Sir Alex Ellis has arrived in Madrid this morning (Monday), where he takes over from Hugh Elliott in the service of His Majesty King Charles III as the British Ambassador to Spain and Non-Resident Ambassador to Andorra.
Sir Alex will present his credentials to His Majesty King Felipe VI in a ceremony that will take place in the next few weeks.
“I am honoured to represent His Majesty Charles III and my country as Ambassador to Spain and Andorra,” he said, “Our countries enjoy a close and enduring relationship across so many areas: between our citizens, our cultures, our armed forces and across the world of academia, science and commerce. I am looking forward to supporting this relationship to become even stronger.”
This will be Ellis’ second posting to Spain, a country he already knows well from his role in the British Embassy in Madrid in the early 2000s. Since then, he has served as Ambassador to Portugal and Brazil and most recently, as the High Commissioner to India.
He has held a range of roles across the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office, Cabinet Office and the Department for Exiting the European Union, in addition to being an Advisor to the President of the European Commission, and Deputy National Security Adviser for the Cabinet Office.
The diplomatic relationship between the United Kingdom and Spain, spanning over 500 years, remains one of the most robust in Europe. As of December 2022, more than 412,000 British citizens were registered as residents in Spain, according to Spain’s National Statistics Institute (INE), while approximately 389,000 Spaniards reside in the UK, according to data from the EU Settlement Scheme. These figures highlight the deep social connections between the two nations.
Tourism plays a major role in the relationship, with 17.3 million British tourists visiting Spain in 2023, accounting for 20% of all international travellers. British visitors spent nearly 20 billion euros, contributing 1.4% to Spain's GDP. Meanwhile, the UK is the second most popular destination for Spanish tourists after France.
Trade and investment also solidify their ties. Bilateral trade reached 65 billion euros this year, with services trade rising almost 30% over the past five years. The UK is Spain's third-largest investor, while Spain is the second-largest destination for British investment. Around 400 Spanish companies are registered in the UK, and nearly 700 British firms operate in Spain.
The countries’ strategic partnership extends beyond economics. As NATO allies since 1982, the UK and Spain collaborate closely on defence, working together in operations like air surveillance on NATO's eastern flank, naval missions, and quick reaction forces. This defence cooperation strengthens global security, reflecting the enduring importance of their alliance.
