Letizia's battle lines are drawn

Letizia's battle lines are drawn

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You've got to hand it to this queen. Anyone who can look that good on a day when their royal dynasty took a wobble has got some oomph. As her husband's reign headed into uncharted waters of chaos as one part of his kingdom threatened to leave while his former principality declared him persona non grata, Letizia faced them all down single handedly. The Spanish Royal Family has barely been seen in public since the disputed referendum in Catalonia and King Felipe's controversial speech in its wake. But Letizia opened the palace doors and marched out all on her own. Letizia has drawn the battle lines and she clearly means business.


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To be fair, she was among friends. The woman who famously told the news before she started making it herself was at an awards ceremony in Madrid honouring journalists. She needed mates around her. In the hours preceding her appearance, the Catalan government began to debate whether it should declare independence and then announced it would meet early on Friday to make a decision. But around the same time, politicians in Madrid are preparing to trigger article 155 of the Spanish constitution which will impose direct rule on Catalonia. Spain is in chaos and this is quite possible the calm before the storm. Like them or loathe them, it takes a brave royal to come out in that heat. Letizia more than managed it.

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The Queen of Spain was presenting annual awards honouring outstanding achievement in journalism and there was no hiding behind her fringe and hoping no one noticed. Letizia wore deep red, the colour of her country's flag and long associated with the Royal Household, as well as some of the joyas de pasar, the sparkling diamonds that once belonged to Ena who decreed they could only ever be worn by Spanish queens. Of course, because this was Letizia it was all very modern with the red coming in the form of a jumpsuit and the diamonds in the shape of a single, stylish bracelet. It certainly made an impact.


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Friday traditionally marks the day that the Spanish Royal Family publishes its agenda for the coming week but the times they are a changing. There is little doubt that King Felipe could well be occupied with politics in the days ahead but with things moving at such a breakneck speed and with no clearer picture now of what the future holds than anyone had at the start of the day, it is impossible to predict. One thing we do know is that, just as on a chessboard or in tales of old, you need to watch the queen. And Letizia has shown us tonight that you can put as many chips down as you like, she'll match you all the way. Hats off to that queen.

Photo credit: casareal Twitter.

From historic prince to outcast king

From historic prince to outcast king

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He was its first prince for over a quarter of a millennium but his actions as a king have led to a place called Girona in Catalonia rejecting Felipe VI. The King of Spain has been declared a persona non grata by Girona City Council following his interventions in the disputed Catalan independence referendum. The beloved prince is become an outcast king.

Girona declara 'persona non grata' al rey Felipe con la abstención del PSC https://t.co/kI751F0ogh pic.twitter.com/JNJRCNdsTK

— 20minutos.es (@20m) October 25, 2017

The city council, headed by Marta Madrenas of the Catalan European Democratic Party, took the decision to make Felipe a persona non grata at a meeting earlier this week. The motion also saw Enric Milla, the Spanish government's representative in Catalona, declared persona non grata as well as the rejection of article 155 of the Spanish constitution which allows Madrid to impose direct rule on autonomous regions. The government of Mariano Rajoy has already said that the article will be triggered following the referendum on October 1st which saw almost 900 people injured when Spanish police moved in to stop voting.

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Girona has been linked to heirs to the throne since the 14th century. In 1351, King Peter IV of Aragon named his heir Duke of Girona while his grandson, Ferdinand I, decided things would be much better all round if the area became a principality. It fell out of use following the unification of Castile and Aragon. At the restoration of the Spanish Monarchy, following the accession of King Juan Carlos on the death of the dictator Francisco Franco, it became one of the titles of the new heir to the throne, Felipe, who formally adopted it in 1977. For over three decades he was Prince of Girona. Now he is no longer welcome there.

