Your Opinions About Felipe and Letizia


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I want to clarify something that equal creates confusion ;) . I do not believe that Letizia is a woman behind a man, believe that she is a colitigant behind an inheritor. She does not occupy a secondary position for being a woman, but because she is not the heiress of right, the future Chief of State, but she is the colitigant. Possibly this it is one of the things most difficult of being able to go, learn to live in the second plane.

If you make the exercise of look in the forums at the acts of the Princes and those of the Princesses colitigants, calls the attention that the princesses always they are more followed than the princes. And it can be a danger, because in the end the future Chiefs of State are going to be the princes. In the Spanish case, the acts of the Princes always have major attention that those of the Prince only.

Though you criticize beech and so absurd things are said how that Letizia wants protagonism ... the certain thing is that she interests the people and that she drags many press. The Royal House has taken advantage of it in order which the work of the Prince is known more, but for it Letizia has placed in the second plane and has turned into a stranger.

Personally, I believe that in a beginning it was practical and logical. But I believe that two years later, the Royal House had to park the fear of that Letizia does shade to the Prince, and they must look for a way of combining the acts in solitarily with the united acts. She might begin with discreet things how hearings in the Zarzuela. What does not seem to be normal is that there are institutions, congresses, prizes ... that request the presidency of honor of the Princess, with the intention of which she comes, in order that later he is the Prince who presides at the acts.

On the other hand also I understand the fear. Letizia attracts expectation and with it good things and also you criticize. Often things as absurd as to criticize her because she wants protagonism, when always she places on the second plane and are counted the occasions in which we ear she to speak . Or things as absurd as to criticize that she has a secretary or an equipment with which to work how other princesses, thing that still does not have.


Stefanie said:
What will happen to them if it comes to the case that with Juan Carlos´death monarchy ends again in Spain? (Some rumours were spread these days about that fact)I can imagine that both Felipe and Letizia wouldn´t be too sad. Sometimes I think both can´t be bothered with that monarchy-staff.
Several things.

I believe that in the S.XXI the Monarchies will live always with the shade of the disappearance, and not only in Spain. The world evolves and the idea of democracy also. Spain is a complex country politically, in these days many advertising gives itself to the Republic for 75 Anniversary of the Republic II, but the Spain of then is not it of now, and that Republic finished with a Civil war. The communist, antimonarchic and republican parties took advantage of the moment to speak about the republic; but of there to other one there is a very long step. The decision only it can take the Spanish people of a democratic way and for the present time to the majority parties it seems that they are not interested. When the Kings were in France a republican exile said something very interesting ... he said that they had fought for the legality and the democracy, and that now this legality and this democracy was representing the parliamentary Monarchy.

The question is if the Monarchy is own of the democracies of the XXIst century.

Probably the Prince Felipe does not have the extrovert character of his father, and some of them have tried to present it as a rich child ... but in this sense his marriage has helped him and the journalists recognize it. On the other hand, in general nobody doubts his capacity and his education, and strange his attitude in an official act or his words in a speech on the occasion of critique. Letizia needs time, time in order that she develops a few own activities and time in order that the people know her indeed, and know that can be capable. The Queen Sofia had many things in against initially, but with her work and her attitude she has managed to be gained to the country.

If Spain ended up by restoring for third time the Republic, I believe that the Princes would be persons capacer of developing their life without problems. I believe that the Prince has been educated in the posibility, because both his parents and his grandparents have lived through the exile. Today in day the exile would not even exist because in the European Union already it does not exist, there be that search a democratic good solution for all.

More or less I see the panorama like that in Spain, though I believe that in other countries the situation is not much better. This week in the Spanish press have been published several articles about the Belgian Monarchy and the role of the Prince inheritor, and the situation does not seem to be much better.
 
