King Felipe welcomes Prince Albert II for lunch in Madrid to mark great-grandfather’s passing

King Felipe of Spain welcomed Monaco’s Prince Albert for lunch at La Zarzuela Palace this afternoon to mark 100 years since the Prince’s great-grandfather passed away. 

The two royals shook hands outside the royal residence in Madrid before enjoying a meal in private in honour of the late Prince Albert I. 

Prince Albert, 64, is currently touring Portugal and Spain to celebrate his great-grandfather’s life and reign, which lasted 33 years.

Before inheriting the throne when he was 41, the late royal served in the Spanish Navy as a navigator and was awarded the French Legion Order of Honour for his service in the Franco-Prussian War.

Following his military career, Albert I grew increasingly passionate about oceanography and went on to complete 28 expeditions around the Atlantic Ocean and Mediterranean Sea.

In Portugal, the Prince is remembered for discovering a small shelf around ​​the Azores archipelago, which boosted the country’s fishing industry.

To this day, it is still known as ‘Princess Alice’s shelf’ in honour of the ship Albert was travelling on. 

Thanks to his pioneering oceanography studies, Albert and his team of biologists, zoologists and geographers developed the first maps of the world’s ocean depths.

Prince Albert II, 64, is touring Spain and Portugal to celebrate great-grandfather’s life and reign – 100 years on from his death. Pictured before having lunch with the King of Spain, 54

The Prince passed away at the age of 73 on June 26, 1922 at the age of 76 – leaving his son Louis II, whose son Rainier III went on to marry American actress Grace Kelly, to inherit his position 

The Prince passed away at the age of 73 on June 26, 1922 at the age of 76 – leaving his son Louis II, whose son Rainier III went on to marry American actress Grace Kelly, to inherit his position.

Today’s engagement with Albert II falls on an already busy week for King Felipe following Spain’s National Day celebrations on Wednesday.

The King was joined by his wife Queen Letizia and their daughter Princess Sofia to watch for the annual military parade in Madrid. 

Letizia was elegant as ever in a matching polka dot mint green frock for the outing as the family soaked up the pomp and pageantry of National Day. The holiday commemorates Christopher Columbus’s arrival in the Americas in 1492.

Sofia wore her hair down, styled in loose ringlets with minimal make-up, while Leitiza kept her locks in a sleek up-do, paired with pear drop earrings and a smoky eye.

King Felipe, who ascended the throne in 2014, looked dapper in full military uniform as he oversaw a military display.

They were joined by Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez and Spain’s Defense Minister Margarita Roble in the capital.