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The current holder is Felipe's daughter, Leonor, who as heir to the Spanish throne is known as Princess of Asturias, Princess of Girona and Princess of Viana. The Princess of Girona Foundation gives out annual awards and in June this year, Felipe and Letizia, were in the area to oversee the 2017 prizes. What happens in summer 2018 now remains a mystery as the historic prince becomes an outcast king.

Letizia's business as usual

Letizia's business as usual

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Just don't look at the fixed grin. There is tension all over the face of the Queen of Spain in the images coming from Oviedo for this year's Princesa de Asturias prizes but from a distance, Letizia is trying to give the impression she is carrying on as normal. Whether that's a wise decision given the crisis facing her country right now isn't certain but over the four appearances she made at the annual awards ceremony in the region of her birth, Letizia was trying to keep calm and carry on. She smiled, she waved, she bounced babies, she did what she does best and gave us a masterclass in style. Here's a look back at the queen from Asturias as she goes home one more time....



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Letizia's first appearance at this year's awards events came at the concert traditionally given on the eve of the big prize ceremony itself.  The concert took place at the Principe Felipe Auditorium in Oviedo - named in honour of Letizia's husband during his time as heir to the throne of Spain. The prizes were established in 1980, when Felipe was 12, and set up to consolidate the relationship between Asturias and its prince as well as to promote culture, sports and arts.

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Letizia chose a blue two piece outfit featuring a fitted, sleeveless top with dropped waist and a flared, pleated skirt. Blue might well be on trend in the coming months (has this queen ever knowingly not been at the forefront of fashion) but psychologists also mark it out as a colour of trust, faith and loyalty. It's also said to be beneficial to both mind and body. Considering the issues engulfing Spain right now, is that a co-incidence?


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The following day saw Letizia accompany Felipe to an audience honouring those who won this year's awards.  She looked tired and rather strained if we're being honest about things, as did her husband. but the show must go on, even if it is rather limited right now - Felipe and Letizia have carried out just a handful of engagements since the disputed referendum in Catalonia on October 1st 2017 which has left Spain in turmoil.

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The Queen of Spain chose a pale pink floral print dress with large hints of green across it. It was pretty and discreet if rather underwhelming. But given that the official social media account of the Spanish Royal Household is attracting a huge amount of comments right now asking who elected Felipe and Letizia to represent Spain, keeping it low key might well be the best option.



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However, sometimes a queen just has to make it regal and Letizia has always kept it stand out for the main awards ceremony in Oviedo. This year was no different. If the face said worried then the frock said wow and then some. It was vintage Letizia and she made the most of it.

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Letizia has made this rather striking black lace on pure white a bit of a trademark in recent years and she used it to fabulous effect on a Fifties style dress with a hint of a puffball at the hem. Yes, puffball. Now stay steady, it's only a hint and the dress is just gorgeous. And given that puffballs were last popular around 1987 when the Spanish monarchy was enjoying unparalleled levels of popularity, it might well be the best place for them all to imagine they are living right now.

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The annual event always ends with the King and Queen of Spain heading off to a small part of Asturias which has been named as the exemplary community of the area for the year. This is the chance to get out and about and meet and greet and usually involves some kind of food tasting/ craft making/ baby cuddling as things wind down.

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This year, Letizia was perhaps more formal than she's been in recent times for this event. She was back to blue for the visit to Porenu with a fitted jumper matched with grey trousers. But while she cuddled the youngsters and tried some traditional cider, there was none of the relaxed bonhomie that has, in the past, seen this pair mug up for photos at tourist attractions. Like the rest of the awards event, it was low key and low beat. There were enough cheering crowds to make it look like a good few days out. But beneath the surface, you could see and feel the tension however much Letizia tried to make it all look like business as usual.

Photo credit: casareal Twitter

Difficult days for the King of Spain

Difficult days for the King of Spain

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The headlines might sing but the reaction is far from in harmony. As the King of Spain made his second speech in two weeks on the Catalonia crisis, social media is alive with controversial comments. The front of the newspapers might focus on the main lines about unity but the response on websites and social media is far from together. King Felipe VI is facing a storm of resentment in a turbulent time. The next few weeks look very hard indeed.


