The King of Spain proposed to the journalist in 2003 after a secret relationship
ing Felipe VI of Spain and former journalist Letizia Ortiz shocked fans when they announced their engagement in 2003 following a secret one-year relationship.
The Spanish Royal Court revealed the news on 1 November 2003 and the couple went on to tie the knot on 22 May 2004.
During that time, excitement was at fever-pitch over their fairytale romance, from Felipe’s modern engagement ring for his bride to Letizia’s regal £6 million wedding dress.
But 20 years later, fans may have noticed that they have rarely spotted Queen Letizia’s 16-diamond ring.
The reason could be because it is shrouded in scandal and she no longer owns it…>
© Getty Images
First photo
The couple had been spotted shaking hands at the Prince of Asturias Awards in November 2003.
Little did bystanders know that they were romantically involved, and would reveal their marriage plans just days later.
© BERNARDO RODRIGUEZ
Secret engagement
Two days after announcing their engagement, Felipe and Letizia spoke to the press about their low-key relationship in the Residencia del Príncipe.
“I understand the surprise that this decision caused nearly everyone, but it is a mature decision, the fruit of very intense reflections and covered with the weight and the sureness of the deep love that we have ourselves and of the course that we’ve undertaken together.
“From when I was very young I was always a journalist and until the 31 years that I am now, I have exerted my profession with desire, dreams, determination and in that same way I now confront what we started now, with responsibility, vision and hard work to serve Spain and the Spaniards,” Letizia said at the time.
© Getty
Ring comments
During their engagement solemnisation on 6 November at El Pardo Palace, they reiterated that they made the decision to marry “some time ago” but wanted “more time” to process the news privately.
It was here that Letizia showed off her white gold eternity ring, which was one of Felipe’s gifts to her.
The royal described it as “a modern design” before adding: “I got cuff links made of sapphires and white gold.”
© Getty
Letizia’s diamond engagement ring
Instead of a large central diamond like Meghan Markle’s rock from Prince Harry or a colourful stone like Kate Middleton’s iconic sapphire from Prince William, Letizia was given 16 sparkling baguette-cut diamonds that snaked around her finger.
This is not unusual, since many royal ladies have ditched their wedding and engagement rings in favour of dress jewellery in the past.
However, authors Esteban Urreiztieta and Eduardo Inda suggested in a biography called Urdangarin that it could be because of its connotations with King Felipe’s brother-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarin.
© A. Jones/J. Whatling/J. Parker/M
Royal ring scandal
The story goes that Felipe asked his sister Princess Christina’s husband to collect the ring from the jewellery shop in Barcelona in order to keep his proposal under wraps.
Iñaki – who is now in prison – reportedly paid for it using a credit card belonging to the Noos Institute, which later came under scrutiny for embezzling public funds. The Spanish royals have not commented on the rumours.
© Photo: Getty Images
Spanish royal wedding
King Felipe and Queen Letizia got married in Madrid’s Almudena Cathedral on 22 May 2004.
The big day saw Letizia become a princess – and then, a decade later, when Felipe ascended the throne, a queen.
© Getty
The wedding dress
The bride’s elegant wedding dress was designed by 87-year-old Spanish couturier Manuel Pertegaz. Perhaps the most striking feature of the off-white silk dress was a high-standing collar.
The collar, like the edging of the rest of the dress, was picked out with heavy white embroidery depicting the fleur-de-lys and ears of wheat – details from the crest of the Prince of Asturias.
Behind the bride swept a four-and-a-half-meter circular train and she also wore a diamond tiara which Queen Sofia, her mother-in-law, had worn on her wedding day to King Juan Carlos in 1962.
Special guests who received a royal invite included Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, Crown Princess Mette-Marit, then-Prince Charles and Prince Albert of Monaco.
News
Esta es la exitosa estrategia con la que Letizia Ortiz hace brillar a la princesa Leonor y a la infanta Sofía|KF
Las hijas de la reina consorte han aumentado su popularidad entre el pueblo español en este 2024; te contamos la estrategia detrás de ello . La princesa Leonor y la infanta Sofía han aumentado su popularidad este año Getty Images…
La Armada publica una foto inédita de la princesa Leonor en alta mar|KF
La cuenta oficial ha hecho pública una de las instrucciones a las que se enfrentan los alumnos de la Escuela Naval de Marín . La princesa Leonor con el uniforme de guardarmarina de la Armada. (Limited Pictures) . El pasado…
Juan Carlos reveló que se estaba muriendo y necesitaba constantes transfusiones de sangre: detalles ocultos en una foto reciente|KF
La foto de hace poco de Juan Carlos revela que está en las últimas y Zarzuela prepara el protocolo: avión, médicos, funeral Juan Carlos ve más cerca la muerte. Normal a los 86 años, viviendo en el exilio, entre los Emiratos y Suiza y sufriendo…
Crisis en la familia real: Juan Carlos I, en negociaciones con Letizia para evitar divorciarse de Felipe VI|KF
El rey emérito Juan Carlos I interviene para contener la crisis en el matrimonio real . La relación entre Felipe VI y Letizia siempre ha estado bajo el escrutinio público, pero en los últimos años las tensiones entre la pareja real han alcanzado nuevos…
Se acaba la infancia de la princesa Leonor: empieza a hacer de Letizia|KF
Responsable, formal, tranquila y curiosa: así califican los más próximos a la princesa Leonor. . La primogénita de los reyes Felipe y Letizia acapara todas las miradas desde que cuplió los 12 años, preguntándose todo el mundo cuándo tendrá agenda oficial propia….
Leonor, protagonista para mal en los lavabos de la discoteca, la escolta interviene|KF
Una escena se repite casi cada semana con la princesa Leonor como protagonista . La princesa Leonor, heredera al trono de España, después de 16 años viviendo bajo el control de Zarzuela, empezó a experimentar una nueva libertad desde que dejó los confines…
End of content
No more pages to load