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Queen Zenobia said:
heehee. Oh dear. A friendly warning for your good Stefanie...Prepare for an onslaught!;)

Not the struggle but a little explanation because it's obvious that the Prince first then that the Princes together are deeply involve in their role. I don't think that for Felipe and Letizia it's a circus show. I'm deeply convicence that the Princes of Asturias know the importance and the great risks of their situation. Since I took interest about this couple, I read a lot of things about Spain in history, political, social fields and I can observe that nobody is telling that the Princes are doing their tasks forcing themselves; even better Felipe hiself, since a long time, knowing the situation, said that he has to gain his King's title.

We can observe that the Prince worked with a very great caution and the main fault that it was reproach to be a nihtcluber seems ( for me ) totaly desepear since his wedding with somebody who know the people's realities and the world's work. Even this mariage is a corageous act because if you read some posts of this thread you can understand that it was and it is yet a fight to do accept Letizia as Princess of Asturias ( for relevant reasons, indeed )

So they are the reasons why it's not fair neither relevant to say that the princes will be not so sad if by impossible they wouldn't reign.

For the bothering ( ? ) I prefer the word bosedom, I think that everybody even the most attached at his tasks, can be sometime bother......:cool:
 
Stefanie said:
What will happen to them if it comes to the case that with Juan Carlos´death monarchy ends again in Spain? (Some rumours were spread these days about that fact)I can imagine that both Felipe and Letizia wouldn´t be too sad. Sometimes I think both can´t be bothered with that monarchy-staff.

There are always going to be these kind of rumours in regards to every royal family, not just the Spanish one. In Denmark, the recent story is that Frederik and Mary will not be able to sustain Margrethe II's popularity and the monarchy will end with her. Or how many times in the last two decades have there been a call to the end of the British monarchy after QE II's reign since Charles and his scandals make him unfit to rule.

claudia said:
It is a pitty that Elena is not the heiress to the throne, she married a noble, the son of a Count and as I love traditions I really felt sorry that Felipe wasn´t forced to give his rights to his sister after making such a bad marriage with a divorced women, with no religion and in favour of abortion,

Who is to say that if Elena were the heir apparent there wouldn't be detractors too? Read any thread around here and you'll see that Jamie is not a very well liked or popular member of the royal family because of how miserable he looks or even for his sense of fashion. Or as mean as it is, who is to say that if Elena were the heir apparent, after Jamie's stroke there wouldn't be republicans calling for Elena to step aside for Cristina (who would then be next in line to the throne) because Elena would have an unhealthy partner to be a consort?

Just because Jamie comes from a noble background doesn't make him better than Letizia. His pedigree may be better, but that doesn't make him a better person. Nor would we know how hard working he would be. Would he be happy to stand next to Elena at two or three events a day day in and day out, would he smile always and not be grumpy or frown? Would he resent Elena for being the more powerful or important one in the relationship? Would he support her as Felipe supports Letizia?

claudia said:
knaw Letizia, seems to have change but I don´t think that this is something that you can change from one day to the other.

But she didn't change overnight. She has changed over the past two and a half years since she's been introduced as Felipe's fiancee. Why is it impossible or so hard to believe that Letizia could change or has changed? :confused:
 
catango said:
ok, some people don't care about them, perhaps because they don't know them.
I wonder why if some people don't care anything about F&L or follow them that they would come to their thread to say so if they cared so little? And comments about Letizia's alleged "lack of tenderness," imo, seem misplaced. What I see in her is a strong and confident woman from a long line of strong and confident women. The way she looks at her husband and daughter and the way they look at her confirms her warmth and tenderness.
 
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Laviolette, for me more than warmth and tenderness, Letizia looks very involve in her love match. I think that actualy Letizia is a passionate woman who has to control her to be quiet.
 
adelaide said:
Laviolette, for me more than warmth and tenderness, Letizia looks very involve in her love match. I think that actualy Letizia is a passionate woman who has to control her to be quiet.
True. I also see her as sometimes struggling to restrain her passionate side and the strong opinions we know she has. At times she just looks so intense and I'd love to know what she's thinking.
 
Laviollette said:
True. I also see her as sometimes struggling to restrain her passionate side and the strong opinions we know she has. At times she just looks so intense and I'd love to know what she's thinking.

