When the King, Queen, and members of the royal household arrived, a signal for the exhibition to begin, was given.

In one part of the entertainment, pigeons are used to illustrate the sending of dispatches.
On that occasion, Paul had procured a pair of beautiful white doves.
One of them when loosed flew away, while the other, bewildered, circled about and finally lit at the feet of the Queen.

The Princess of Asturas, the King's sister, caught it and handed it to the Queen, who held and petted it during the rest of the time.
The exhibition was a complete success and at its termination, the King summoned Paul to land where the royal party was seated, when he congratulated the hardy navigator, as did also the Queen.

As she thanked him for the pleasure he had given her, Paul said, referring to the dove that had gone to her feet: "I hope it will prove a good omen, your Majesty." Turning her wondrously beautiful, though melancholy black eyes on him, she replied, with a sad smile: "I hope so; I hope so." She then conferred on Paul the order of Hospitaliers of Spain, making him for a second time a knight.

He is the only foreigner ever knighted by Mercedes during her short reign.