The image of the Queen was projected on the northern face of the rock next to Britain’s flag on Tuesday night as Earl and Countess of Wessex visited the disputed Overseas British Territory as part of the Diamond Jubilee celebrations.
The Madrid government had earlier expressed its “disagreement and unease” about the visit on Monday after the British ambassador to Spain Giles Paxman was told last month that the visit evokes “disgust and bad feelings” in Madrid.
Queen Sofia of Spain also turned down the invitation of Queen Elizabeth for attending her Diamond Jubilee lunch in London back in May over the Gibraltar dispute.
The new provocation comes as Spain disputes Britain’s sovereignty over the seven square-kilometer territory.
Britain invaded and captured Gibraltar in 1704 and Spain ceded its sovereignty to Britain nine years later as part of the treaty that ended the War of Succession in Europe, yet the details of the treaty on Gibraltar are a point of contention for both sides.
The UN Special Committee on Decolonization lists the name of the area alongside other British colonies, including Las Malvinas, (Falklands) that should be liberated.
London and Madrid are also at loggerheads over fishing rights in waters surrounding the rock.
AMR/GHN/HE
Views: 0