Queen Letizia and the Press

[Archduchess Zelia]

@lula: I did not know that the harassment from the press's side had been so severe - that's absolutely horrible. It's one thing for them to go hard on adults, but to take their brutalities out on children is just vile and it makes the strained relationship between the SpRF and the press much more understandable.


@Alondra: I never said that all royal families can be compared, I merely said that it is a natural thing for people to compare the various royal families/royals (e.g. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and the Duchess of Cambridge) to each other. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times it's a bad thing. Nor did I ever call the Infantas unmannerly, uneducated (I don't know where you're getting these things from ) or wanted them to be celebrities.

I did, however, say that from various pictures I have seen of the little ones, it seems they're not completely at ease in front of the cameras whereas, to use your example, the A-team seem much more comfortable around the press and the public. That probably largely comes down to bad encounters with the press in the past, as lula mentioned, and I completely understand that. However, one can only hope that they will find a way of managing the press as distancing themselves from press and public can be a lethal thing as well.

 

[Alondra]

[QUOTE}

@Alondra: I never said that all royal families can be compared, I merely said that it is a natural thing for people to compare the various royal families/royals (e.g. Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and the Duchess of Cambridge) to each other. Sometimes that's a good thing, other times it's a bad thing. Nor did I ever call the Infantas unmannerly, uneducated (I don't know where you're getting these things from ) or wanted them to be celebrities.

[/QUOTE]

To quote you.. "It's only natural to compare the different royal houses. I for one agree with Duke of Marmalade. I personally believe that it is best and healthiest for royal children who are destined for a life in the limelight to be introduced to the public eye from an early age."

The problem with comparisons, royal or not, is that our societies are not the same. Lula touched the issue of the press ....and it's an interesting subject.

Spain's Royal Family is a free for all in Spain. Our democracy is so healthy that Cristina, the daughter of a reigning king, had to testify in front of judge for 6 hours. Can you tell me how many European royals have been subjected to the same degree of legal scrutiny for an alleged corruption case worth less than 200,000 euros? [ I'm not defending Cristina, I DO want her charged for fraud. Just making a point.]

My impression of the press in Scandinavia, and other european coumtries, is that they toe a certain line where the royals are concerned. It's all very flowery and beautiful without any in depth reporting and opposite to what the press reports in Spain.

This is why comparisons are, not only odious,.but usually very uniformed.

BTW Mary and Kate as Spain's CP would've been dealt even harsher by the press than Letizia has been.

 

[wyevale]

Mary or Kate would've never been accepted as CP in Spain.

I am curious to know why not ? Neither of them were previously married [unlike the Princess of the Asturias], and [in a Catholic country] i would have thought that would be a MAJOR problem ? Neither the Crown Princess of Denmark, nor the the Duchess of Cambridge have put a foot wrong in supporting their husbands or the monarchy of which they are now an integral part.

 

[Alondra]

I am curious to know why not ? Neither of them were previously married [unlike the Princess of the Asturias], and [in a Catholic country] i would have thought that would be a MAJOR problem ? Neither the Crown Princess of Denmark, nor the the Duchess of Cambridge have put a foot wrong in supporting their husbands or the monarchy of which they are now an integral part.

Religion was never a problem in Spain. Queen Sofia, an Orthodox, married Juan Carlos, a Catholic, without a problem in 1962. They had dual ceremonies to deal with the issue. Letizia's previous civil marriage was also never a problem with the Catholic church when she married Fellpe in 2004 ...except in extreme right wing politics of course.

As to why neither Kate or Mary would have been accepted in Spain?

1. They are foreigners.
2. Professionally they were nobodies before their marriages. In Spain we call them "trepas" (women benefiting from a marriage to someone important)
3. Being intellectual lightweights.

Letizia is neither and she's still dealing with the right wing press crap.

 

[wyevale]

I didn't mean different sects within Christianity would be a problem in Spain, i meant that marriage for Catholics is soluble only by death or annulment [neither of whch applied to the princess' first marriage].

I accept that both Mary and Catherine would never have been accepted in your country [if you say it is so], but i'm bound to say 'being nobodies' and 'unintellectual' has hardly held back either women, both of whom are wildly popular and are an adornment to the dynasties into which they have married.

I had hoped Spain had rather more advanced, less xenophobic and intellectually/socially snobbish attitudes in the 21st century !

