Queen Letizia of Spain
Triumph of a Rebel
Letizia Queen of Spain in a leather look by Hugo Boss at the Frankfurt Book Fair. Your country was the guest of honour.
© Andreas Rentz / Getty Images
During the state visit to Germany, Queen Letizia beamed with self-confidence. And for good reason.
This evening it is bright red. But Queen Letizia, 50, would not have needed a signal color at the banquet of the Federal President in Bellevue Palace in honor of the Spanish royal couple to draw everyone’s attention.
Lady in Red: Letizia and King Felipe are received by Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender.
© Gerald Matzka / Getty Images
In her Stella McCartney dress, the slender, toned queen looks like an exclamation mark amidst the predominantly black-clad company. She has long since gotten used to being the center of attention, shakes hands with a relaxed smile and chats.
Queen Letizia of Spain: years full of hostilities
The Queen’s inner strength is also evident in the other program items of the Spanish royal couple’s three-day trip to Germany – for example in the Red Town Hall in Berlin or at the Frankfurt Book Fair. “She has become a bulwark against all attacks on the monarchy,” wrote the Spanish press recently on the occasion of her 50th birthday, dedicating pages of comments to the “triumph of a rebel”. In fact, Letizia is more popular in her homeland than ever before. Her style, her warmth, the well-behaved daughters Leonor, 16, and Sofía, 15 – all plus points.
Letizia and Felipe with their daughters Leonor (centre) and Sofía in the summer on Mallorca
© Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
After the first few years full of hostilities, she is now carried by a wave of sympathy that gives her self-confidence and makes her (even) stronger. That she would one day be considered the savior of the monarchy – what a surprise!
Therefore she had the sympathies of the people against her
The horror in Spain was great when Felipe presented her as his fiancee in 2003, a TV journalist who had already had a failed marriage. Felipe’s mother Sofía, 83, immediately opposed her. And his father, then-King Juan Carlos, 84, saw Letizia as the fall of the monarchy.
Difficult past: When Felipe took over the throne in 2014, Letizia became queen. Felipe’s father Juan Carlos (far left his wife Sofía) had lost the people’s trust after many scandals.
© Carlos Alvarez/Getty Images
Today we know that Juan Carlos’ sex scandals and corruption scandals were a much greater threat to royalty. His punishment: today he has to look on as his daughter-in-law, for whom he made life difficult, leads the royal family into the future. His wife Sofía, the ex-queen, may still have differences with Letizia. But outwardly the women demonstrate unity and spent a happy evening with Letizia’s daughters on Mallorca in the summer at the “Puro Hotel” in Palma. Letizia never gives interviews. She sets signals with her appearances, whether at cultural occasions or charity events. The couple also presents itself close to the people in Berlin. “We’re finally here!” calls King Felipe, 54, upon arrival – and with a charming gesture, lets his wife go first. After the official greeting with military honors, the couple took several minutes to sign autographs and take selfies with young people.
Communications professional: Until she got engaged in 2003, the political journalist worked as a TV presenter, including for TVE and CNN.
© AFP / Getty Images
Down to earth: that’s what makes Letizia so likeable
Letizia’s hearts fly when she compliments a girl on her dress. The queen is considered a style icon. She wears fashion from the Spanish department store chain Zara just as naturally as luxury labels.
In Germany, she chose several looks from German brand Hugo Boss – a clever diplomatic gesture. As disciplined as she represents her country, Letizia also trains her body. The menu at the state banquet was specially put together according to their nutritional principles: Pumpkin, pike-perch and sloe – all based on the Perricone diet, a low-fat and low-carbohydrate diet with an anti-aging effect. Letizia loves power food. After all, there is still a lot to do for them.