Engagement of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz: November 1, 2003 - Page 14

mgrant · #**261** 11-04-2003, 02:26 PM

I have been enjoying all of this discussion and all of the comments about this engagement. She is definitely attractive and he's just as good looking. Since it appears that she has an news anchor job, she must be intelligent. Whatever her title will be, she will be a smart, lovely, media savvy royal.

More power to the both of them!

A.C.C. · #**262** 11-04-2003, 02:28 PM

I was saying in general. I didn't mean Madeline was the one that William was going to marry. And I don't think too many Kings and Queens in Europe would be upset if their children married into the House of Windsor. In the scheme of things, the family from which the girl is from would recieve a lot more clout world wide because she is the queen or future queen of England. But this is off subject. You are right about the Felipe marrying princess from non-ruling houses. I was referring to the ruling houses of Europe.

Julia · #**263** 11-04-2003, 02:31 PM

In trying to be fair I am simply asking that we not do anymore bashing.

Dennism · #**264** 11-04-2003, 02:33 PM

There are a good number of princesses. Maybe not from the bigger houses but it it wise for the Spaniards or the Swedes to avoid the House of Windsor(Make the House of Atreus seem normal). Anyway, right about the war and perhaps right about Spain gaining a strong foothold in the EU. But I am in agreement with Sean on this.

Sean.~ · #**265** 11-04-2003, 02:42 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by A.C.C.@Nov 4th, 2003 - 2:28 pm
I was saying in general. I didn't mean Madeline was the one that William was going to marry. And I don't think too many Kings and Queens in Europe would be upset if their children married into the House of Windsor. In the scheme of things, the family from which the girl is from would recieve a lot more clout world wide because she is the queen or future queen of England. But this is off subject. You are right about the Felipe marrying princess from non-ruling houses. I was referring to the ruling houses of Europe.

Allegedly the Swedish royal family does not hold the British royal family in high esteem. And I don't agree with your assertion either. Rather than clout, the family of any potential bride will be subjected to the intrusive and awful British tabloid press (as the Spencers and Fergusons were). No respectable royal house would want that their skeletons being exposed in such a manner.

Anyway, the notion of equal marriages are, for the most part, an anacrhonism in today's world.

A.C.C. · #**266** 11-04-2003, 03:14 PM

So you are saying it's wrong for a prince to marry a princess in her own right or rather that that type of marriage doesn't fit in with today's society? That doesn't really make since. If Felipe had married a princess, that would have been an anachronism? If there was an eligible British princess, or rather any other European princess in a ruling house, I'm sure HM Queen Sofia would have preferred Felipe to marry that girl other than the woman he is going to marry (there nothing wrong with the woman he is going to marry by the way).

Sean.~ · #**267** 11-04-2003, 03:53 PM

Kindly don't put words in my mouth. What I wrote was that the notion of equal marriages is , for the most part, an anacrhonism in today's world. That is, equal/dynastic marriages were made for political and legitimacy reasons. This is no longer necessary in today's world. Not only has the institution of monarchy evolved and changed in most countries, but the world is now more international. Rather than cementing bilateral relations and institutions through marriage, states now aim for internationalism through trade agreements & international conventions and principles. Thus my statement was a general statement based on the realities of today's world. Felipe or any other prince can marry whomever they want.

Moreover, whereas previously in some countries only the daughters of a small pool of elites had the qualifications to become the wives of powerful men, today's world there are many highly educated, capable, and competent women from all socio-economic backgrounds. The role of consort too has changed. I daresay women like Queen Silvia, Queen Noor, Princess Maxima, etc. are more suited to be a Queen in today's world than many royal women of yesteryear. In fact, many 'royal' women were disasterous consorts (Alexandra Feodorovna comes immediately to mind).

Quote:

If there was an eligible British princess, or rather any other European princess in a ruling house, I'm sure HM Queen Sofia would have preferred Felipe to marry that girl other than the woman he is going to marry (there nothing wrong with the woman he is going to marry by the way).

How do you know that would have been her preference? Did she tell you that? In fact, she's stated otherwise on more than one ocassion, as have her children. I hardly think that Her Majesty is a liar. Sure, she wants her son to marry a suitable woman, but his happiness is no doubt also a factor. As far as eligble Princesses go, there have been several from reigning (they don't rule any more, I'm sorry to say), and non-reingning houses. The Spanish royals have married into non-reigning houses in the past, so I doubt that this would have been an impediment if the King and Queen were adamant on a 'royal' marriage.