I find it very sad that such antiquated ideas still prevail there.

 

[Alondra]

I didn't mean different sects within Christianity would be a problem in Spain, i meant that marriage for Catholics is soluble only by death or annulment [neither of whch applied to the princess' first marriage].

I accept that both Mary and Catherine would never have been accepted in your country [if you say it is so], but i'm bound to say 'being nobodies' and 'unintellectual' has hardly held back either women, both of whom are wildly popular and are an adornment to the dynasties into which they have married.

I had hoped Spain had rather more advanced, less xenophobic and intellectually/socially snobbish attitudes in the 21st century !

I find it very sad that such antiquated ideas still prevail there.

You have a very outdated view of catholic marriage, or the world, today. This is 2014 - most European countries have separation of state - church and state.

As to Mary and Kate being intellectual nobodies, I'm not saying that. The press in Spain, however, would have fully exploited their lack of individual professional credentials.

 

[Al_bina]

Religion was never a problem in Spain. Queen Sofia, an Orthodox, married Juan Carlos, a Catholic, without a problem in 1962. They had dual ceremonies to deal with the issue. Letizia's previous civil marriage was also never a problem with the Catholic church when she married Fellpe in 2004 ...except in extreme right wing politics of course.

As to why neither Kate or Mary would have been accepted in Spain?

1. They are foreigners.
2. Professionally they were nobodies before their marriages. In Spain we call them "trepas" (women benefiting from a marriage to someone important)
3. Being intellectual lightweights.

Letizia is neither and she's still dealing with the right wing press crap.

I for one think that Crown Princess Letizia belongs to intellectual lightweights as well. She was not a doctor or an engineer or a scientist. Her profession was not critically important to the public at large. Furthermore, any lady benefits from marring into a royal family.

 

[Alondra]

I for one think that Crown Princess Letizia belongs to intellectual lightweights as well. She was not a doctor or engineer. Her profession was not critically important to the public at large. Furthermore, any lady benefits from marring into a royal family.

Letizia is a journalist with a Masters Degree in audiovisual journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism. She was also a TVE (Spain's National Television Network) front news anchor at 29 y.o. winning the youngest, most promising journalist of the year.

Before her marriage she reported from the 2000 US Elections, from Ground Zero following the 9/11, and in 2002 followed the war in Iraq. She was reporting from Galicia the ecological disaster of the Prestige oil tanker when she met Felipe.

She is certainly not an intellectual lightweiight. If she was one, I wouldn't want her as Queen of my country.

 

[Bine221]

She is a journalist with a Masters Degree in audiovisual journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism. She was also a TVE front news anchor at 29 y.o. winning the youngest, most promising journalist of the year.

Before her marriage she reported from the 2000 US Elections, from Ground Zero following the 9/11, and in 2002 followed the war in Iraq. She was reporting from Galicia the ecological disaster of the Prestige oil tanker when she met Felipe.

She is certainly not an intellectual lightweiight. If she was one, I wouldn't want her as Queen of my country.

Very well said
Bye Bine

 

[lula]

Care Wyevale, your comments are out of line ... no offense to a country and its citizens, also because you have not understood at all what Alondra meant.

Queen Sofia is foreign and was educated in another religion and is queen of Spain for decades.

For the history of the Spanish monarchy, the role of Princess of Asturias, was very difficult for any woman. That woman was to occupy a position of power and privilege, and people in Spain is usually very critical of those who reach such positions by marriage. People do like to criticize the powerful, and is not snobbery or xenophobia ... is gossip. Understanding how works this "game" is not easy.

Maxima, Mathilde, Mary or Kate ... would have been criticized like Letizia if they were princesses in Spain. For each they would used different arguments.

 

[Duke of Marmalade]

I don't think that Letizia is an intellectual leightweight and she did have a promising career ahead of her, but marrying into a royal family is something else. While most female newsreaders will be exchanged when they get older because of fading looks, marrying a prince and a future as queen will put yourself and your assets on a global map for the rest of your life and guarantee global attention, something that seemed certainly appealing to Letizia.

So in terms of social climing, any woman marrying into a royal family who is not royal herself, eg as Sofia, Letizia is as much 'trepa' as other princesses, imo.

