Official visit of the King Abdulá bin Abdulaziz of Saudi Arabia. June 18-20

[lula]

This answers to the typical anger of certain press of this country to which to speak about Letizia gives a lot of money. It isn´t the first time, that the agency of a Chief of State does public images of private meetings to which the Spanish press is not in the habit of having access because the photographer of the Royal House does the photographies. Last year, the Russian agency published photos of Putin inside the Zarzuela, and recently there has appeared the photo of the President of the United Nations.

http://new2.isifa.com/photo/preview/11687307.jpg
http://new2.isifa.com/photo/preview/11687524.jpg
http://press.contrastphoto.com/image...4/11884892.jpg

From the beginning the Royal House has said that, though she should not come to public acts, Letizia was supporting her activity of office and was coming to some meetings in La Zarzuela. The Zarzuela is to 5 minutes of her house, and but in it there are rooms where the baby can be.

Letizia has the right to raise her daughter, and Sofia has also the right on which her mother feeds her and takes care of her in the first months of life. It seems to me to be totally absurd that in the S.XXI the rights by maternity are discussed , be the Princess of Asturias or the cleaner of the Royal Palace. It is a right not only of the mother, but, quite of the baby of receiving the care and the love of her mother. A babysitter can be marvellous, but isn´t a mother ... and but it is told to the European princes who were taken care by babysitters and already older they complained about it ... thing that the Spanish never did because the Queen took charge raising them when they were little.

Rania, since good has corrected Mapian, it was 30 Anniversary of the first democratic elections ... 25 Anniversary of the Constitution was several years ago. That one if it was an important act, to that, certainly, also there came the Infantas, whose presence was not considered to be necessary in this occasion. Certainly, of this act also they were absent, Felipe Gonzalez, Prime minister for 10 years and Aznar, Prime minister during 8; this absences yes were out-standing.
Last year Letizia if Juna Carlos' anniversary came to 30 as King, and then, the critiques were, because she went away a bit before to feed Leonor. Do what she does they are going to say something .. or has she to give up feeding her daughters?

[kartheina]

I, on the other hand, think that it is the Spanish media that loves to make a big fuss out of nothing. Considering their record, it's not unthinkable that they have again made a non-issue into a Letizia-issue.

On the photos... if Casa Real filed a complaint I would believe that it would be based on the principle of keeping something private as private (not because Letizia's face was captured on cam). If there had been an initial agreement between them and the Saudi house that the event (which I understand took place after the official farewell ceremonies) will be private and will not be covered by media, then any pictures taken by official photographers will be for private documentation only. Releasing those to the public will go against this principle, and in retrospect, they should have just declared this event public in the first place. Letizia appearing in the photo, I believe, is coincidental. It's just one could also understand how irked the photographers wishing to cash in on her first appearance since Sofia's birth would be -- considering that the Saudi royal house "unfairly" beat them to it.

As for Letizia looking out of place beside the Saudi king... A review of photos of lunches and dinners would show that male heads-of-state and husbands of female heads-of-state are usually seated between the Queen and the Princess of Asturias. With that in mind, one can even say that it's King Juan Carlos who's out of place; but since he's king and he might have wanted to stay beside his close friend, then he's forgivable.

This is getting long, but I must add... if Letizia were a slacker and she does not do her share of work when she is not pregnant or has just given birth, I would also frown on the possibility of her using the circumstances as an excuse to get off from work. But considering her work history, this just seems out of character; so, I think that maternity leave for her is maternity leave. But, if she'd rather spend a few hours of her leave in some private activities within the Zarzuela (e.g. reporting to the office like it happened on the day of their wedding anniversary, or attending this 'private' farewell luncheon for the Saudi King), then that is her prerogative. I don't think that that makes her a bad mother, especially considering that her daughters are probably just a few paces away when they (especially the little baby) need her.

[Avalon]

Several posts were moved to What's your opinion about Felipe & Letizia? thread, since the theme and thone of the posts best suited that thread.

Once again, I ask not to continue the discussion here.
This thread is for the visit of the Saudi King and it deserves better then being turned into a discussion about Princess Letizia's appearances, based on reports with no credible source and a less-then-credeible journalist.

If you want to express your opinion about it, it will be great to hear it, but in the appropirate thread - in this case it is What's your opinion about Felipe & Letizia? thread.

[zarzuela]

Congratulations to the Queen, she looked fabulous at the gala dinner! Bravo for Her Majesty...

And congratulations to Letizia too for being there at the private luncheon!

[adelaide]

http://i17.tinypic.com/6chymir.jpg

( thanks to cover )

I don't know the date of this pic but it seems that it was at least ten years ago! The King of Spain have the habit to give as gift to the King of Arabia Saudi marvellous spanish horse!

[Mr. Peter]

How many times a Saudi Arabian Sovereign visited Spain? Was this the first time? Thanks.