Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, Current Events Part 1: Nov. 2003 - August 2004

andiemac · Jan 26, 2004

letizia's appearance is absolutly perfect IMO. she looks elegant, gorgeous and stunning due to her facial features. there is nothing else for her to change except to wear more skirts .

didem · Jan 30, 2004

Hola cover

Dennism · Feb 4, 2004

The first industrial souvenirs of the wedding of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano will soon arrive to the shops. Several original products such as cava bottles, pins or lighters were presented at the Expo Hogar fair last weekend. The bottles of cava with the faces of both the Crownprince and his fiancée, created by Josep Salvador, were the most successfull. 02/01/2004. Gadgets and souvenirs on the wedding of Prince Felipe and fiance Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano.

http://194.68.33.51/fotoweb/bin/preview.dl...DEEB646D2135F1B

http://194.68.33.51/fotoweb/bin/preview.dl...DEEB646D2135F1B

http://194.68.33.51/fotoweb/bin/preview.dl...DEEB646D2135F1B

http://194.68.33.51/fotoweb/bin/preview.dl...DEEB646D2135F1B

sheeba · Feb 14, 2004

She looks like Rania or is it me?
Alexandria the "adoring gaze" heading of the photo reminded me of Nancy regan when she used to look up at Ronald adoringly during his speeches. You just wanted to bash her head. They really need to train politicians wives and members of royal family from doing the adoring gaze thing. I'm just a natural born cynic I don't think my job helps that much. Skeptics who work in the media usually take it to mean some nasty story is about to break. And the publisicts in the royal house need to try and prevent consitent images of Letizia speaking with her hands to members of the Royal Family it looks like she's instructing them. She's done it with the Queen at the opera, the King in the above photos and countless shots of her with Felipe usually shows her indicating to him. This could be construed as her being bossy and telling them what to do as opposed to the other way round. a picture tells a thousand lies or truths depending on how you want to sell it and Diana was an expert at that.
A poll is currently running (I don't know if its closed now) on the www.ft.com on the greatest European King Jaun Carlos is one of the candidates. the only monarch to make it. Interesting I thought.

donnaK · Feb 17, 2004

Sheeba, I don't see anything wrong with Nancy Reagan's adoring gaze to her husband. Any couple should feel so blessed if their marriage is as happy and as lasting as the Reagans' one. Talking about Diana (I'm a big fan of her), she did manage to put up great smiles even during the worst time of her marriage, Charles and her did look like a happy couple at the beginning of their marriages, but I had never felt the closeness and amazing chemistry between these two (like the one between Felipe and Letizia), at that time I was only thinking of generation gap, maybe the age difference between two, never would have thought that things were this bad.

sheeba · Feb 17, 2004

DonnaK if you knew what political spin doctors get up to....... everytime you see a politicians wife staring adoringly at her husband either a scandal is about to break or he is about to announce some controversial policy. With regards to ministers having to resign because of scandulaous affairs interesting how the wives do the adoring gaze + stand by your man = if I've forgiven him, he deserves to keep his job. I get throughly sckeptical when I see these adoring gazes. Sorry. Its like you have something to prove. You don't see Guy and Madonna or Gwyneth and Chris or Susan Sarandon and her hubby or even the Queen and Prince Philip even inthe early days of their marriage, do the sickeningly adoring gaze routine. Nobody questions the strength or love in their relationship. Look at people who have been married a long time, even look amongst your friends you usually tend to find that women who don't feel secure or need to prove themselves in a relationship really go OTT in showing of the relationship. I'm not against public displays of affection but please........... I admit I'm a cynical old cow but you know what they say a pessimist is a well informed optimist and a cynic is halfway between the two.

