Queen Letizia and the Press

[Fürstin Taxis]

I love a good satire on public persons and celebs, but this is just slander on the lowest niveau.

[An Ard Ri]

Originally Posted by ANNIE_S

Thankfully, I never watch this kind of rubbish TV (for the shake of mi mental health), but I´m reading on a Spanish forum that yesterday on Sálvame, the most disgusting yellow show which is aired on one of the main TV channels here (and with amazing ratings, which makes me feel sick ), one of their so-called "journalist" was telling the story of Letizia, the Three Wise Men parade, the photos and so, and one of the women from the show started to shout that Letizia was a PIG.

I mean, she said that Letizia was a PIG. Literally. On one of the most famous TV stations. In front of millions of people. Without any consequences, because if Letizia, or the RH for that matter would even ask for an apology, they would be accused of not respecting the freedom of speech and so.

I´m writing this crap only to show the truth about the Spanish press to all those posters who come here every time I say that no other CP in any country is bashed half as hard as Letizia is. Now, tell me in which other monarchy country would a TV station dare to call their CP publicly "a pig". And then, I´ll stop saying that Mary, Mette Marit, Victoria or Maxima´s lifes aren´t a thousand times easier than Letizia´s.

And tell me even more. If you´re called a pig publicly on TV, without having the option not even of suing that person, but of asking for an apology nor defending yourself, would you be happy about exposing your daughters, the most precious thing you have on your life, to that jungle predators? Personally, if this would ever happen to me, I assure you I would take my daughters and leave this f****** country as soon as possible. I pity so much the infantitas, for all the unjustified hate they´re going to receive during their lifes, that sometimes I´m glad of the current situation of the monarchy just for them both. They will be a lot happier not being princesses.

And I´m very sorry for this long post, but I had to write it, I´m so angry right now.

How horrible Annie,what sort of TV station permits this kind of crass /cheap character assassination,it certainly would not be allowed on Irish tv.

[Winnie]

ANNIE, what an awful program. I sit here and wonder why exactly is the Spanish media so afraid of Letizia? There is most definitely a fear of this "future" queen. I must say that since the King has not stepped in behind the scene to put a harsh word into the editors' ears, he just might have something to hide that she could make public. This is much more than dislike. This is character assassination at it highest. Would love to see a proper investigator delve into this subject. Our minds would probably have a melt-down if the real truth came out.

[lula]

There really is a section of the press in Spain acting so ... move through the audience, business, money... is not journalism, it is a mafia. Telecinco is a channel of Berlusconi...

It is clear that the King has never wanted to attack the press in defense of Letizia, because they had rebelled, and there were other scandals to hide. While they attack Letizia with nonsense, the real scandal is not touched.

How Letizia was journalists, many thought they were going to be able to manipulate her... and many do not accept that a person who was once like them, now is Princess. I think in general that happens to many people ... generally those most critical of Letizia, are people who consider themselves more important than they really are, and if she does not treat them with deference, they get angry.

[An Ard Ri]

There should be or must be some watchdog in Spain that monitors complaints regarding this type of trash,its absolutely repugnant to allow this

[donnaK]

Telma's husband had openly criticized the Italian boss of Telecinco in one of his letters, I'm sure Telecinco had wanted to take revenge on Letizia. A certain journalist in Salvame dared to insult Letizia, obviously it was allowed by her Italian boss (the Italian Mafia). There are many low lives in the Spanish tabloids due to the Italian ownership, very sad situation for the country.

Salvame had many rumors or lies, even there is a certain truth to some of the stories, most likely they had been exaggerated.

For the Palms, during their good time, they never had problems seeing their kids constantly being photographed by the press, now the royal house threatened the press not to take pictures of their kids. At least Felipe and Elena have always been more consistent limiting the exposure of their children to the press. You can't compare the press in Spain to some smaller countries in Europe where most of the royal families have the total control. We haven't seen Prince George of GB for a while, I'm pretty sure William and Kate will try their best to protect their children from the press.

[Winnie]

What a bunch of wimpy scared Spanish men to allow this.

[casualfan]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Its a no brainer to critizise in connection with access to the infantas. No other CP couple show their kids as little as the Asturias couple. The only option to see the girls are in fact paparazzi shots, apart from Easter, the Mallorca outing, have I forgotten something? And every time, Letizia looks very tense with a fake smile, you can see that these outings are forced and dont come natural. And then you have the choreographed outings like Granada, where people can easily see the purpose. There are never any official photos on birthday occasions etc.