At least we know that Felipe values her opinion a lot, and I'd like to think that, at least backstage, she's making a difference.
 
Anna_R said:
At least we know that Felipe values her opinion a lot, and I'd like to think that, at least backstage, she's making a difference.

It's looks like, you have just to read the article of the spain newspaper " Hoy" of today ( in Letizia's thread )to understand that the Princess and the real house) is making the good choice being in second rank behind her husband because for the april's saounding she the second behind the King himself.:)
 
I may be anachronic but for me monarquies are traditions, duties and representations of a country.
I am not against divorce, but I don´t want a queen of Spain to be divorced.
I think that royals should live for their countries, served their countries and represents their countries, by the other hand they have a life with privileges.
If they want to live as commoners and do what commoners do, then they must give up their titles and live a normal life, if they don´t want to follow traditions.
Take a look in what had become monarchies, scandals( Monaco.England,Luxemburg,Norway, Sweden, Holland), ilegitimate sons ( Belgium-Monaco-Holland-Luxemburg), actress that once made movies appearing nude ( Italy)......, remember the comments and conversations between Charles and Camila. I prefer the old monarchies, when being royal was another thing.
 
I believe that we cannot be living on the past. We are in century XXI and the things change, including the monarchy. I am happy with the princess; because she works much and very well and because thanks to her, the prince is happy.:)

I am sure that they will be excellent kings and our cute infant, an excellent princess of asturias.:D
 
claudia said:
I am not against divorce, but I don´t want a queen of Spain to be divorced.
I think that royals should live for their countries, served their countries and represents their countries, by the other hand they have a life with privileges.

It's interesting that you present a contradiction in your post, saying that you have nothing against divorce, but you're not pleased that the future Queen of Spain is a divorcee.

When Letizia married Alonso Guerreiro, she did after almost ten years of relationship. She wasn't royal or even a member of aristocracy back then. Royals are human as we are and allowed to make mistakes.

About your second sentence, I firmly believe that, not only Letizia and Felipe, but the whole spanish royal family, hasn't ceased to prove us day in, day out that they work very had for their country, promoting it in a very positive way around the world.

It still fails me to realize why Letizia should have been not allowed a second chance in love. As Elsa stated a few posts above, being a divorcee or not is not what defines your character and the kind of person that you are.
 
Very acurate answer Ana_R; I think, it's obvoius, that claudia don't appreciate Letizia and mainly has a very anachronic view of royal function today. What does mean "privileges" ?
It's finish the time when kings ang princes have life right on his serfs, you know! The presidents of the Republic have privileges too.
 
You are right Adelaide, I don´t like Letizia.
It is not a contradiction, the Prince should have resing to his title when he married Letizia, that is all. I know I will be hated for saying this.
By the way I want to congratulate this great forum where we can say what we think or feel and we are not "delete" . Thank you´s to the moderator and to the members, you are all so polite and gentle even with me when I say what I think.
:)
THANK YOU.
 
Anna, I think claudia is saying that she accepts divorce, but just not for the wife of Felipe.

I've heard that mentioned in other royal circles so I don't think its confined to Spain. The rationale is that because the position is a consort of a future head of state, a prior failed relationship increases the chance that someone with personal details of the previous relationship might try to embarass the Princess and by doing so, her husband. It hasn't happened with Letizia but I believe it did happen with Mette-Marit.
 
ysbel said:
The rationale is that because the position is a consort of a future head of state, a prior failed relationship increases the chance that someone with personal details of the previous relationship might try to embarass the Princess and by doing so, her husband. It hasn't happened with Letizia but I believe it did happen with Mette-Marit.

In Mette-Marit's case, her father was an even worst enemy than any ex-boyfriend could've been!

I think that as any of the crown princes have not married very young (say in their early 20s), and are also marrying women close to their ages (in their early 30s), there is some expectation that the women (like the princes) have a past and have had relationships. I think it's only a matter of how much it matters to the people of the monarchy the princess represents. That Mary lived with someone for several years before meeting Frederik seems to be a non-issue in Denmark, but in Spain Letizia's previous marriage is quite an issue.

