Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, Current Events Part 3: October - December 2004

[pdas1201]

Pics from the CASAREAL website
Activites of Felipe and Letizia from the past few days.


November 30, 2004: Presided over the XXI edition of the "Francisco Cerecedo" Awards for Journalism

December 1, 2004: Prince Felipe welcomed the delegation of the International Friendship Exchange Council from Japan

December 1, 2004: Presided over the presentation of the popular edition of "The Quijote" at the Royal Spanish Academy

December 2, 2004: Presided over the VIII Prize of the Foundation for the Cooperation and the Development and Promotion of Welfare Activities

[Moon]

Originally Posted by Britters

I have to wonder, with everyone saying how impressed they are with the schedule, that I'm a little confused. Most of us work daily, under much more stress, as we aren't just opening something or accepting awards or what not. I realize that Felipe and Letizia have huge titles and will one day huge important jobs, but at the moment it seems that all they do is represent the family by showing up and smiling pretty, and occasionally giving a speech. I also realize that they are out and about much more then other Crown Prince Couples around, but really one "ribbon" ceremony a day isn't exactly tacxing. I'm sure many of us here do much more taxing jobs on a day to day basis (that's not to say that any of us are under nearly the same type or amount of stress as Felipe and Letizia-that, even I agree, is unbelievable.) I guess what I'm trying to figure out from those who believe it is, what makes their schedule so immpressive to you?

I think although it seems simple: dress nicely, smile, take pictures, cut a ribbon, i believe it bears alot of psychological pressure..The pressure that you know you are scrutinized from your clothes to your actions...All the cameras are on them and they need to please..what about if they do not have the mood one day, they still need to smile...this is so tiring....

At least in comparison with other Royal couples, they go out almost everyday...Besides, we do not know what happens behind the scenes..if they have to go to an exhibition, they need to be read so that they can ask good questions and not seem ignorant...

[Britters]

Originally Posted by Moon

I think although it seems simple: dress nicely, smile, take pictures, cut a ribbon, i believe it bears alot of psychological pressure..The pressure that you know you are scrutinized from your clothes to your actions...All the cameras are on them and they need to please..what about if they do not have the mood one day, they still need to smile...this is so tiring....

At least in comparison with other Royal couples, they go out almost everyday...Besides, we do not know what happens behind the scenes..if they have to go to an exhibition, they need to be read so that they can ask good questions and not seem ignorant...

I agree that psychologically there is a lot that goes into an appearance and what not. But compared to my schedule of meetings, and walk throughs, and contract deadlines, and paperwork, their schedules are so much more tame. And I think even someone working in retail would agree with that statement. We have much more demanding schedules, where we too have to be polite and curteous for most of the day. The only difference I'm really seeing is that their scrutiny doesn't turn off if they are outside their home as ours does once we leave our workplaces. But on that line I think that's a different kind of stress then having a taxing schedule. They make appearances, and while I'm impressed at their seemingly endless interest in things that would normally bore me, they aren't really doing a whole lot day in and day out that requires extra reserves of energy that a normal person needs to sometimes get through a week. At least not that we see. And if we don't know what they are doing outside of appearances then it's not really fair to comment on how impressive their schedule is or isn't. (Did that even make sense? Sorry if it didn't.)

On top of all that, they leave whatever benefit or appearance they are attending for the day and go home to a palace full of people whose sole job is to make sure they are comfortable.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not saying I'm not impressed with the jobs Felipe and Letizia do, it just seems to me being impressed with their schedule is a bit silly when you consider most peoples daily schedules.

[lapopdiva]

Originally Posted by pdas1201

Thanks for the heads up, Lapopdiva:) I somehow missed those, I hope after posting the ones below, I have posted everything. If you find some more pics on Wireimage, let me know and I'll post them.

By the way, have you noticed the way they keep gazing at each other, as if they are by themselves in their bedroom and not at a formal awards function. I find that soooo romantic, they seem to speak to each other thru their eyes more often then their lips...sigh...

Off course i let you now, because y can't take them, jajajaja.Thank you so much to you and to everyone who take their time to put photos here.I now how much time it take.

