Duke of Marmalade said:I have to admit that I am one of those who think that Letizia is what I once called a missed chance and I don’t want to repeat my previous posts. She has done more or less three events on her own in three years and I am not so confident that there will be a massive change in the next three years. I find it sad for her but I also see the danger that just in case Felipe will be King much faster than he hopes he will be, Letizia will be Queen. She has once spoken of the “priceless example of the Queen” and one day she will have to fill these shoes. We all hope there are many more years to come for JC but who knows? In the past three years, Letizia hasn’t even started to get a profile of her own - although it seems it’s not up to her - but the later she starts the harder it will be for her to follow in Queen Sofia’s footsteps. I know it’s not fair to compare, all I say is she should start rather today than tomorrow because of what will be some day. At the moment, people see her only as a consort behind her husband and she will have to be so much more in the future.
If Letizia really wants to follow the 'princeless example of the Queen', she should buy herself a few Valentino gowns first like Sofia always did (just kidding).
When Sofia came to Spain, Spain had no monarchy, herself didn't speak Spanish, she really didn't have much a role until she became Queen in 1976. You seemed to compare Letizia to today's Sofia after 40 years of her marriage to Juan Carlos, which is not a fair comparison. Everyone has a learning process, even Sofia's public image has changed much over the years too. She used to be aloof and very Germanic. On the other hand, I never really like Letizia's statement of following 'priceless example of the Queen'. I'm sure Letizia can learn a lot from the Queen (a great Queen indeed), but she and Sofia have completely different background, different strength, possible different personalities too, she will never be Queen Sofia in some people's eyes no matter how hard she tries. Letizia should play up to her own strength. She is Spanish, a former career woman and a broadcaster, good connection with various sectors of the Spanish society, speaks perfect Spanish. Last year's visits to the working districts of Madrid suburban was a good start. Hopefully Zarzuela would allow her to accept the offer of being the patron of the journalist association, more connection with the university students (last year Zarzuela also rejected the invitation for Letizia to attend a university graduation).
After saying all these, I think Letizia doesn't have as much flexibility as the other Crown Princesses in Europe, who receive money directly from the State or at least their husbands do. In Spain, the King controls the purse strings. For Felipe's sake, she probably just followed the arrangement from Zarzuela, otherwise the family would be in chaoic state .