Speech by Her Majesty the Queen
I am very happy to take part, once again, in the Gold Medal Ceremony held annually by the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute, whose aim is to strengthen the cultural ties between the United States, Spain and Latin America, as well as to broaden the knowledge of Spanish-speaking cultures.
Today we acknowledge the value of two remarkable people, who stand out by their excellence in their own fields.
President William J. Clinton played a significant role as a world leader during his presidential mandate, as well as devoting a great deal of effort to enhance political, economic and cultural ties between the United States and Spain.
Nowadays he still works at this task, through several international initiatives he is undertaking to help solve some of the pressing global problems confronting us.
The other person we reward today is the great Spanish actress Penélope Cruz, whose wonderful and versatile film career has brought to many international audiences the most profound and authentic sense of Spanish popular culture.
Both of them, so different from one another personally and professionally, have succeeded in directing their intelligence and energy towards a common goal: to spread a message of peace, harmony and well-being amongst so many cultures and societies from all over the world.
My heartfelt thanks, once more, to Oscar de la Renta and to the Queen Sofia Spanish Institute for doing a splendid job; and to you all my warmest good wishes for the coming Christmas Holidays.
Thank you very much.
Casa de Su Majestad el Rey de España
