MADRID – King Juan Carlos will travel to Havana at the head of the Spanish delegation to the events surrounding former Cuban President Fidel Castro’s funeral.

Officials in the Royal Palace confirmed on Sunday that Juan Carlos – who abdicated in favor of his son, now King Felipe VI, in 2014 – will travel to Cuba on Tuesday to participate in one of the scheduled events surrounding Castro’s funeral and the tributes to be paid to him.

The event the king will attend is predicted to draw a “huge” crowd to the Plaza of the Revolution in Havana.

Accompanying Juan Carlos in the Spanish delegation will be the secretary of state for International Cooperation and Ibero-America, Jesus Gracia, authorities said.

King Felipe VI – along with Queen Letizia – will be in Portugal on that day on the third state visit of his reign to the neighboring country.

Cubans will pay tribute to Castro for almost a week with events and ceremonies expected to be attended by many thousands in Havana and Santiago de Cuba, where the revolutionary leader’s ashes will be interred on Dec. 4.