And that in this day and age when the media (tabloids) will pay for private pictures (eg. pictures of Sophie on a trip with her friends that were semi-nude or pictures of Mette-Marit partying) of the commoner princesses, nobody will be perfect and the dirt can be endless if the price is high enough, sadly.
 
So would it be more acceptable if Letizia simply lived with her ex for years and just didn't marry him? Or Claudia would like a virgin bride at 30+ years old? If it's former, does it mean "living in sin" is better than someone who married but the marriage failed and the failure might not even be her fault? If it's latter, potential candidates for princes shrink down significantly. ;)
 
I think the issue here is not if Letizia was a divorcee or not. Mette, Maxima and Camilla all had scandalous pasts whether due to themselves, their parents or the history with their husbands. However one thing which stands out that each one of them had to acknowledge it. On their engagement Mette in a televised speech accepted her wild past, Maxima distanced herself from her father's career and choices. In Charles and Camilla's case, Charles publicly accepted his adultery and camilla did not get a church wedding. The fact that Felipe sprung on the Spanish people the news of their engagement straight on was as good as dumping her on them.

Many will argue that this is a Spanish tradition, however for Elena her association with Jaime goes back to 1987 and Christina is even further in line to the throne. The only other crown princess to be introduced this way was Mathilde but hardly any of phillipe's relationships have been conducted as openly as Felipe had with Eva. And for mary she had to face scrutiny for two years least before she became the royal fiancee and accepted in the official documentary that she had a relationship of 7 yrs. I believe that if Felipe did not have any problems in displaying his past loves, there should not have been in the one who became his wife.

What I therefore dislike about Felipe and Letizia is the hypocritical approach they have adopted. No acknowledgement from her about her past and all of a sudden a strong spiritual awakening. For a women who after a long courtship had a civil wedding. Don't ge me wrong. In my book it is perfectly ok to be not religious. Look at maxima she still practices her old faith. What is more important is honesty to yourself about who you are. And also a white wedding in a catholic country.
 
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1. They acknowledge her former marriage in their OWN official webpage, no one ever tried to hide that fact, she was famous on her own before Felipe so everybody knew
2. The religion issue: all Royal Houses prefer to have a consort who shares the Monarch religion; for example in Denmark Henrik, Alexandra andMary all had to convert to luteranism; Letizia was born and raised catholic, she just chose not to practice for a while, all she had to do for her catholic wedding was to get confirmed, I don't see what's the problem, you don't see her kissing saints everywhere or go to mass every sunday, she just took what she needed to get married and that's all!
3. Felipe didn't go to Charles' wedding for several reasons:
a) he isn't as closely blood related to him as Haakon is
b) I don't think the SRF approved C&C infidelity or more than that is that they let themselves get caught so I don't think that it was approved
c) Letizia's divorce cannot be compared to their divorces: neither her or her first husband were unfaithful for 10+ years, so Felipe didn't have to prove anything to C&C or to support the idea of divorced people get married again
d) her first wedding was a civil one, the Roman Catholic Church doesn't think of that as a "real" wedding, so in their eyes it was like she was getting married for the first time, unlike C&C who were both married by the church the first time

To the Mods and Admins: I didn't wanted to get into comparisons I just wanted to reply to this post and I'll get back on topic, thank you very much for your understanding and for not deleting my post
 
There are many things about royals that we dont know and the mayor part of those things are for sure part of their private life. The reasons of why they do or dont do certain things do not belong to us to know. Their lifes are not perfect as they are human beings like the rest of us. We better do not judge them just based on false images, rumors or impresions. We better do not judge anyone at all. Letizia and other princesses who got married with heir to the thrones, have very intense lifes, full of obligations and commitments, they haven't born on those families, they needed and still need to learn a lot about their new status and life, so we better give them a chance as it is a great accomplishment what all of them have done so far.
 
