces Day military parade held in Spain, a major misfortune occurred while the national anthem was playing. The giant Spanish flag being hoisted up the flagpole fell to the ground due to a broken pulley. At that moment, King Felipe VI, who was saluting as a soldier, could not move from his position due to protocol, but his deep shock was evident from his facial expression. The ceremony, which marked Princess Leonor's first time presiding and saw flights canceled due to adverse weather conditions, became memorable for these moments.
During the Armed Forces Day military parade held in Spain, a great misfortune occurred while the national anthem was playing. The huge Spanish flag being hoisted suddenly fell to the ground due to a broken pulley at the top of the flagpole. At that moment, King Felipe VI of Spain, who was saluting, could not move from his position because he was standing at attention, witnessing every second of this unfortunate incident. However, his frozen facial expression and gaze conveyed deep shock and sorrow in every aspect of the ceremony.
PRINCESS LEONOR'S FIRST PRESIDING EXCITEMENT WAS OVERSHADOWED
The grand event held on Saturday in the city of Vigo, Barcelona, held special significance for the Spanish Royal Family. Princess Leonor was presiding for the first time at this magnificent Armed Forces Day military parade, which included 3,700 soldiers, over 70 aircraft, 109 vehicles, and 32 motorcycles. However, the ceremony was etched into memory not by the scale of military power or the Princess's first experience, but by the flag falling to the ground while the Spanish national anthem was playing.
STATEMENT FROM THE MINISTRY: PULLEY BROKE
According to information relayed to the Efe news agency by sources from the Spanish Ministry of Defense, the falling of the official symbol was caused by the breaking of the pulley mechanism at the top of the flagpole. Following the accident, King Felipe VI quickly demanded that the situation be addressed and ordered that the fallen flag be immediately replaced with another flag from the Royal Guard.
KING DEVASTATED WHILE SALUTING, SOCIAL MEDIA SWAYED WITH IRONY
In the footage, King Felipe, saluting alongside the national anthem, was captured on camera helplessly watching the flag slide down within seconds. The King, who did not break his salute due to official protocol and remained still like a statue, had a shocked and tense expression on his face throughout the ceremony, which became the most talked-about detail of the night.
The accident quickly sparked great debate on social media. Former Catalan leader Carles Puigdemont, in an ironic tweet shared on his social media account, used the phrase "Spain's flag has fallen," making a reference to the incident.
MISFORTUNES CAME ONE AFTER ANOTHER: FLIGHTS AND PARACHUTE JUMP CANCELED
The flag falling was not the only misfortune at the ceremony. Due to suddenly worsening weather conditions in the city of Vigo, the planned flight of fighter jets, which were to start the air parade with smoke trails in the colors of the Spanish flag, was completely canceled. Because of the same adverse weather conditions, the special parachute jump display by the parachute unit, eagerly awaited by the public, could not be carried out either. Despite all these setbacks, the ceremony was completed with the raising of the new flag and the passage of ground troops.