With regards to Charles and Diana I think if you look back at the archives of the tabloid press (thats when they still respected the Royal Family) and read between the lines you'll find that there were hints that the marriage was pretty much over by the honeymoon. One tabloid paper even dared to print that the Prince had snuck out and had been with a blonde a couple of nights before the wedding at that time it was thought to be Diana because remember then she was a virgin it was only insiders that knew that it was Camilla. Can you imagine how she felt a couple of days before your wedding and your reading the papers and your saying to yourself my fiance was definetely not with me last night because I'm still a virgin. Ok welcome to royal life.
"chemistry and closeness" you can manufacture that, well lets wait for the interview before the wedding and see - I'm sorry I'm such a cynic. We had a press cutting from I think IBLN News that said a tabloid editor I think had a copy of the divorce papers and was going to release them. And I just thought oh dear here we go again. The Palace should have just published her divorce papers and called the bluff of the tabloid editors because it looks like they have something to hide and someone here saying she probably had a church wedding and is lying about it and I thought to myself you don't want to begin Royal life like this. She should be enjoying her preparation, touring the country visiting her future subjects - why isn't she touring the country? Do the Palace think she is too controversial? They might be well meaning but they could be damaging her even before she gets off the blocks. Unless thats their intention. remeber Fergie she was a breath of fresh air an accomplished professional who would be an asset to the BRF, then she became frumpy Fergie, Duchess of pork and she never recovered. Once you don't get off a good footing with the press your damned for and thats why I raised the finger pointing issue. Picture Editors have thousands of shots to choose from why are the picture editors choosing the ones with her pointing - how many CPs or members of Royal Families are shown in this light? I'm sorry the Spanish Media do not like her and she has her job cut out for her.

lucys · Feb 17, 2004

Sheeba, When it comes to the Reagans I think you are being beyond cynical. Whatever ones take on his policies as president, that marriage is true and deep and that was one political wife whose gazes were true and sincere--unlike, for example, dear Hillary. Sometimes what you see before your eyes is not real, but sometimes it actually is.

It's your perogative to be skeptical about Felipe and Letizia, time will prove you right or wrong. But as to her lying about a church wedding--sorry, I am a Catholic and even for the King of Spain the church won't lie about a church wedding and even if you get married in say a church in Timbuktoo, they'll know in the church you were baptised in. All sacarmental records are recorded at your baptismal church and you can not get married without your certificate of baptism. That's just trying to spread rumors.

And what kind of professional was Fergie? I just recall her being a fun sort of gal. Did she have a job even?

My sister in Spain laughs when I tell her about our board discussions. SHe says we are way more involved and obsessed and critical then anyone she knows in Spain. That generally, Letizia is liked--imperfections and all--and everyone is willing to give her time to correct or modify those things that she must. The last thing she says is that people take at face value that this is a serious case of love--simply, it would makes no sense for Felipe to marry her otherwise.

Alexandria · Feb 17, 2004

I think that whether a couple chooses to gaze adoringly at each other or not is their own perogrative, as sheeba suggested. Just because Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, and Susan Sarandon and her long time partner, not husband, Tim Robbins, don't doesn't mean that they love each other any less than couples who do gaze at each other as you said. But that is not to disqualify Felipe and Letizia or even the Regans, whom I don't know very much about. Letizia likes to gaze at Felipe adoringly, and vice versa, and that's how she is or who they are as a couple.

lucys · Feb 17, 2004

Originally posted by Alexandria@Feb 17th, 2004 - 10:43 am
I think that whether a couple chooses to gaze adoringly at each other or not is their own perogrative, as sheeba suggested. Just because Gwyneth Paltrow and Chris Martin, Madonna and Guy Ritchie, and Susan Sarandon and her long time partner, not husband, Tim Robbins, don't doesn't mean that they love each other any less than couples who do gaze at each other as you said. But that is not to disqualify Felipe and Letizia or even the Regans, whom I don't know very much about. Letizia likes to gaze at Felipe adoringly, and vice versa, and that's how she is or who they are as a couple.

well said.