 

[Al_bina]

Letizia is a journalist with a Masters Degree in audiovisual journalism at the Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism. She was also a TVE (Spain's National Television Network) front news anchor at 29 y.o. winning the youngest, most promising journalist of the year.

Before her marriage she reported from the 2000 US Elections, from Ground Zero following the 9/11, and in 2002 followed the war in Iraq. She was reporting from Galicia the ecological disaster of the Prestige oil tanker when she met Felipe.

She is certainly not an intellectual lightweiight. If she was one, I wouldn't want her as Queen of my country.

There is no need to list Crown Princess Letizia's CV. Reporting from hot spots was her job and enhanced her resume. Nothing else. I do not see journalist as a very important profession. The western mass media is marginally better than the non-western one.

 

[Al_bina]

I don't think that Letizia is an intellectual leightweight and she did have a promising career ahead of her, but marrying into a royal family is something else. While most female newsreaders will be exchanged when they get older because of fading looks, marrying a prince and a future as queen will put yourself and your assets on a global map for the rest of your life and guarantee global attention, something that seemed certainly appealing to Letizia.

So in terms of social climing, any woman marrying into a royal family who is not royal herself, eg as Sofia, Letizia is as much 'trepa' as other princesses, imo.

You are absolutely right. Crown Princess Letizia is not better or worse than any other of European Queens and Crown Princesses except for the other countries has much better economic situation.

 

[Alondra]

I don't think that Letizia is an intellectual leightweight and she did have a promising career ahead of her, but marrying into a royal family is something else. While most female newsreaders will be exchanged when they get older because of fading looks, marrying a prince and a future as queen will put yourself and your assets on a global map for the rest of your life and guarantee global attention, something that seemed certainly appealing to Letizia.

So in terms of social climing, any woman marrying into a royal family who is not royal herself, eg as Sofia, Letizia is as much 'trepa' as other princesses, imo.

I find your post denigrating and offensive. At a time when women journalists are fighting for the same rights to be anchor news at any age (as their counterparts in men) this paragraph say it is all....

<<most female newsreaders will be exchanged when they get older because of fading looks, marrying a prince and a future as queen will put yourself and your assets on a global map >>>

WOW! You don't think much of females huh? Whatever your issue,

1. Letizia was 29 y.o. (extremely young as a news anchor)
2. She was at the top of her career.
3. Last thing she was thinking at 29 was her fading looks.

Most incredible is that you are saying she married for "status". How much you know about her family background besides reading gossip?

Are you familiar with Menchu Alvarez del Valle, Letizia's 82 y.o grandmother and the recipient of Spain's National Radio Award last year?

How much do you know about Letizia's mother being a complutense university student in Madrid at 60+?

I honestly don't get why some people are so keen put down Letizia,, Leonor and Sofia. What on earth have they done to create this level of animosity?

 

[ANNIE_S]

I didn't mean different sects within Christianity would be a problem in Spain, i meant that marriage for Catholics is soluble only by death or annulment [neither of whch applied to the princess' first marriage].

While I´m usually quite critical towards the Catholic Church, I always get surprised about how uninformed people usually is I keep on hearing this argument over and over from non-Catholic people and is absolutely wrong.

To get the facts right: CATHOLIC MARRIAGE (understood as the one celebrated by a priest on a church, I think everybody can see that point) is soluble only by death or annulment. That rule doesn´t apply to civil marriage, because for the Catholic Church, civil marriage just ISN´T a true marriage.

Letizia´s relationship with her first husband was what the old-fashioned catholics call "living in sin", but never a marriage according to the Catholic Church Law.

So, for a Catholic, Letizia was never married before her wedding at the Almudena.

PD: As for the career issues, another thing that annoys me to no end.
I´m nobody to underestimate Mary´s or Kate´s proffessional career prior to their marriage. It´s obvious that they both have studied and worked hard before and after their marriage.

But only a blind can deny that Letizia´s proffessional achievements are a step ahead from theirs. Kate and Mary´s studies and jobs were like the average ones on my inner circle (and I repeat, there is nothing wrong with that), but Letizia´s weren´t. That´s it, and that is obvious for everybody whatever her most ardent haters will say.

 

[Lenora]

There is no need to list Crown Princess Letizia's CV. Reporting from hot spots was her job and enhanced her resume. Nothing else. I do not see journalist as a very important profession. The western mass media is marginally better than the non-western one.

