Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, Current Events Part 1: Nov. 2003 - August 2004 - Page 3

Alexandria · #41 02-17-2004, 01:03 PM

Quote:

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&#33

lucys · #42 02-17-2004, 01:20 PM

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 · #43 02-17-2004, 08:41 PM

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 · #44 02-17-2004, 09:00 PM

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 · #45 02-18-2004, 03:22 PM

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 · #46 02-18-2004, 04:01 PM

Quote:

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 · #47 02-18-2004, 04:33 PM

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 · #48 02-18-2004, 05:03 PM

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 · #49 02-19-2004, 01:59 AM

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 · #50 02-19-2004, 03:16 AM

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 · #51 02-19-2004, 12:51 PM

Alexandria · #52 02-19-2004, 08:12 PM

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 · #53 02-20-2004, 06:46 AM

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 · #54 02-20-2004, 07:14 PM

I thought ABC was the monarchist newspaper?

carlota · #55 02-21-2004, 09:19 PM

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

Dennism · #56 04-15-2004, 01:20 PM

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

Here is the link to Part 2

carlota · #57 04-17-2004, 06:24 AM

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 · #58 05-13-2004, 09:39 AM

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

paulette · #59 05-13-2004, 10:08 AM

Quote:

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 · #60 05-24-2004, 08:39 AM

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