Stories like rejecting photos, any Spaniard will easily believe, true or not. Same goes with the subject of thinness or obsession with cosmetic procedures, people have eyes, they can see and draw their own conclusions. The cold & arrogant perception has been nurtured from day 1 too, there are certain features that can easily be allocated to Letizia if the powers that be decide to do it, because she gives plenty of ammunition herself. There are tons of pictures that document the change in pysical appearance, that show her tense, aloof, serious or somber, there has never been any credible warm interaction with her in-laws, and if you chose to focus on this image people will believe it. Why wouldnt they? It sounds too much like spin when stories come up like, no, she is so different in reality, so warm & caring etc, on what basis should people believe it when they see pictures day in day out that point to the opposite?

Letizia is certainly victim of the circumstances in Spain and unfortunately, her character or features do not go to her advantage. In other coutries, it would be as easy with certain CPs to drive a negative campaign against them but the media has no reason to do so. The power of picture is impossible to break, the image sticks, if those in charge decide to pursue a certain strategy and the media is in the same boat because they can make good money that way or see other advantages in the long run, there is only little that can be done.

Yeah, I'm done with this argument. She's protecting her CHILDREN, for pete's sake! They are little girls! I'm not going to say that a mother can't be protective of people photographing her kids.

As for the rest of this post, it's all your opinion! :fuming:

[Moonmaiden23]

Originally Posted by fandesacs2003

When they said that Letizia is a PIG, they ment the animal? If yes, my god why such an insult? This ir horrible!

I agree.Valid criticism of any public figure is okay and expected, but what exactly has the Princess of Asturias done or not done to deserve such an attack? I cannot stress how shocking it is to me that the section of the public that has turned on her with the most violence is her former colleagues in the press!

Anyway, pigs are intelligent and resourceful animals. The more I think about it these cretins have inadvertently given the Princess a compliment!

[donnaK]

Journalists are just tools, they are power behind them. The hosts of Salvame are extremely vulgar and grass, had no studies, nothing to do with Letizia's former colleagues from CNN or TVE.

[SElizabeth]

I don't know how PL does it, she must have a mind and spine made of steel to withstand all the lies and rumors and hate that is directed her way. I strongly believe that her husband might now say anything to the press now, yet I strongly believe that in private, he is her strongest support. I bet they are just biding their time, waiting for what will eventually take place and then things will change in a huge way.......I sure hope so. I do so admire her, she is one strong independent intelligent lady and I hope KARMA comes back and really takes a huge bit out of the media in Spain, shuts them up for good.

My prayers to out to her to stay strong and always protect her daughters whose lives will not be happy if this continues.

[vkrish]

How long will this continue..How long will the King/palace keep mum letting every stupid make mockery of the future Queen..
I know it serves two purposes..It always deflects attention from real scandals..and keeping quiet on these slanders will keep the media in good humour..
But this simply cannot go long. The Spain's king/Queen should once open their eyes and see how fiercely protective the other RFs are about their Crown Princesses. They are the most precious women for the RF, not these stupid Infantas. Cant they notice no royal house gives a damn for PR of younger kids like Martha Louise/Madeleine or for matter Anne..They are subtly pushed to the farthest corner possible, and the focus is ALWAYS and ALWAYS around the Crown Princesses. Because it is mere commonsense, their public image will affect monarchy's image for atleast the next 3 generations.
But sadly in Spain its always the Pss Of Asturia who comes last. And even if the King used a fraction of his 'clout' in Letizia's defence as much he used in Christina's case, Letizia's and in turn, the monarchy's image wouls have been far better in Spain..

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by donnaK

For the Palms, during their good time, they never had problems seeing their kids constantly being photographed by the press, now the royal house threatened the press not to take pictures of their kids.

I think this particular case occurred when the children were photographed without their parents, what is against the law.
I think Elena has done a similar complaint before, when her children were photographed without her but with friends (who cannot be photographed without their parent's consent either).

[jjkg]

why was she called a "pig"? Just because she did not let her daughters be photographed?

Is there any hue and cry in Spain about this?

This is worse then bullying! Satisfy my thirst or else I'll destroy you! What abominable people!

I hope the palace wakes up and does something. One the other hand there is the whole "give them enough rope to hang themselves". Sooner or later this hate will destroy the press itself, a point where people themselves will feel enough is enough.

[Burzg]

Originally Posted by jjkg

why was she called a "pig"? Just because she did not let her daughters be photographed?

Is there any hue and cry in Spain about this?

This is worse then bullying! Satisfy my thirst or else I'll destroy you! What abominable people!

I hope the palace wakes up and does something. One the other hand there is the whole "give them enough rope to hang themselves". Sooner or later this hate will destroy the press itself, a point where people themselves will feel enough is enough.

