• Meryl Streep and Haruki Murakami confirm that they will travel to Oviedo to collect their Princess of Asturias Award

The high-pitched, electric sound of the bagpipes has been giving rhythm to every street in the centre of Oviedo since last Monday, when the week of the Princess of Asturias Awards began. However, the number of bagpipers seemed to double on Thursday with the arrival of the Royal Family at the Prince Felipe Auditorium. It was half an hour past seven o'clock in the evening when the Head of State, accompanied by Doña Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, got out of their official cars to attend the XXXI concert that preceded the awards.

This appointment marked the reappearance of the Infanta Doña Sofía. The youngest daughter of the King and Queen is studying in Wales and next Saturday she begins the October holidays. However, she has brought this 'break' forward by a week to accompany her sister during what will probably be the most special awards. Because the Princess of Asturias turns 18 in just 11 days and these awards are a turning point, probably the last in which she shares the stage with her parents. Doña Sofía wore a black jumpsuit for the first time, while Leonor chose a dress in the same tone, but printed in white, in her first appearance without a military uniform since she entered the Academy of Zaragoza on August 17. The Queen, meanwhile, wore black trousers and a pink shirt with puff sleeves.

This year, due to the current international situation, the Foundation organized the "concert with a taste of peace". The Foundation's Choir, together with the Principality of Asturias Symphony Orchestra, performed Fantasia on a Theme by Thomas Tallis and Dona nobis pacem, by Ralph VaughanWilliams, under the direction of Martyn Brabbins, with the participation of soloists Verity Wingate (soprano) and Paul Grant (baritone). It was an hour-long concert, which ended with the anthem of Asturias and a long ovation from the audience, among whom were all the winners except the marathon runner Kipchoge. This was the end of the Prelude to the Awards that will be presented tomorrow, and a day of intense activity for the winners.

Even the lonely Haruki Murakami has succumbed to the magic and atmosphere that Oviedo generates. Winner of the Prize for Literature, the Japanese has been part of a meeting with a representation of teachers and students of 3rd and 4th year of Secondary Education and Baccalaureate who have participated in the activity of the cultural program for educational centers "Take the Floor" inspired by his work. At the same time, in two other Asturian schools, other students participated in a meeting with representatives of Mary's Meal and Medicines for Neglected Diseases, both Concord and Cooperation Awards, respectively. Mary's Meal representatives shared their story and journey later with a group of local organizations.

Meryl Streep, whose presence in Oviedo arouses great sympathy, shared part of her talent with students from the Higher School of Dramatic Art of Oviedo, who dared to make small representations in front of her. In addition, in the evening, The Pentagon Files was screened at the Arms Factory.

  • Oviedo
  • Asturias
  • Princess Eleanor
  • Saragossa