sheeba · Feb 17, 2004

Alexandria - I am not disqualfying anyones relationship. If you read the begining of my comment I started of by talking about Spin Doctors (or Publicists or Communications Specialists). In order to put an image across to the public to produce a result, in my line of work you learn what to do to get the results. If you need the right picture to increase your polling figures, or to help with your box office number or to convince people to but into a marriage. The Princess of Wales marriage was sold as the perfect match etc. I guess you need to work behind the scenes before you really know whats really happening. And what to pull to put forward an image.
Lucys I am catholic as well and I did not say I said she had been married in a church before, I don't cover Royal press cuttings but it was yelled out to me as a possible reason why the divorce papers were locked up and it was apparently surfacing in some areas and thats why I went on to say the palace should have called the tabloid editors bluff and everybody's by publishing the divorce records and thereby shutting everyone up. When you lock it up in my line of work that equates to spread whatever gossip you want about the couple and bring the royal house/ institution into disrepute. Thats why I went on to argue they might think they are doing Letizia a favour but they could actually be harming her in the long run. And in the future the very viability of the Spanish Monarchy to continue after Juan Carlos.
And your statement about everyone in Spain liking her compare that to the opiniapublica.net that did a survey that said 58% thought she'd make a good queen. Never base your assumptions on jsut what yur circle of friends are saying. take a look at the polls. And this marriage is much bigger than are they in love its also about the future of the Spanish monarchy. I have an article sitting over here about the pysicosis running in Palace zarzuela - well there would not be one if they felt everything was hunky dory and everybody loved her. and I'll tell you now there's real nervousness as to whether felipe will ever be king just as much as in the UK in certain circles there is a belief that Charles will never ever be King because of the judgements he made in choosing his wife.

Alexandria · Feb 17, 2004

Originally posted by sheeba@Feb 17th, 2004 - 11:49 am
Alexandria - I am not disqualfying anyones relationship. If you read the begining of my comment I started of by talking about Spin Doctors (or Publicists or Communications Specialists). In order to put an image across to the public to produce a result, in my line of work you learn what to do to get the results. If you need the right picture to increase your polling figures, or to help with your box office number or to convince people to but into a marriage. The Princess of Wales marriage was sold as the perfect match etc. I guess you need to work behind the scenes before you really know whats really happening. And what to pull to put forward an image.

Well, if Letizia and Felipe are faking those adoring glances, then forget about Charlize Theron and Sean Penn getting Oscars, give one to Felipe and Letizia instead because they are both darn good at acting and putting on a show!

I'm a journalist and I've also done some PR work, so I've been on both sides of the spin game and creating an image. And while spin doctoring is true to some extent and maybe in this case because of Letizia's previous marriage there is some spin control. But I just don't feel that you could fake the adoring glances and love that emits from the pictures and video clips I've seen of the two of them together. They seem truly genuine in their feelings for one another; and their public affection for one another reminds me of Phillippe and Mathilde of Belgium. (Please don't tell me that they're putting on a show, too, all put up by spin doctors!)

lucys · Feb 17, 2004

Well, I have no desire to get in an argument about Letizia. But I will only add that I never said everyone likes her, I said "generally" based on conversations with family in Spain--family, I will add, who are typically Spanish in that they are neither vehemently pro or anti monarchy. And if we are to quote polls, I have seen more than one, such as from the highly respected Cadena SER, that give her an approval rating in the 75-80% zone.

Honestly, I just enjoy watching them, I find them a charming and lovely couple and care not to get into these heated debates. So I hereby acknowledge and respect your opinions and experience in spin and I hereby sign out on this discussion.

