A new wave of controversy has erupted in Girona over symbols of the Spanish monarchy. The city administration, under pressure from a court order, was forced to restore a portrait of Felipe VI to the council chamber. However, instead of the traditional royal portrait, the wall now features an unusual one: a mosaic composed of numerous small photos taken on the day of the Catalan independence referendum, October 1, 2017.
The idea for this format came from the current mayor, who decided that the legal requirements could be fulfilled without giving up personal convictions. The mosaic—featuring images that capture key moments from that day—serves as a reminder of Girona residents’ aspirations for autonomy and their attitude toward the Spanish crown. The photographers who took the shots specifically contributed their work for the creation of this portrait.
The issue of returning the monarch’s portrait surfaced at the start of the current council’s term, when a representative of the Vox party insisted on fulfilling formal requirements. For reference, the previous portrait of the king was removed from its place of honor more than ten years ago, after the abdication of Juan Carlos I. Since then, the council chamber had no display of the head of state, which caused discontent among certain political groups.
The court proceedings concluded at the end of April 2025, when the court ordered the municipality to display a portrait of Felipe VI in a prominent place. The ruling also mentioned the placement of the national flag, but did not provide specific instructions regarding its visibility. As a result, the Spanish flag ended up in an “honorary” corner, but not in full view.
Beneath the portrait is a plaque reading “By order of law,” explaining that the image was placed as a result of the court’s ruling. The text also reminds readers that in October 2017, the king did not condemn the actions of security forces during the referendum. City officials emphasize that this approach allows them to comply with the court order while also expressing the views of Girona’s residents regarding the monarchy and Catalonia’s independence.
