Royal Palace, Madrid
Mariano Rajoy received the monarchs at Plaza de la Armería at the Royal Palace in Madrid, where the national anthem was played, followed by King Felipe reviewing the troops.
During the ceremony, also attended by representatives of State institutions, of the three branches of the Armed Forces and the Guardia Civil, the Minister for Defence and His Majesty the King each gave a speech.
María Dolores de Cospedal highlighted "the willingness, commitment and vocation of the Armed Forces and the Guardia Civil to serve during a year of uncertainty such as 2016, in which they have not allowed their work to suffer".
The 'Pascua Militar' is a ceremony dating back to 1782, set up by King Carlos III to commemorate the recapture of the town of Mahón, in Menorca, which, until 6 January of that year, had been in the hands of the English forces. Today, it is a formal military event marking the start of the military year. The ceremony is used to take stock of the previous year and set out the lines of action to be undertaken during the year ahead.
Pool EFE/J.J. Guillén