Cheers!

donnaK · Feb 17, 2004

Sheeba, both Lucys and Alexandria had said what I wanted to say. I realize that whatever Letizia did was probably wrong in some people's eyes all the time. If she gazed adoringly at Felipe, somebody would say 'look, it's so sickening', if she didn't, others might say, look at that woman, she didn't even show any affection at all. Is she really in love with the man or just his title and money. I guess nothing she did would be right anyway.
I agree that your comments on Reagans are beyond cynical. In fact, Ronald and Nancy Reagans have had one of the life-time happiest marriages of all time (in my opinions) among all the high profile couples. Their adoring gazes are the signs of genuine love they had for each other, nothing fake here. I never remember Hilary ever gazed adoringly at her husband, only remember her head nodding during her husband's speech. I think Felipe and Letizia do love each other and enjoy each other's company. I couldn't find a single reason why Felipe would marry a divorced commoner if he doesn't love her dearly.
In Spain, divorce paper is a private document. They probably lock them up to prevent someone steal it and sell for profits.

lasu · Feb 17, 2004

Well I share the cynicism of some regarding the Adoring Nancy look, I must say, if I were ever in the same room as Felipe, I would not be able to do anything except gaze lovingly. :flower:

sheeba · Feb 18, 2004

DonnaK - Divorce papers are filed in court and anyone can look them up. Like birth and death certificates. thats why most of the time the oft cited reason for divorce is "unreconciable differences". But that is not my point. If you actually read what I was saying - by refusing to publish them. The Palace has given the green light to every scruilous tabloid journalist in the world. They might not say anything now but let the dust settle.

I am not one of these people that do the oh she looks like a witch, I don't like her. I could not care less. I said to one of my colleagues Letizia could look like a 10 tonne guerilla its no ones business, your not the one that has to sleep with her. her job is to produce an heir and a spare do charity work and not embarass the family. And ensure the smooth transition of teh institution of monarchy. i'm much more interested in strategies and how the Palace is handling the controversial decision of Felipes. And in my professional opinion not well. With regards to the divorce papers they seem to have copied the Windsors - there's a rumour going round about Charles what do they do - get a court injuction so that every tabloid in Europe can print the rumours giving the story more credance and everyone can talk about in on the internet. Its the first rule of PR you say. This is what it is and this is why its not true. The Palace in Madrid have gone for ban the publication thus in future we can fan the flames of any scrulious report.

I think we are all arguing on different points. Alexandria and Lucy you into the I like her, they are charming she's liked etc. well that sort of sentiment is not helping Charles at the moment and he is incredibly charming. I'm much more interested in the PR strategies and they have been bad. And this is not about having a heated debate Lucys, its a discussion, what do you do at work when your having a meeting about how best to sell a product and damage limitation execercises? And alexandria if you are a journalist then surely you should have worked out the timing sequences of Letizias appearances
: private visit to Gallery - image adoring look at Felipe. What has just happened - surfacing of images of me naked, book published - Tu sera mi renia and Jaime Penafiel doing the rounds of TV shows of how the monarchy will be dragged into the gutter they way the British and Monaco Royals have gone
: Private visit to Oviedo - image professional and adoring - Point I can do this job. Objective: loads of people turn out and offer congratulations. Backfired a little bit - 200 people or so turned out, a point picked up and emphasied by el Mundo, el Pais etc and all the broadsheets. Which if you are a publicist is the equivalent of Britney spears releasing an single and it getting to number 10 in the charts. the record producers definetely c**** in their pants. Why is this 200 or so significant. Letizia is from Austaria, she will be the Princess of Austaria its the birthday of the Prince and just a handful of local people turned up? The Palace must be panicking. You want to know when BK Palace knew Diana was going to be a hit, when she went on her Uk tour before the wedding (which incidentally I don't think letizia is having) and was meant by throngs of people and you should have seen the crowds in Wales -why? she is our princess.

Alexandria I think you totally miss my point I'm not doubting the private relationship of Felipe and Letizia. Only those 2 know whats happening. Charles and Diana were still giving the cameras adoring pictures and looking good right up untill the official seperation. I met a photographer who went to shoot them before they seperated they were laughing happy couple and she said to me after that shoot when people would say to her they were problems in the marriage she would say oh no oh you are spreading rumours, I jsut spent time with them and they happy, happier than me and my husband,every relationship has their ups and downs a couple of months later they were separted. But you would have to be totally naieve not to realise that when push comes to shoove all public figures will do what they have to do to project an image. And as journalist you should know every public figure gives an Oscar winning performance. To not knwo that is to be naieve of the industry you work in. They are all professionals. From time to time the gloss and masks fall off and we see the real person that's what makes them so fascinating.