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Ariel said:
There are many things about royals that we dont know and the mayor part of those things are for sure part of their private life. The reasons of why they do or dont do certain things do not belong to us to know. Their lifes are not perfect as they are human beings like the rest of us. We better do not judge them just based on false images, rumors or impresions. We better do not judge anyone at all. Letizia and other princesses who got married with heir to the thrones, have very intense lifes, full of obligations and commitments, they haven't born on those families, they needed and still need to learn a lot about their new status and life, so we better give them a chance as it is a great accomplishment what all of them have done so far.

Very good analysis. I think we have to have at the spirit it's not a sinecure to be a crown pince/princess today as they do Felipe i Letizia because the difficulties of their tasks and the anachronism of their situation. But as they have to having face at their duties working hard despite criticisms without forget they are human beings. So, they can have human faults. In the case of Letizia and Felipe, I'm very fascinating by their patriotic convictions and their true sens of the responsabilities. They know that their position is not God right and they have to work to win and keep the throne AND THEY DO all weeks long wihout failing. I don't think it's very funny to shake hundreds hands all days long even to be KING. The own caracteristics of each of them on their past seem, for me, an overstep debate. That it's very interesting it's how they can act as crown princes in a democratic and so various country. For that, the fact that Letizia was divorced after one year of mariage is totaly irrelevant.:D
 
I surprise some things that I read, Letizia was a free woman, and could do with her life what wanted. And what she did neither is a crime, nor is bad, nor damaged to anybody.

The comparison with Carlos and Camilla is absurd, because in them the negative thing was not so much the divorce how the been credit lovers it and to have cheated his couples. Besides, in England the Monarchy is the head of the religion, and in Spain the religion is something deprived without no links with the State.

And there is something in what there is many confusion. At least in Spain, the Princes are not prominent figures who do what they want, and less in this type of ceremonies that though private roads have much of politician and public; the King decides and when it is necessary consulting to other one authorities. It is necessary to have very much elegant, and the things do not depend only on the friendship or the familiar bows between Royal Houses.

The prince Carlos they have a good relation with the Spanish Royal Family, nevertheless, nobody went to his wedding with Diana. The reason was political and diplomatic, because they began their honeymoon in Gibraltar. Therefore, besides already of for if complicated that was turning out to be Carlos' wedding and Camilla, in the Spanish case it was turning out more problematic for other past questions.

The same thing happened with Alberto of Monaco. The familiar relations are good, and the King was present at Rainiero's funeral. But in this moment Alberto was not pleasing the Spanish for his intervention in the Olympian Committee, for treating in a slightly delicate and irresponsible way, a topic since it is that of the terrorism of which the Spanish are very conscious.

We are not speaking about normal families or groups of friends... we are speaking about representatives of states and in the decisions there are many things.
 
Actually this kind of thread is not very intersting because either you appreciate your " candidats" and may be you can lost the commun sens of the criticism or you don't like them and you put ahead non objective reasons that is normal but not very relevant when you have to give an opinion on peoples who have a public image but who can decides only few things about themselves ( for their public activities )

In my opinion you can dislike someone because he is shy, spontaneous, divorced, wearing a violin top or yellow tie. I confess that I'm very found of the Princes of Asturias for their fantastic public image that thy are begining to build AREN'T OBJECTIVE REASONS! It's an affective appreciation.
 
Alexandria said:
In Mette-Marit's case, her father was an even worst enemy than any ex-boyfriend could've been!

I think that as any of the crown princes have not married very young (say in their early 20s), and are also marrying women close to their ages (in their early 30s), there is some expectation that the women (like the princes) have a past and have had relationships. I think it's only a matter of how much it matters to the people of the monarchy the princess represents. That Mary lived with someone for several years before meeting Frederik seems to be a non-issue in Denmark, but in Spain Letizia's previous marriage is quite an issue.