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The latest words from Felipe came at the annual Princesa de Asturias Awards held in Oviedo. The yearly event honours people in a range of areas including literature and sport. Usually, the main question asked is when Leonor, Princess of Asturias will attend the event which was started during her father's time as Spanish heir to the throne. This time round, the debate is much more furious.

En video: Discurso completo de S.M. el Rey en la entrega de los Premios Princesa de Asturias 2017 https://t.co/bwVyE4esl6 vía @rtve @efetv

— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) October 20, 2017

King Felipe VI used his speech during the prize giving to make reference to the situation which is gripping Spain. The disputed referendum on Catalan independence, held on the first day of this month and now often referred to as 1-O, saw police use force to move on people from polling stations and resulted in almost 900 injured. Felipe addressed Spain on television several days later, saying that those who had organised the referendum had 'broken the democratic principles of the rule of law'. Now, he has told his country that Catalonia ''is and will remain'' part of Spain.

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The reaction to both speeches displays the deep divisions in society following the referendum. There were comments of ''Viva El Rey'' immediately afterwards but, as has become habitual in the days following 1-O, there were also plenty of questions asked about Felipe's role. Scroll through the response to the tweets on the official Casa Real account and you will find clusters asking who elected Felipe and many more questioning what say those in Catalonia have in their future. The response on the websites of papers like El Pais is just as divided with plenty remarking, again, that Felipe himself can't call on his own mandate. There are, of course, even angrier and more combative comments. Keeping it to politics, the real problem for King Felipe seems to be an underlying impression that some don't see him displaying the inclusivity they expect at a time of crisis.

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There are other issues for the royal family. Felipe and Letizia have barely been seen in public since the disputed referendum on October 1st. The royal couple, with their two daughters, took part in the annual military parade in Madrid marking Spain's National Day. The Queen of Spain held an audience inside the Zarzuela Palace a few days later and King Felipe has met several dignitaries and politicians. The trip to Oviedo, although a regular in their royal calendars, has taken on a new significance this year. It is a rare chance for them to communicate on a wider level and the reaction to it has shown that if they were hoping for an overriding success, they will have to look again.

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To say they looked uncomfortable during this now rare public foray is perhaps an overstatement but this was far from a relaxed series of appearances. Queen Sofia joined them for the main event, the presentation of the Princess of Asturias Awards, but her body language spoke volumes. Remember, this is a consort who has lived through several series of political problems and she clearly feels less than positive about the situation her royal family finds itself in now.

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For the future is very tough for her beloved son, King Felipe VI. With the government in Madrid saying it will trigger Article 155 of the Spanish constitution which will, temporarily, impose direct rule on Catalonia and with talk of fresh elections in the region, the political map of Spain is ever moving. If a set of fresh general elections were called, the country might well find itself in the state of political paralysis that gripped it in 2016 and which, again, was a tough test for Felipe.

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That is, in part, speculative debate about the future but the House of Bourbon is facing a crisis as bad as any it has known recently. With limited opportunities to reach out through public appearances and no sign of a let up in the sometimes fierce response to Felipe's interventions, the next few weeks look hard for this king who just three months ago was making headlines around the world for different reasons during his highly successful State Visit to the UK. Gone are the days when a few words in Catalan during his Christmas speech were enough. Felipe must now take on the challenge presented by the independence referendum and his public reaction to it. This is the moment of truth for Europe's newest monarch.

Royal Wedding Tiaras: Infanta Cristina of Spain

Royal Wedding Tiaras: Infanta Cristina of Spain

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It all started so well. The marriage of Infanta Cristina and Inaki Urdangarin on October 4th 1997 was a sparkling event with a royal guest list, a handsome couple and enough public support to make any monarchy feel rather comfortable in its ermine clad skin. The next twenty years saw that fairytale put to the test and then some. The marriage of Cristina and Inaki has endured even if it hasn't always been the glittering jewel in the Spanish royal crown. But on their 20th wedding anniversary, let's enjoy a little bit of sparkle as we look back at the tiara Cristina wore on the day she said 'I do'.


