80th Birthday Celebrations of King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia - 2018

[HereditaryPrincess]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

Asides from being closely related to the Greek/Spanish/Danish/Romanian and Hanover royal families,Sofia and Juan Carlos were very friendly with other reigning houses.

The late King Hussein of Jordan,Prince Rainier III,Princess Grace ,King Baudouin and Queen Fabiola were frequent visitors with the SRF.


King Juan Carlos,Queen Sofia,King Hussein and Queen Noor
https://goo.gl/images/WjE8nr

Kings Baudouin and Juan Carlos
https://goo.gl/images/XUUx1k

Prince Albert,Prince Rainier III,King Juan Carlos

https://goo.gl/images/yBHZSY

Queen Sofia of Spain, Prince Felipe and Princess Grace

https://goo.gl/images/o8EwMZ

I never expected to see a member of the BRF in attendance I don't think the Borbons and Windsors are particularly close.

Originally Posted by Somebody

It was a relatively private celebration, so we Sofia's friends were invited and as she was queen herself, princess from birth and sister of a king, they include many other royals. I don't think the BRF received an invite (certainly not one to be passed on to someone else).

Originally Posted by Iluvbertie

The Earl of Wessex is undertaking his own African tour - even meeting up with and doing a joint engagement with Charles.

Andrew is in China undertaking official engagements.

The only child of HM in the UK at the moment is Anne and she is busy.

William has also been doing engagements in the UK.

Maybe the Spanish didn't invite the Brits.

Remember that the Spanish government stopped Sofia attending The Queen's Diamond Jubilee in 2012 so that could still be rankling (and yes I know there has been a State Visit from the King and Queen to the UK).

Were the Danes, Swedes and Norwegians there? I haven't seen any mention of the Dutch or Belgians either.

It appears that I have been firmly stood corrected in my previous assumptions of the relationship between the SRF and the BRF - it makes more sense now that they weren't present (as much as, as a Brit, I would've liked for them to have been there).

[An Ard Ri]

It seems only those really close to queen Sofia were invited there were no Belgian,Dutch,Danish,Swedish,Norweian or Monégasque present either or members of Sofia's mothers royal houses -Hannover and Prussia.

I had expected to see the Duke of Alba present myself.

[Duke of Marmalade]

Originally Posted by An Ard Ri

So long as Queen Sofia is alive Letizia will always be in her shadow and I do not think that the queen mother will retire anytime soon.

I'm sure the royal house is aware the queen consort is not popular but Sofia was a very hard act to follow which is unfortunate for Letizia and I'm not sure if Letizia will ever shine during her mother in laws lifetime.

I don't think she will ever shine or make Felipe shine (eg like Maxima does with WA) because once Sofia sr. passes, Leonor and Sofia jr. will be adults and in the full focus of the press, one as heiress and one as celebrity.

And it remains to be seen how Letizia will cope with the loss of attention.

[Winnie]

Originally Posted by Duke of Marmalade

I don't think she will ever shine or make Felipe shine (eg like Maxima does with WA) because once Sofia sr. passes, Leonor and Sofia jr. will be adults and in the full focus of the press, one as heiress and one as celebrity.

And it remains to be seen how Letizia will cope with the loss of attention.

Yes, I agree, that will be interesting. But if a good loving parent [which I believe Letizia is] she will gladly be happy that her daughters shine in public. That is a prime duty of a parent. To put children's happiness and welfare first at certain times.

[AcrossthePond]

I remember reading that King George referred to himself, Queen Elizabeth, and Princesses Elizabeth and Margaret as "us four." And I've often thought that's how Felipe and Letizia must view themselves and the girls. They seem like a happy little family, and it hasn't been easy for them from the very beginning, from press coverage to family shenanigans. I don't see how anyone could shine in that environment, but I believe Letiza and Felipe both shine when they look at one another and most of all when they're around the girls, as we saw last week.