And that in this day and age when the media (tabloids) will pay for private pictures (eg. pictures of Sophie on a trip with her friends that were semi-nude or pictures of Mette-Marit partying) of the commoner princesses, nobody will be perfect and the dirt can be endless if the price is high enough, sadly.

Very good point, Alexandria. I think its an unavoidable situation with the Crown Princes marrying so late. As you say, they're naturally drawn to someone close to their age and the alternative of marrying someone young enough not to have had a past doesn't work.
 
capricorninin said:
And more than that their refusal to attend Charles wedding. I know it was a controversial issue and most crownprincely couples did not go but after having Charles as a guest on their wedding and the fact that Felipe is not against the practice of remarriage among divorcees and not a very important engagement on that day, surely he could have shown up just like Haakon did. Them not showing up can be compared to one scenario, Charles and Camilla against adultery or Haakon against single mothers.
Capricorninin,

Felipe and Letizia didn't attend Charles and Camilla's wedding because they had already committed to other engagement before the date was announced. It was the handing of a title to one of Felipe's closest friends, Ricardo Lagos. It was not a try to diminish Camilla and Charles, it was just a conflict of agendas.

The event with Ricardo Lagos was later cancelled, but they couldn't just call England and say: "Hey, the event was cancelled, now we can go", that would have been incredibly rude.

As you can see in this link: http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums/194297-post69.html the cancellation came on April 3rd, less than a week before Charles and Camilla's wedding.
 
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Well C&C's wedding was pretty controversial in England so I think if any more crown princes had shown up, it would have been more controversial. Somehow I don't think Charles and Camilla begrudged Felipe not coming.

These people are public figures so their attendance or non-attendance at an event is not necessarily due to their own wishes.
 
My opinion about thos couple? I love them! They look godd together. They are so much in love. They work hard for monarchy... they are perfect couple!
 
Just out of interest, I know Haakon and Mette-Merit attended Charles and Camilla's wedding, but did any other international Royals attend? They were the only couple I can recall hearing about.
 
I'm sorry to be the one to say this, but Letizia looks sick, she does not look healthy at all. Am I the only one worried about her?
 
If by sick you mean thin, then yes, she is. I went back and looked at the most recent pictures, and I don't see anything but health and happiness. What do you see?
 
capricorninin said:
I think the issue here is not if Letizia was a divorcee or not. Mette, Maxima and Camilla all had scandalous pasts whether due to themselves, their parents or the history with their husbands. However one thing which stands out that each one of them had to acknowledge it. On their engagement Mette in a televised speech accepted her wild past, Maxima distanced herself from her father's career and choices. In Charles and Camilla's case, Charles publicly accepted his adultery and camilla did not get a church wedding. The fact that Felipe sprung on the Spanish people the news of their engagement straight on was as good as dumping her on them.

Huh? What past sins did Felipe or Letizia have to "acknowledge"? They didn't commit adultry. They didn't commit any crime that hurt the public or others. They didn't hide Letizia's divorce from the get-go. Letizia's past marriage and divorce was a private matter between her and her ex-husband. If she was completely at fault for the divorce, the only one she should appologize to is her ex-husband. And we don't even know whose fault it was. Sure, it's always convenient to blame the woman. What did she need to appologize to the public for? For not living up to their exulted expectations? Get real. I don't think anyone can even use religion as the justification since the Catholic church didn't consider her first marriage valid. So what else did she need to appologize for?

As for "dumping her" on the public, what other choices did Felipe have after the all the hard time the press and the public treated Eva? Plus, Letizia was a public figure herself due to her career. If it's known she's Felipe's girlfriend, it would damage her public image and career. In the cut-throat and very sexist field such as TV journalism, being a prince's girlfriend would make people take her far less seriously. They would speculate any promotion she got as "gift". In short, it would have destroyed her career if the relationship didn't work out. Felipe did all he could to keep it secret to protect her. That always struck me as a sign how much he loves her and how much more seriously he took her than his past girlfriends. Judging from all the way he looks into her eyes and how protectively and tenderly he treats her after they got married, I think my impression was correct.
 
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