Dressed in their Sunday best, Santa Fe area residents gathered on a cold and cloudy Tuesday morning at the courtyard of the Palace of the Governors, waiting to catch a glimpse of Spain's Crown Prince Felipe de Borbón y Grecia and his wife, the Princess of Asturias Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano.

The crowd chatted happily as they waited until somebody said, knowingly, "They're coming."

New Mexico State Police officers presented the colors of both the U.S. and Spanish flags after Prince Felipe and the glamorous Princess Letizia made their entrance to help celebrate Santa Fe's 400th anniversary.

"We're kicking off 400 years of culture," said Maurice Bonal, chairman of the 400th anniversary committee, as he introduced Prince Felipe. Bonal told the crowd how Santa Fe is among many cities throughout the United States celebrating 400th anniversaries, but that Santa Fe's is special.

"We're one of the lucky ones because we got the Spanish," Bonal said as the crowd laughed.

When Prince Felipe took the microphone, he gave the crowd a brief history lesson and encouraged a positive relationship between the United States and Spain.

"It gives me great pleasure to express how much we share the pride felt by the citizens of Santa Fe on this historic anniversary," he said. "We are so happy to be here with you to celebrate it, and to take this lovely opportunity to visit again the beloved state of New Mexico and the United States, a close friend and ally of Spain."

Both Bonal and Prince Felipe said that the violence between Native Americans and Spanish settlers has led to residual tensions today. "One of the legacies we hope to leave is the work to continue reconciliation between the Native Americans and our community," Bonal said.

Lee Moquino of Santa Clara Pueblo said he's glad there are efforts to reconcile the relationship.

"It's bittersweet," Moquino said of the 400th anniversary and the royal visit. "We're celebrating 400 years of when the Spanish came and conquered our people and our land. When (Secretary of Cultural Affairs Stuart Ashman) was in there speaking, he said, 'Bienvenidos a su tierra,' welcome to your land; and I said, 'Bienvenidos a mi tierra,' welcome to my land.

"I think (the reconciliation) is good and we need to have that relationship — that ongoing relationship to reconcile, forgive and move forward."

Prince Felipe noted that the original conquerors of this area — Juan de Oñate, Pedro de Peralta and Diego de Vargas — are not the only people responsible for the rich culture of the area.

"We would also like to acknowledge here all those who have contributed to forge modern New Mexico, the one you all live in, enjoy and continue to dedicate your hopes and daily hard work," he said.

The prince also emphasized the importance of maintaining a positive relationship between the United States and Spain.

The royal couple took a leisurely stroll through the Plaza, visited Cathedral Park and made an offering of flowers to La Conquistadora during a ceremony at the Cathedral Basilica of St. Francis of Assisi — which was decorated beautifully with silk banners in the Spanish flag's colors and robust fall flower arrangements.

The morning ended with another gathering in the Plaza, where the couple enjoyed a re-enactment by Teatro Paraguas, a local theater group. Prince Felipe also introduced two items into the 400th anniversary time capsule — a Spanish flag and two coins, one with the text of the Spanish constitution of 1819, and another with the text of the current Spanish constitution, drafted in 1978.

"We would like that to be introduced into the time capsule together with the spirit of the atmosphere that we are living today," Prince Felipe said. "I would like to hope to join you in this wish that the atmosphere ... will be similar to what we'll see whenever this capsule is opened — the atmosphere of friendship, roots and family values."

Contact Ana Maria Trujillo at 986-3084 or atrujillo@sfnewmexican.com.