Lady Jean · Feb 18, 2004

Originally posted by sheeba@Feb 18th, 2004 - 2:22 pm
You want to know when BK Palace knew Diana was going to be a hit, when she went on her Uk tour before the wedding (which incidentally I don't think letizia is having) and was meant by throngs of people and you should have seen the crowds in Wales -why? she is our princess.

I know we have to stick to the subject of the Spanish royal family, but I just want to clarify that Diana didn't go on a tour of her country like Maxima or Letizia (?)before the wedding. She made a few public appearances as the fiancee from March - July 1981, and finally went to Wales in late October 1981. I think BP thought she would be a good wife, they weren't looking for a "star."

lucys · Feb 18, 2004

SHeeba you make many interesting points. However, the private visit was not to Oviedo (a city) but to Covadonga, a religious site in the middle of the mountains, almost in the middle of nowhere--off of, I believe, terciary roads. I would bet that they were not anticipating thousands of people on a Friday at noon while people were working, in the middle of the mountains. Just my two cents.

Environs of Covadonga

Were they sending a message? Of course. But it was not about adoring crowds—that is not the style of the Royal Family of Spain that wants to be seen primarily as working hard in service of Spain, as servants of Spain. Given the huge historic significance of that little cave in the mountains and the adjacent basilica, the trip to Covandonga’s symbolic meaning was “we are serious about our future role and we take our responsibilities to the crown and to Spain seriously.” On a more individual level, it was gesture that yes, at last, Felipe has grown up; his somewhat wild and too often superficial youth is officially over.

And yes, I am unashamedly charmed by them as a couple. They are lovely together.

Jackswife · Feb 18, 2004

If I were engaged to Felipe, I'd smile adoringly at him all the time, too!

They make a beautiful couple IMO, and they're newly engaged, crazy in love, so why not? I don't know what the Spanish media thinks of all this, but I like seeing them together and looking happy. But that's just an old American broad talking so....

donnaK · Feb 19, 2004

Sheeba, As I know, the divorce paper is s private document (like I said before) and you can't go to the court to request to see any of your friends' divorce papers without her/his permission period. The court locks it up to prevent someone stealing for big $$$, I don't see any strategic problem here.
I think the Spanish RF made a good PR move to let Felipe and Letizia visit Cavagonga on the prince's birthday. At least they chose to do something meaningful instead of going abroad to celebrate his birthday like the other princely couple. Regarding the crowd in Cavagonga, most of people there are mostly housewifes who didn't need to go to work. If it were Saturday, I'm pretty sure there would be a much larger crowd.
Most of the newspapers in Spain are pro Letizia actually except Elmundo, definitely not like what you claimed that Letizia had a very bad relation with the media. Jaime Penafiel (Elmundo) does do his weekly attacks on Felipe and Letizia in ELmundo. Did you remember last Spring that idiot Jaime claimed that Felipe was going to marry a young and innocent Diana'like noble girl in her early 20s (after he heard someone gossiping about Felipe and this young girl) and saying she was the 'perfect' bride for Felipe. Later Felipe denied it in one of the national newspapers. Felipe had never personnally denied any of this kind of stupid rumors before. Jaime proabably felt humiliated by the prince and really holds grudges against him these days.

lori · Feb 19, 2004

I think there is cultural difference too. I think Spnanish people are more amorous. They like to show their love, correct me if I am wrong. I get hot when Fleminco beats up.