The freedom in letting photographers enter their life like this make them exceed the limit in addressing the royal highness why they did this?

[jjkg]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

Its a no brainer to critizise in connection with access to the infantas. No other CP couple show their kids as little as the Asturias couple. The only option to see the girls are in fact paparazzi shots, apart from Easter, the Mallorca outing, have I forgotten something? And every time, Letizia looks very tense with a fake smile, you can see that these outings are forced and dont come natural. And then you have the choreographed outings like Granada, where people can easily see the purpose. There are never any official photos on birthday occasions etc.

Stories like rejecting photos, any Spaniard will easily believe, true or not. Same goes with the subject of thinness or obsession with cosmetic procedures, people have eyes, they can see and draw their own conclusions. The cold & arrogant perception has been nurtured from day 1 too, there are certain features that can easily be allocated to Letizia if the powers that be decide to do it, because she gives plenty of ammunition herself. There are tons of pictures that document the change in pysical appearance, that show her tense, aloof, serious or somber, there has never been any credible warm interaction with her in-laws, and if you chose to focus on this image people will believe it. Why wouldnt they? It sounds too much like spin when stories come up like, no, she is so different in reality, so warm & caring etc, on what basis should people believe it when they see pictures day in day out that point to the opposite?

Letizia is certainly victim of the circumstances in Spain and unfortunately, her character or features do not go to her advantage. In other coutries, it would be as easy with certain CPs to drive a negative campaign against them but the media has no reason to do so. The power of picture is impossible to break, the image sticks, if those in charge decide to pursue a certain strategy and the media is in the same boat because they can make good money that way or see other advantages in the long run, there is only little that can be done.

It amazes me how even in this forum, we see deeply entrenched hate for Letizia. That her kids are not regularly pimped to the press is a millstone around her neck. But so are the occasions when they are photographed. Because those occasions are supposed "staged photocalls" like the Alhambra visit.

In summary, if somehow the photos of alhambra visit were not taken, then it would be Letizia's fault, her arrogance is on display.
If they are taken, it was a worthless photocall, which is again Letizia's fault.


What I do not understand is what are people expecting to see in these pictures that makes photos "staged" or not. Are they expecting kids to be screaming, throwing tantrums etc? Will only these kind of photos be authentic?


Finally why are we judging Letizia by a standard thatt would not even apply to us? Are our family photos taken during a public outing with friends and family not staged? Are we not usually on our good behavior when we out?


PS:

And what was choreographed about Alhambra? For the first time we saw the developing personality of little Sofia. She was animated, engaged with children of her age and appeared to have enjoyed their company. She may even have made a friend or two.
Now can you teach a little child to do this and have it appear all natural?

It really bothers me when I see how a narrative has been pre-established and no matter what the reality, the narrative is always the truth, and truth be damned. If the narrative is Letizia arranged a choreographed visit, then choreographed it is, despite what our eyes, our experience tells us!

Now I am fuming

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by ANNIE_S

Thankfully, I never watch this kind of rubbish TV (for the shake of mi mental health), but I´m reading on a Spanish forum that yesterday on Sálvame, the most disgusting yellow show which is aired on one of the main TV channels here (and with amazing ratings, which makes me feel sick ), one of their so-called "journalist" was telling the story of Letizia, the Three Wise Men parade, the photos and so, and one of the women from the show started to shout that Letizia was a PIG.

I mean, she said that Letizia was a PIG. Literally. On one of the most famous TV stations. In front of millions of people. Without any consequences, because if Letizia, or the RH for that matter would even ask for an apology, they would be accused of not respecting the freedom of speech and so.

I´m writing this crap only to show the truth about the Spanish press to all those posters who come here every time I say that no other CP in any country is bashed half as hard as Letizia is. Now, tell me in which other monarchy country would a TV station dare to call their CP publicly "a pig". And then, I´ll stop saying that Mary, Mette Marit, Victoria or Maxima´s lifes aren´t a thousand times easier than Letizia´s.

And tell me even more. If you´re called a pig publicly on TV, without having the option not even of suing that person, but of asking for an apology nor defending yourself, would you be happy about exposing your daughters, the most precious thing you have on your life, to that jungle predators? Personally, if this would ever happen to me, I assure you I would take my daughters and leave this f****** country as soon as possible. I pity so much the infantitas, for all the unjustified hate they´re going to receive during their lifes, that sometimes I´m glad of the current situation of the monarchy just for them both. They will be a lot happier not being princesses.

And I´m very sorry for this long post, but I had to write it, I´m so angry right now.