I agree with you. Letizia was neither an analytical writer nor war correspondent or did some extraordinary work.

Yes, she pursued higher education and has good manners, but nothing extraordinary, except for her good looks.

Of course, she was not in the situation of Norwegian CP Mette-Marit, who had to continue her studies.

By the way, I do not criticize Letizia and generally like how she copes with the role of princess at official events.

 

[Alondra]

You are absolutely right. Crown Princess Letizia is not better or worse than any other of European Queens and Crown Princesses except for the other countries has much better economic situation.

Maybe princesses in rich countries love when journalists NEVER ask questions about luxury tax payers paid holidays.

Journos shouldn't be soooooooo crass, darl.

 

[Alondra]

<<<<Of course, she was not in the situation of Norwegian CP Mette-Marit, who had to continue her studies.>>>>

Huh? You kidding?

 

[Alondra]

While I´m usually quite critical towards the Catholic Church, I always get surprised about how uninformed people usually is I keep on hearing this argument over and over from non-Catholic people and is absolutely wrong.

To get the facts right: CATHOLIC MARRIAGE (understood as the one celebrated by a priest on a church, I think everybody can see that point) is soluble only by death or annulment. That rule doesn´t apply to civil marriage, because for the Catholic Church, civil marriage just ISN´T a true marriage.

Letizia´s relationship with her first husband was what the old-fashioned catholics call "living in sin", but never a marriage according to the Catholic Church Law.

So, for a Catholic, Letizia was never married before her wedding at the Almudena.

PD: As for the career issues, another thing that annoys me to no end.
I´m nobody to underestimate Mary´s or Kate´s proffessional career prior to their marriage. It´s obvious that they both have studied and worked hard before and after their marriage.

But only a blind can deny that Letizia´s proffessional achievements are a step ahead from theirs. Kate and Mary´s studies and jobs were like the average ones on my inner circle (and I repeat, there is nothing wrong with that), but Letizia´s weren´t. That´s it, and that is obvious for everybody whatever her most ardent haters will say.

Annie, this has been explained a millions time before. Some people prefer not to get it, or prefer forgetting it the moment they read it.

It does my head in that some people still think a catholic marriage may only be dissolved by the "inquisition"

 

[Al_bina]

The standards for royal marriages are very low nowadays. Both Spain and Norway followed the low standard trend, I guess.

 

[Alondra]

The standards for royal marriages are very low nowadays. Both Spain and Norway followed the low standard trend, I guess.

Your opinion, nor mine. I think Letizia, Princess of Asturias, is doing a great job.

 

[Al_bina]

She is the Crown Princess of Spain. You live in this country. So you ardently defend her. It is your full right to do so. Crown Princess Letizia is nothing special for me. Her achievements are adequate, but not exceptional. When compared to her royal colleagues, she is just as usual as they are.

Emotional proclamations are more appropriate for plebeians.

 

[Lenora]

As to Mary and Kate being intellectual nobodies, I'm not saying that. The press in Spain, however, would have fully exploited their lack of individual professional credentials.

Ok, Letizia may be doing great job as a princess.

But how do you personally know that Mary and Kate are absolute intellectual nobodies? As far as I know Kate pursued high studies in History of Art, and Mary seems to have a good general culture.

I could say Letizia is average ( besides beauty) but I can't call her " nobody" unless I have opportunity to talk to her or listen to somebody's discussion with her.

 

[ANNIE_S]

Annie, this has been explained a millions time before. Some people prefer not to get it, or prefer forgetting it the moment they read it.

It does my head in that some people still think a catholic marriage may only be dissolved by the "inquisition"

And this leads us to another "favourite" of mine, the: "Being Spain such a conservative Catholic country they can´t like Letizia" argument.

Yeah, hello world, we are Spain and this is what we do every sunny Sunday on the main square of the town:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Inquisicao.jpg

(Please, note that the people on fire are divorced women)

...........

 

[Alondra]

She is the Crown Princess of Spain. You live in this country. So you ardently defend her. It is your full right to do so. Crown Princess Letizia is nothing special for me. Her achievements are adequate, but not exceptional. When compared to her royal colleagues, she is just as usual as they are.

Emotional proclamations are more appropriate for plebeians.

When you say her achievements are compared to her royal colleagues, can you please elaborate?