And yes they speak thru their eyes.and what i like the most is that they come so natural over.You can see when they are happy, tired,and angry at each other,Because they are sometimes.I saw that on tv.I see every program on the spanish tv international.When they have an oficial act, i sit with my video on, and i take them on video, i have a lot.And they are so lovely, and natural.Letizia when she is working outside, i mean when she is with the spanish people she is on her best.And she prepare her self for everythink .I have an article I'm going to try to translate it for you guys!! The article tell what they do every day.

[lapopdiva]

She works with the habitual team of the Prince and attends all the acts with her husband to learn everything. Sometimes, she escapes to house of her mother to eat her stews.(guisos.)

El Mundo
21/11/04, 10.13 horas

This is a story on the days of work of Princes de Asturias

It is 8.30 in the morning
when Felipe and Letizia usually seat to have breakfast in the residence that they released together the 23 of May. They also count in the Palace of the Zarzuela that, to those hours,they reviews the habitual informative unfolding: a summary with the subjects of the present time of the day, newspapers, magazines... Similar to which could make any marriage to be informed. The difference is that they, more and more, also are protagonists of the news.

It is not only the different thing: she has doncella to her disposition and he, camera aid. And some crew members more, although the Real House declines to need what personal on watch works in the Pavilion of the Prince, calls to account of the marriage. Silence also stays in Patrimony National, in charge of the management and maintenance of the real palaces. Yes it confirms that it destines part of his civil employees to the complex of the Zarzuela, to which pays the State directly, but not how many nor what profiles they have.

Tomorrow are marked six months of the Real Wedding , and this newspaper has tried to reflect how a habitual day of work of the pair passes. In the last weeks, Felipe and Letizia have spent several days in Barcelona to attend acts in Catalonia and have had two days of activities and office in Madrid. The objective one was to know in what they occupy his hours outside the flashes and the official acts, and to know how the new Princess of Asturias in the (cotidianidad) of the Zarzuela has integrated herself.

First conclusion: from the House of the King they tell that already it has been finished to the stage of the notebook and the ball-point pen, when the perfeccionista Letizia, obsessed to know it everything before her wedding, (vagaba) from a side to another one of the house aiming the details that to her the personnel facilitated. "I want to do what the Spaniards want that she does", she sentenced in a meeting, to perhaps demonstrate her will. It had begun the metamorphosis of a divorced journalist to Princess and consorte of the Heir.

Today, in the Zarzuela one occurs by fact that Letizia has finalized the theory already. Now she is a Princess in practices. The marriage works "in equipment", has said the Prince more of once. And abroad, because they travel a kilometer until the building where the Kings live and works great part of the personnel. There, Letizia has her own one "and small" office, closely together to the one of her husband, "making a hollow in the space that the personnel of the Head of the Secretariat of the Prince occupies", says the House of the King

Although not yet she has an own agenda, remember in Zarzuela, Letizia one feels safer, equal of deluded that and is in the beginning beginning to enjoy her new work, according to comments some friends. Not in vain, she had her first one approved a month ago in Oviedo,her native city, with the applause that dedicated the Campoamor Theater still on to her when her husband offered to praises her during the recent delivery of the Prizes Prince of Asturias.

This week in Madrid, the marriage has crossed the doors of their office, like is habitual, "to first hour", according to a collaborator, who adds that both have been developing "intense" a work of office. Some example? "the deprived hearings to new promotions of officials government, who request to be received and to that the Prince thanks for their dedication to the State". They dispatch in fact with the Prince, but the Princess "gets up herself at some moment" because her husband wishes that she becomes familiar soon with this routine.

There is no day nor stated time to meet with his Majesty. Rather flexible encounter "based on the necessities of the agenda" are celebrated, and also they maintain pursuit meetings where the rest of departments of the house is present: the head of the House of the King, the Secretary General, the unit of relations with mass media, protocol, Intendance and the service of security. [ This newspaper solicitd to gather a graphical testimony of these meetings, or any moment of office of the Princes, request that was rejected by the service of press ].

The work "in equipment" to which the Prince talked about makes with a group of seven people, assures the Real House, whose in front he is Jaime Alfonsin, head of the Secretariat of the Prínce.these same official sources affirm that the lights of the offices of the Princes often end up extinguishing last the 21.00 hours. They add days of almost 10 hours, according to the Zarzuela.

