King Felipe of Spain has publicly recognised that abuses occurred during the Spanish conquest of what is now Mexico, comments that have eased some diplomatic tensions but also reopened a contested discussion about Spain's colonial legacy.
Speaking at Madrid's National Archaeological Museum during an exhibition on indigenous women, the monarch said there had been "a lot of abuse" during the conquest and suggested that judged by modern standards some episodes cannot be a source of pride.
His remarks were made in the presence of Mexico's ambassador to Spain and were shared in a video by the Royal Household.
Mexico's president, Claudia Sheinbaum, welcomed the statement as a step toward reconciliation.
Ties between the two countries have been strained in recent years after former president Andrés Manuel López Obrador demanded a formal apology for harms committed during colonisation.
Sheinbaum had earlier chosen not to invite King Felipe to her 2024 inauguration, citing an absence of an official response from Spain to Mexico's calls for acknowledgement.
Last October, Spain's foreign minister acknowledged historic "pain and injustice," a comment Sheinbaum also praised.
Spanish ministers from the ruling Socialist-led government backed the king's words, calling them appropriate.
But the comments drew sharp criticism from the political right.
Alberto Núñez Feijóo, leader of the conservative People's Party, warned against judging 15th-century actions by 21st-century values and defended the positive cultural and linguistic ties that followed Spain's arrival in the Americas.
The far-right Vox party framed the conquest in civilisational terms and accused critics of attacking Spain's history.
Historians note that while Spanish colonisation spread Christianity and the Spanish language across the Americas, it also brought violence, dispossession and disease that devastated indigenous populations.
The fall of Tenochtitlán in 1521 — commemorated with a 500th anniversary in 2021 — remains a particularly symbolic moment in that history.
For now, it is unclear how Felipe's acknowledgement will translate into formal talks or policies.
Mexican officials have urged the comment be the start of a broader dialogue, but concrete next steps have not been outlined.