Wow. I've always heard that the British press are one of the worst, but they seem quite tame compared to the Spanish press! I wonder why the Spanish press hate Letizia so much, as far as I'm aware she hasn't done anything that might make them feel this way. (I like Letizia, she's one of my favourite Spanish Royals and I feel sorry for her at the moment.) I'm also wondering why Zarzuela hasn't sued the show for this, or even if they know about it?

I feel sorry for the Infantas as well. I hope this doesn't happen to them in the future.

[Fürstin Taxis]

Imo we see the Infantas enough in the year. Maybe the Court could release birthday photos like some other RFs do?? But I believe that´s not the real problem here

[Emmily]

Originally Posted by jjkg

It amazes me how even in this forum, we see deeply entrenched hate for Letizia. That her kids are not regularly pimped to the press is a millstone around her neck. But so are the occasions when they are photographed. Because those occasions are supposed "staged photocalls" like the Alhambra visit.

Now I am fuming

Observations or criticisms shouldn't be seen as "deeply entrenched hatred" for Letizia. I've never seen that here.

[jjkg]

Originally Posted by Emmily

Observations or criticisms shouldn't be seen as "deeply entrenched hatred" for Letizia. I've never seen that here.

I stand corrected, Emmily. Thanks.

However, in my very personal and humble opinion, there is a strain of intense, unwilling to be entertain evidence to the contrary, that one often sees regarding Letizia.

I usually stay away but every once in a while, it gets under my skin and I respond, perhaps too passionately today.

Take for instance, another argument that has been expressed as reason for dislike of Letizia that has been presented repeatedly and recently on this thread. Argument that "she does not get along with her in-laws" and hence is ill-suited as Crown princess, is perceived as arrogant etc.

This argument has been presented almost from the beginning. The main backbone of this argument rested on frosty relations between Cristina and Felipe/Letizia. Every summer, every christmas, every easter etc, the sole focus was how Letizia does not get along with Cristina, is the reason behind the distance between Felipe and Cristina, thinks herself better than a royal born etc. Day in, day out, it was all Letizia fault and the rumors propagated ad- nauseam .

Yet we now know what was going on behind the scenes. The book on Inaki's corruption sheds further light on how early on Felipe and Inaki had a quarrel when Inaki asked Felipe to help him out financially with respect to paying for the mansion in Barcelona, how royal family owed it to him etc. We then have some of the emails Inaki sent around making sexual remarks about Letizia.

Given all the evidence, I have not seen one comment from critics of reflection, doubt, etc given the exposed reality. Instead it is ignored and next day we are back again to how Letizia does not get along with Cristina, how they were on the opposite ends of a family picture etc.

Inaki's sexual jokes on Letizia are no big deal, but Letizia not standing next to Cristina in a family picture is a big deal.
Not a single picture of Cristina interacting with little Leonor or Sofia is no big deal, but Letizia's pictures of her interacting warmly, playing with Cristina's kids is just for show, should be ignored, and we should still believe that something is wrong with Letizia and she does not make the effort to get along with her in-laws.

To break the argument logically, we have the following:
King: As we have seen, he is the man of previous century, an alpha male, who is unwilling to give space to his heir, let alone an outsider who married into the family. There was never going to be a warm cuddly relationship between King and Felipe's bride, Letizia or no Letizia. The fact that Letizia had charisma was a mark against her (a potential Diana). Hence better keep her down and on unsecure footing, lest she rises to threaten him.

Queen: Letizia appears to have a good relationship with her
Queen's sister Irene: Good relationship. We have had some news reports on how Letizia used to take the girls to visit the Queen and her sister many times a week. Maybe she still does.

Elena and her kids: OK, I guess. We do have evidence that Letizia gets along very well with Elena's daughter. Once when Victoria was small, Elena and her husband were in US. Victoria had some sort of a fall or something and had to be taken to the doctor. It was Letizia who took charge and whom Elena called from US to go to Victoria and comfort her. We have seen recent evidence of this, this past summer when Victoria hugged Letizia warmly.

Cristina : Bad

Royal friends
Princess Cristina of Bourbon-Two Sicilies and her husband : Over the years, on formal and private occasions, on casual occasions such as movies, we have seen Felipe and Letizia together with this couple and their families. They appear to be close family friends. This despite the fact that this princess is also very close to Infanta Cristina.

Royal cousins : Children of JC's elder sister appear to have extremely rocky marriages and divorces. Hence there are few instances of family gatherings where there is a chance to see Letizia interacting with them. When we have seen her, like kids birthday parties etc, things seem to be good.

Son of JC's younger sister appears to lead a very private life. His sister however is often seen and appears to be closer to Elena.



So all in all, it all boils down to Cristina and JC. But more Cristina then anything else. And it is Letizia's fault.