They stop two hours to eat, and usually they do it in their own house, where they have kitchen and they take "an absolutely normal and homemade menu", they affirm in Zarzuela. Often, Letizia escapes to house of her mother for, according to she has commented to her friendships, to eat her stews with vegetables, because those of Zarzuela tire a little to her, elaborated more, mixed with stroke and similar products.

Ever since she is Height Real, even also before, Letizia receives letters and requests to participate and to preside over to acts of very different (índole) But, unlike her sisters-in-law infants Elena and Cristina - that, although have an inferior protocolic rank, yes have their own secretariat to take their subjects -, to Letizia any person for this assignment has not assigned itself to her. It is the head of the Secretariat of the Prince who must now give exit to requests - in constant increase, they inform in the house -, that receives the Princess: requests of presidencies of honor of organisms or congresses, sponsorship of flags, private hearings... That it is known, the Real House has accepted one: the appointment of the Princess like Waiter of Honor of the Choir of ladies of the Virgin of White Amargura-Paso of Lorca (Murcia), distinction that already received the queen.

It does not seem to be the common thing. Rather, all the requests amiably are declined by the Secretariat of the Prince and some are in study for the future. The only way to have today some possibility that the Princess attends an act is not inviting her. That is to say, directing the invitation to her husband, or both, never to single her. The reason? It is not predicted still that Letizia participates in acts of individual way, affirms the Zarzuela. "the moment will arrive when the King considers that she is prepared, and still can take months", assures an old member the service of the Real House that it prefers not to be identified.

[lapopdiva]

Prepared or no, Letizia already confronts next to her husband her task of "useful tool to the State", as the House of the King defines her work, or like "one more a valedora in the work of promotion of the Spanish company in the world", who said the Prince Thursday when giving the Prizes Prince Felipe to the Enterprise Excellence, talking about to one of their facets: to support to the economy off the mother country.

The Zarzuela shows some data: between 1996 and 2003, the Prince has participated in an average of 380 official acts to the year -"a more than one per day ", affirm -, that he does not include the hours of office, the preparation of the acts, and the lunches of work. The average has not diminished, has followed east rate. Sometimes, it is the King who directly assigns the acts in which they participate "based on the areas that to them interest following to each member of the Royal Family or a continuity in their workings", explain these sources.

The two last weeks of the pair have been developed between Barcelona (they started off there in an airplane of the Air Force and lived during ten days in the Albéniz Palace to participate in several acts) and Madrid, calls to account habitual.

In the Condal City, the marriage participated in acts of enterprise, social and cultural character. "That makes diversified activities so do not mean dispersion", clarify from Zarzuela."Mean to say that they have the point of attention in many scopes of the Spanish society that need support ". And how they select where to attend? "They want to go there where they consider that they are going to be more useful. Be to Navarre to visit a sharpshooting(puntera) company or to Barcelona to inaugurate youthful an occupational center ".

Thursday 11 of November, the attention point was there, in the occupational center Them Corts for deficient young people psíquicos.Acompañados by the habitual team of five collaborators - head of the Secretariat, aide of the Prince, adviser of press, adviser of protocol and head of security in charge of the device -, knew the classes, they talked with the students and their parents, and they left after becoming a photography of group and conversing in a cocktail: one hour and average of visit.

At night, the pair presided over the delivery of prizes of the Chamber of Commerce of Manresa. To his arrival, it received a group to them of citizens but, hundreds of meters further on, the antiriots contained to between 300 and 500 (according to what source is consulted) antimonarchical demonstrators who brandished placards against the visit. Perhaps it is the most numerous protest to the one than they have had to face, until now, the Princes.

After the act, that began to the 20.30 hours, the pair left on the one the dawn after saluting to each one of the assistants to the supper. In the street, they narrowed in addition the hands to the people who, in reduced number more, waited for that hour to see them close by.