Dennism · Feb 19, 2004

Alexandria · Feb 19, 2004

Oh my! Some of these items are a bit overboard. I saw pictures of Felipe and Letizia bobbleheads the other day and I thought that was a bit ridiculous! I guess everybody is trying to capitalize on the Crown Princely wedding!

sheeba · Feb 20, 2004

I wouldn't be so quick to call J Penafiel an idiot - he has "inside tracks" that means someone close to the royal family if not a member of the royal family is personally briefing him. and besides el mundo is a right wing pro monarchy paper - abit like the telegraph over here. Felipe dated a few girls before meeting Letizia, he probably dated an I Sartorious type girl without a past that got the Royal Household excited. Yes he did not have a relationship with her. Which is different. Unlike Letizia who was involved in a relationship with a fellow journalist. She dropped him like a hot potatoe when Felipe turned up. People like J Penafiel, R Lacey, R Kay, N Soames etc are used by the monarchy to tell their side of events. They'll never reveal their sources and will always stand up for the instituition they are not looking at pretty pictures and giving opinions. Look what happened with A Morton everyone called him a liar, no one in the Royal Family would be stupid enough to embrass the Queen and drag the institution through the mad and turn Britain into a republic. They all knew what he was saying was more or else accurate to some extent they all came up to say even if it were true its none of the business of the Public. This is a private matter between the waleses. Tell you a difference between generations - The Queen Mother never ever authorised a biography or had her thoughts put down to paper. Eventhough the Queen pleaded with her to.

And about the numbers at the holy shrine. I've known Charles to turn up in the middle of nowhere in the Bleak Mid Winter, raining, grey, freezing on a tuesday afternoon and there'd be a crowd of well wishers - and you'd be thinking what!!! Its not everyday that the CP marries a "hometown girl".

Lady Jean are you sure Diana did not have a tour. I'm swamped with work and don't have time to go through the archives but I remeber as a child my mum trying to drag me to an event and I fell ill. And she was like its your duty to wish them well before they get married. And when I say tour - I don't mean on the scale of the Queens jubilee tour which took her conclusively round the country and the common wealth. I'm sure Diana visited the major cities or accompanied Charles on strategic engagements in the main cities of the UK. The point always being get to know your subjects and get a feel for the job.

lucys · Feb 20, 2004

I thought ABC was the monarchist newspaper?

carlota · Feb 21, 2004

Yep, it is a very right -wing Spanish newspaper.

Dennism · Apr 15, 2004

It is time to close part 1. 302 posts is a lot of posts.

Here is the link to Part 2

carlota · Apr 17, 2004

giant puzzle

Children make a giant puzzle depicting an image of Spain's Crown Prince Felipe and fiancee Letizia Ortiz at a comercial mall in the Asturian capital Oviedo April 16, 2004. The puzzle, measuring 3x2.4 metres, will be sent as a wedding present when the couple marry next May 22 in Madrid.

last touches on coin mold

A Spanish National Mint worker puts the last touches on a 12 euro coin mold depicting Spanish Crown Prince Felipe and his fiancee Letizia Ortiz in Madrid April 1, 2004. The silver coin will be launched next May 11. commemorating the Royal Wedding.

Duke · May 13, 2004

Has CP Letizia been confer any spainish order? i understand that CP Mary of denmark had been conferred a danish order.

paulette · May 13, 2004

Originally posted by Duke@May 13th, 2004 - 7:39 am
Has CP Letizia been confer any spainish order? i understand that CP Mary of denmark had been conferred a danish order.

I think CP-to-be Letizia would receive a Spanish Order once she would be married to Prince Felipe. I don't know if it would be Spain's equivalent of the Danish Order of the Elephant. I know that once Letizia would be married, she would be taking more than one title.

agm · May 24, 2004

VISITA A CUENCA. Los Príncipes de Asturias han decidido comenzar su viaje de bodas con un recorrido por ciudades españolas. El primer destino ha sido Cuenca. El próximo día 26 volarán a Jordania para asistir al enlace del Príncipe heredero de Jordania, Hamzah Bin al Husein

prince Felipe & princess Letizia

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, Current Events Part 1: Nov. 2003 - August 2004

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