Finally, I highly doubt that the King and Queen would have wanted a British Princes as their daughter-in-law. Not only would she have had to convert to Catholicism, but it would have been politically undesirable due to the Gibraltar situation. After all, there was just another diplomatic strain over this very issue the other day. Besides, I doubt very much that the Spanish royals (and government) would want the kind of tabloid press attention that comes with being related to the Windsors.

Dennism · #**268** 11-04-2003, 05:01 PM

Yes, I don't understand the need to have someone of a Royal heritage per se. There are plenty of fine noble women. And that is still true of the British press, Diana, for example, used them when she wanted to as well. But they are generally not worth talking about.

hrhcp · #**269** 11-04-2003, 06:17 PM

Quote:

Alexandria  Posted: Nov 3rd, 2003 - 8:47 pm

MARGARITA DE BORBÓN KING JUAN CARLOS SISTER STATED: ´WE FOUND OUT THE ENGAGEMENT LIKE EVERYBODY'

Madrid: The news was not expected not only for the people of Spain but for members of the royal family.´ But Dona Margarita and her husband Doctor Zurita were very pleased ....

Interesting that even Felipe's own aunt was as in the dark about all this as the rest of the country and royal watchers!

Maybe Felipe knows who the blabbermouths are !?

hrhcp · #**270** 11-04-2003, 06:26 PM

Interesting comments by Sean.~ about the fact that neither the Swedish RF nor the Spanish RF holding the English RF in high regard !!!!

Despite the fact that the Swedes have a lot of large formal commercial alliances together with the English, and the fact that both Sweden and England (together with Denmark) still have their own currency, and not the Euro.

Despite the fact that the Spaniards - I would say here loosely speaking - have as large of an overseas 'commonwealth' as the english, which drives their economy.

I'm a bit of a train fan, and that is one thing that amazes me, is that the Spaniards are far more dynamic in building new infrastructure and highspeed rail/trains than the laggardly English. Yepp ... with highspeed trains, I would say the dynamism of Spain is on par with the French who started the rage way back when. The Spaniards have even managed to sell their concept of well cornering train (Talgo) to the Americans, which - as many have found out at their cost - is a tough nut to crack. This Talgo train, by the way, is run by Amtrak between Seattle, WA (Portland, OR?) and Vancouver, BC.

Alexandria · #**271** 11-04-2003, 07:05 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

Alexandria · #**272** 11-04-2003, 07:05 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

Alexandria · #**273** 11-04-2003, 07:06 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

Alexandria · #**274** 11-04-2003, 07:07 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

Sean.~ · #**275** 11-04-2003, 07:08 PM

Quote:

Interesting comments by Sean.~ about the fact that neither the Swedish RF nor the Spanish RF holding the English RF in high regard !!!! 

I didn't say the Spanish RF. Just the Swedish. Their have been comments attributed to the King on the matter before and he himself has stated in interview (s) said that the two families aren't close.

hrhcp · #**276** 11-04-2003, 07:10 PM

Quote:

Alexandria  Posted: Nov 4th, 2003 - 7:05 pm

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

That is one woman basking in the "honour" ...

My favourite picture so far, below.

Alexandria · #**277** 11-04-2003, 07:13 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

Alexandria · #**278** 11-04-2003, 07:14 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

hrhcp · #**279** 11-04-2003, 07:14 PM

Quote:

Sean.~  Posted: Nov 4th, 2003 - 7:08 pm

Quote:

Interesting comments by Sean.~ about the fact that neither the Swedish RF nor the Spanish RF holding the English RF in high regard !!!!

I didn't say the Spanish RF. Just the Swedish. Their have been comments attributed to the King on the matter before and he himself has stated in interview (s) said that the two families aren't close.

My apologies in regard to mis-understanding what I read. :)

But to clarify what you just wrote, you are saying that King Juan Carlos ... has stated in an interview said that the two families (spanish and english) aren't close ? But apparently that didn't stop a dalliance with Princess Di ?

Alexandria · #**280** 11-04-2003, 07:15 PM

Polfoto 03-11-2003. Madrid-Spain. November 03 2003. First public appearance of Prince Felipe de Borbon and his wife to be Letizia Ortiz at a concert of Mstislav Rostropovich held at the Teatro Real for Queen Sofia's birthday.

Felipe and Letizia are starting to remind me a bit of Phillippe and Mathilde of Beligum. He always seems to be holding her hand and is very gentle and affectionate towards her.