It happened the same on the following day after finishing the visit Fomento of the Decorativas Arts, where designers and creators "of distendida way conversed during a cocktail with, to have personal communication", according to the Zarzuela. That is their only and constant request to include in the program: that always there is time to talk with the assistants at the acts and to greet the people who acclaim to them in the streets. They wish to be nearest possible "and thank to all that loses a second of their life to salute to them", explains the Real House.

A spokesman of Zarzuela says which the trip ticket that guides the work of the Princes is in the appearance of both the 3 of November of 2003, two days after announcing his compromiso."Here we are, in love,comprometidos, convinced and ilusionados, and, of course, given to the service of Spain ", said Felipe.and she added that she confronted her new stage "with responsibility, illusion and vocation to the service off the Spaniards".

Some experts have indicated that it would be the suitable moment so that the Heir had an own administration, compares to the House of His Majesty. After all, Felipe and Letizia - and those that come later continue depending on budget -7,7 million euros of public money for 2005- that distributes "freely"his father, the King, according to the Constitution, and of that never public in what he is spent, only the total. These same sources assure, in addition, that a House of the Prince in operation could avoid that the syndrome Inheriting idle to the throne delay settled in Spain - already seen in other European countries -, and could transmit better "intense" the work that Princes de Asturias make.

(So i hope this article will help you guys, so now you know them a little more, and you know what they do.I hope someday they can show us how they work and prepare them self before going to any acts, that will be great.Y now for shure that this couple work very hard and leticia is a perfecionist and she will for no reason go to any act without knowing what they are going to talk about.She said that we only see what she dress, not how she prepare herself and how many think she have to now before she went to any act.Thats why she dress here self sober and practical.She don't want to be a lady diana o jacky O.She want that we evaluate her on her inteligent.)
Lapopdiva!

[Australian]

Philipe used to date Gwyneth Paltrow right? I understand his parents were happy that he was dating her, would the spanish have accepted Princess Gwyneth of Spain?
(Letizia is great though)

[Anna_R]

Originally Posted by Australian

Philipe used to date Gwyneth Paltrow right? I understand his parents were happy that he was dating her, would the spanish have accepted Princess Gwyneth of Spain?
(Letizia is great though)

Felipe dating Gwyneth? Wasn't that Nikolaos of Greece?

[lapopdiva]

Originally Posted by Anna_R

Thank you for the article lapopdiva, could you please name the source?

Thanks!:)

Off course anna here you go:
http://www.periodistadigital.com/sec...ct.php?o=36451

[lapopdiva]

Originally Posted by Australian

Philipe used to date Gwyneth PaTRFow right? I understand his parents were happy that he was dating her, would the spanish have accepted Princess Gwyneth of Spain?
(Letizia is great though)

felipe never date Gwyneth. he went out with her as a friend.And that was a tact they use he and letizia.When they both already was serius in their relation, they keep going out with there friends, as normal.And to make people think that he as with Gwyneth, an in the meantime he was in a serius relation with letizia.That's how the royal house off spain put up the plan so that no one can new about letizia .Because letizia and felipe wanted a discret(discreto) releation.Hope i make my self clear.Because my inglish is not so good.I only tell what y read.the article on these subyect i didn't save.If i find it when i have time, i will translate it for you guys.

[Britters]

How long were Felipe and Letizia together, Gwenyth and Felipe were supposedly paired up long before Letizia ever hit the scene. In fact if I remember correct I read the articles about Felipe and Gwenyth somewhere around September or October 2001 (certainly Letizia and Felipe didn't get away with that private a relationship!) I'm fairly sure that the Norwegian model that Felipe dated came after Felipe's relationship/friendship with Gwenyth.

[lapopdiva]

Originally Posted by Britters

How long were Felipe and Letizia together, Gwenyth and Felipe were supposedly paired up long before Letizia ever hit the scene. In fact if I remember correct I read the articles about Felipe and Gwenyth somewhere around September or October 2001 (certainly Letizia and Felipe didn't get away with that private a relationship!) I'm fairly sure that the Norwegian model that Felipe dated came after Felipe's relationship/friendship with Gwenyth.

Felipe knew Gwenyth since the year 2001.But they hadn't a love relationship.
I found an article i'm going to translate it for you.It will take a little time.

