Spanish royal couple visits Paris after deadly Germanwings plane crash disrupted earlier trip

PARIS – Spanish flags are lining Paris avenues as the French capital hosts King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia for a state visit that was delayed because of a deadly plane crash in March involving dozens of Spanish victims.

The royal couple attended a state dinner Tuesday with President Francois Hollande at the Elysee Palace after visiting a Velasquez exhibit at the Grand Palais.

Felipe also gave a special award to emergency officials who cleared the wreckage of a Germanwings plane that crashed March 24 in the French Alps en route from Barcelona to Duesseldorf. All 150 people aboard were killed.

Felipe took power after his father, Juan Carlos, abdicated a year ago Tuesday. Felipe has pledged a more moderate monarchy and sought to boost the royal family’s image after recent scandals.

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