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The diamond diadem in question is a familar one to royal watchers. The Spanish Floral Tiara has been a regular on the regal scene since 1962 when Franco gave it to the then Princess Sophia of Greece and Denmark as a wedding present from the people of Spain. It can actually trace its history back to the late 19th century and another set of royals. King Alfonso XII (Cristina's great great grandfather) had it made for his second wife, Maria Christina of Austria (great great granny to Cristina) but it left royal possession before Franco bought it as a wedding gift.

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It was made by that powerhouse of royal jewellery makers, Mellerio, and it features a rather pretty floral design made entirely of diamonds. There is a large, central flower flanked on either sides by smaller floral designs and lots of leaves.

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The link to Cristina's mother make it an extra special wedding choice, too. The now sixth in line to the Spanish throne kept this as a go to until she stopped attending royal events following the financial scandal that surrounded her and her husband. The fairytale ending may still elude Spain's royals but this tiara, very pretty and very bridal, remains a regal wedding star turn even now.

Royal Wedding Dresses: Infanta Cristina of Spain

Royal Wedding Dresses: Infanta Cristina of Spain

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It was a glittering wedding that seemed to put the seal on what then seemed a triumph of a monarchy. Spain's Royal Family was about as popular as could be in October 1997 and the huge outpouring of public support as Infanta Cristina wed Inaki Urdangarin in Barcelona only underlined that. What a difference two decades can make. As Spain's royals languish in yet another crisis, the memories of a sunny day when the world seemed to be at their feet remain. At the heart of the fairytale was a modern bride with her own sense of style who took well loved to new levels. Here's a look back at the royal wedding dress of Infanta Cristina of Spain...the princess bride who could seemingly do no wrong.



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This royal bride was a mix of modern and traditional. Her dress was designed by Lorenzo Caprile, now better known as a go to designer for Queen Letizia, the sister in law with whom Cristina is said to enjoy less than friendly relations.

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The most striking feature is the off the shoulder neckline. A major surprise at the time, it suited the bride down to the ground but raised some eyebrows as royal wedding dresses usually go the full covered up route. The gown is made of off white silk and features full length sleeves, a sculpted bodice effect around the waist and a full skirt which fans out gently into a bell shape.

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If you go really close to the screen and squint you can just make out the rather delicate embroidery sitting at the waistline but overall this gown is very simple and all the better for it. Cristina was the darling of the Spanish monarchy then, seen as down to earth and full of life and this classic creation let the bride wear it rather than the other way round.

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There is a train (compulsory at royal weddings, Meghan Markle take note) and it extended a full three metres behind the bride as she smiled her way into Barcelona Cathedral. Covering it is a lace veil once worn by Cristina's great grandmother, Queen Victoria Eugenie of Spain. Made in the 19th century, it was restored for Cristina to wear. A nod to the past by a modern bride who at the time seemed to carry so many of the hopes of the Spanish monarchy for the future.

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We all know that this fairytale has some rather dark twists in it. The couple were the golden hope of the Borbons for several years with four beautiful children cementing the image. But the financial scandal which engulfed them changed everything. Earlier this year, Cristina was acquitted of tax fraud while her husband was found guilty of embezzlement and is currently appealing against a six year prison sentence. It was just another blow for the Spanish monarchy which has struggled in recent years and now faces another crisis as King Felipe VI's speech to his country following the Catalan referendum divides opinion while the region plans to declare independence. It's all a long way from that sunny day in Catalonia twenty years ago when Spain's monarchy was the unifying factor in a day of celebration that the world watched with a smile. The dress remains beautiful even if the dream is fading for good.