[lapopdiva]

ANALYSIS. OPINION. This Monday Letizia Ortiz has predicted to go to the building of Torrespaña, where the informative services of Spanish Television have their seat. It will be a goodbye visit.
Lunes, 3 noviembre 2003
EL SEMANAL DIGITAL, IBLNEWS

Saturday was a very long day for Don Felipe and Letizia Ortiz. Throughout the day they responded with its movable telephones to the personal calls of congratulation of inside and outside Spain. For Letizia a very hard test that finished it began at the beginning of summer. The journalist Josep Puigbó, her companion in the remodeling that Jose Antonio Sanchez carried out in the news, little by little was discovering that his excellent companion in the work was enamored.(in love)

It was a torrid 4 of August when both began to work together in a news to which they provided seriousness and great rigor quickly, maintaining a climate of independence and very high credibility. During the month of August Josep he began to know thorough more Letizia, with he congenió quickly.

Mainly it called the attention to him to Josep Puigbó to see how every Monday she was gotten radiating up to the work. Puigbó, that is a sensible man, very careful with the life deprived of the others, and with a fine sense of humor, did not let crack certain jokes to her on how radiating and happy she saw . The answer of Letizia was the one of an woman in love that indicating that she was in a very sweet moment of her life.

Puigbó saw that she was so in love that in several occasions he invited to the pair to went a weekend to his house of the Garrotxa to spend a weekend with his woman. It could not, in addition, let ask what his boy dedicated hisself. The answer of Letizia was very mysterious. Someday you will know , she said in several occasions leaving him a little surprised.

The month of August was the key moment of the relation. Don Felipe and Letizia had occasion for them self , to chat, to share moments in a strict privacy. Prince de Asturias wanted in addition to go out to have supper with the Dukes of Palm and the American actress Gwyneth PaTRFow to give that to speak.

[lapopdiva]

.In principle modisto Valentino had organized a romantic cruise in his yacht - that habitually he has cast anchor in Ibiza during the summer to which he had invited the Prince on the high seas to organize a supper like the previous summer. Valentino thought that between Don Felipe and the American actress could arise something more than a friendship when seeing them in the summer of the 2001 bottled in one long conversation in the cover of her yacht. Don Felipe only went to the supper in a restaurant in Palm, but he excused his attendance to the yacht of Valentino in the occasion of a trip to Montevideo to attend the taking of possession of the new president of Uruguay.

It was the moment of flexion. Don Felipe in the long roundtrip flight reflected long on the moment of his life, say people next to his surroundings of friends. And it was when he analyzed and it hefted his relation with Letizia, with which he was very in love. On the Atlantic, returning again to Palm, he knew that Letizia would be to the height of the circumstances to be Queen of Spain and the woman in addition whom he loved and with that wished to unite his life.

As of September the events went precipitating while commentaries and speculations began again on a possible announcement of the Real House before Christmases. In the acts of the delivery of the Prizes Prince of Asturias something had in the atmosphere that it indicated that there would be fast new features. Wednesday 29 of October Letizia communicated their head. It was predicted to announce the commitment Sunday 2 of November agreeing with the birthday of Her Majesty the Queen.

But everything hurried with insistent rumors that the Zarzuela denied. On Saturday His Majesty the King communicated the news to the president of the Congress, the head of Government and the political leaders. In afternoon an official notice it confirmed the kept news more than just Saturday only began to be discovered in the morning when the director of the La Razón, Jose Antonio Vera, gave the last tracks of the enigma.

( so there you can see that the relation felipe and Gwynith not even had the change to go farther then friendship, because felipe already meat letizia and he fall in love with here)And felipe is a very busy man,And he's a prince a public person,And if he go out with a woman the press jump imidiatly to say it's his girlfriend.That's happend all the time with every celebrities.But in this case it work very well for felipe, so when the media atention was on him and Gwynith , he was very busy in a very discreet relatioship with his one and only love.LETIZIA.)I LOVE THAT!!

[Anna_R]

Thanks for posting lapopdiva!

And we hit the magic ten again! Thank you all for the wonderful pictures, stories and anedoctes.

For more news on the couple, please visit their new thread:
http://www.theroyalforums.com/forums...ead.php?t=4239