 

[Alondra]

And this leads us to another "favourite" of mine, the: "Being Spain such a conservative Catholic country they can´t like Letizia" argument.

Yeah, hello world, we are Spain and this is what we do every sunny Sunday on the main square of the town:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/db/Inquisicao.jpg

(Please, note that the people on fire are divorced women)

...........

Naahhh, Spain can't certainly not be a country pioneering gay marriage and adoption of children by gay couples. NO WAY.

We're Catholic and apparently incompatible with civil marriage laws. Time to burn Letizia at the stake.

 

[Al_bina]

Veering off the topic

When you say her achievements are compared to her royal colleagues, can you please elaborate?

Queen Mathilde of Belgium earned a master's degree in psychology with honours and speaks French, Dutch, Italian, and English.
Princess Kiko of Japan completed the first part of the doctorate in psychology in 1995 and granted Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University" in 2013. She speaks German and English.
Crown Princess Masako worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is fluent in English and French, and is said to be of conversational standard in German, Russian, and Spanish. Crown Princess Masako attended Radcliffe College,holds an A.B. Magna Cum Laude in Economics from Harvard College and attended but did not finish the graduate course in International Relations at Balliol College, Oxford University.

Other Crown Princesses, Princesses, and Queens have BA and MA that are similar to Crown Princess Letizia's one. I do not think that Master's degree is something special. Most of them worked away from the public eye.
On a different note, it be expedient to agree to disagree as the discussion is running in circles.

 

[jjkg]

Queen Mathilde of Belgium earned a master's degree in psychology with honours and speaks French, Dutch, Italian, and English.
Princess Kiko of Japan completed the first part of the doctorate in psychology in 1995 and granted Ph.D. from the Graduate School of Humanities and Sciences, Ochanomizu University" in 2013. She speaks German and English.
Crown Princess Masako worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. She is fluent in English and French, and is said to be of conversational standard in German, Russian, and Spanish. Crown Princess Masako attended Radcliffe College,holds an A.B. Magna Cum Laude in Economics from Harvard College and attended but did not finish the graduate course in International Relations at Balliol College, Oxford University.

Other Crown Princesses, Princesses, and Queens have BA and MA that are similar to Crown Princess Letizia's one. I do not think that Master's degree is something special. Furthermore, it be expedient to agree to disagree as the discussion is running in circles.

It is not just the matter of having academic degrees.

The last criticism that one can level at Letizia is she is lightweight intellectually. Even to this present day, there are numerous press reports on how people who met Letizia come away impressed with her knowledge ....how she has helped Felipe a lot (besides helping him loosen up and gain a common touch)

There is a well known anecdote on how during first couple of years of marriage, her intellect was threatening, off-putting in the Burbon family circle. Once when the whole family, plus cousins et all were at dinner and the discussion turned to Iraq war, Letizia (still in her journalist mode) started talking in detail about the dynamics, undercurrents, and future problems with the war and Iraqi political setup. King was not amused. He basically told her that everyone knows how much you know, how intelligent you are, but you need not speak.

Of all the princesses mentioned above, Princess Masako is the one who is intelectual heavy-weight and we can all see how cruel her treatment has been, how reduced she has been.

 

[Blog Real]

Letizia has a good academic level to what he wanted to be: a journalist.

Letizia had a good professional career as a journalist, and is doing a good job as a princess in my opinion.

 

[Ferrara]

jjkg, agree with you, Alondra and Annie_S that the last criticism that can be levelled at Letizia is that she's an intellectual lightweight. I have read reports on Letizia and Felipe since their marriage in 2004 and almost everyone who has met her has used the phrase 'highly intelligent' to describe her. Besides Spaniards, this comment has also come from the editor of the US version of Time magazine who met them both when they visited the U.S. two years ago. Bill Clinton and Gabriel Garcia Marquez have also come away very impressed.

Finally, reporting from ground zero, Iraq, the US presidential elections are all incredibly important assignments for any news organizations, let alone the premier tv channel for Spain. These are assignments that most reporters would want and to be assigned to them over all others is a clear sign of the quality of her work and her analytical skills in a highly competitive profession.

Besides her intelligence, the other quality that I see in her is her obvious affinity, love and warmth for children, youth, the disadvantaged and disabled. These qualities come through in all the photos that we have of her in such events. It is too bad that there is so little focus on that.