Which palace in Madrid is the official residence of the Spanish royal family for state ceremonies?

The Royal Palace of Madrid is the Spanish palace used as the royal family’s official residence for state ceremonies.

Although it is the official residence, Spain’s royal family does not use the palace as its everyday home. Its principal role today is ceremonial: it hosts state dinners, diplomatic receptions, official audiences, and other major events connected with the monarchy. The palace stands on Madrid’s Calle de Bailén, beside the Campo del Moro gardens and the Plaza de Oriente.

The present palace was built after the former Alcázar of Madrid burned in 1734. Construction began in 1735 during the reign of Philip V, and the building was developed in a grand Baroque and Classical style. Its design involved architects including Filippo Juvarra and Giovanni Battista Sacchetti. The palace occupies the site of a Muslim-era fortress dating to the ninth century and a later royal residence used by Spanish monarchs.

A common mix-up is El Escorial, which is another famous royal complex outside Madrid and served important religious, dynastic, and historical functions. The Alhambra is in Granada, while the Palacio de la Granja is a separate royal residence. For Madrid’s ceremonial monarchy, the canonical answer is the Royal Palace of Madrid.