Queen Letizia of Spain Biography

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born on September 15, 1972, in Oviedo, Spain. Her father, Jesús José, was a journalist and her mother, Maria, was a nurse. She has two younger sisters, Telma, and Érika.

Letizia was baptized on September 29, 1972, in the Catholic church in Oviedo.

She attained her primary education at ‘La Gesta School’ in Oviedo. After her family shifted to Rivas-Vaciamadrid, she went to ‘Ramiro de Maeztu High School’.

She graduated with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from ‘Complutense University of Madrid’. Thereafter, she did her master’s degree in ‘Audiovisual Journalism’ from ‘Institute for Studies in Audiovisual Journalism.’

She supported her education by working at a newspaper ‘La Nueva España’. She also worked at ‘ABC' newspaper and ‘EFE’, a news agency.

Letizia moved to Guadalajara in Mexico and started her career by working at ‘Siglo 21’, a newspaper. After some time, she returned to Spain and began working for the news channel, ‘Bloomberg’. Thereafter, she moved to the news channel ‘CNN+’.

In 2000, she changed jobs to work for the Spanish news channel, '24 Horas’. That year, she also reported live from Washington D.C. on the U.S. presidential elections.

In September 2001, she reported from ground zero in New York after the 9/11 attacks.

In 2002, she reported live from the ground after the disastrous sinking of the oil tanker ‘Prestige' in Galicia, northern Spain. She also became the anchor for the weekly news program 'Informe Semanal’ and ‘TVE 1’s’ morning news show 'Telediario Matinal’ that year.

In 2003, she reported from the field in Iraq after the war. Just some time before her engagement to Prince Felipe, she became the anchor of the most-watched daily news show in Spain, ‘Telediario 2’, on ’TVE’.

After her marriage to Prince Felipe, she became the Princess of Asturias, took on her royal duties and represented her father-in-law while travelling in Spain and across the world. In 2006, the royal household announced her solo agenda.

On June 19, 2014, after her father-in-law abdicated the throne, she and her husband became the king and queen of Spain.

On June 23, 2014, she inaugurated an exhibition at Madrid’s ‘Museo Nacional del Prado’ as her first solo engagement.

She continues to work in the field of social causes like education, children’s rights, etc.

In 2000, Queen Letizia of Spain was presented with the ‘Larra’ award as ‘the most distinguished young journalist of the year’ by ‘Madrid Press Association for her Iraq war coverage.

On May 21, 2004, on the eve of her wedding to Price Felipe VI, she became the dame of the ‘Grand Cross of the Royal and Distinguished Order of Charles III’.

In 2015, she was appointed by the ‘United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization’ as a ‘Special Ambassador for Nutrition’.

On August 7, 1998, Letizia married a high-school teacher and writer, Alonso Guerrero Pérez. The marriage was short-lived and they divorced in 1999.

In 2002, she met Felipe VI, the Crown Prince of Spain, at a party. Thereafter, she dated Prince Felipe VI in secret for almost a year.

On November 1, 2003, they announced their surprise engagement to the royal family and the public. She moved into a ‘Zarzuela Palace’ wing after the engagement and stayed there until her wedding day.

On May 22, 2004, she married Prince Felipe VI in Madrid’s Cathedral Santa Maria la Real de la Almudena. On October 31, 2005, her first daughter, Leonor, ‘Princess of Asturias’, was born.

On April 29, 2007, her second daughter, Infanta Sofia, was born. The same year, her sister, Érika, died from an overdose of prescription drugs.

In 2016, leaked text messages between her and businessman, Javier Lopez Madrid, created a controversy related to a Spanish bank corruption scandal.

As a fashion icon, she is known to support Spanish designers and brands by wearing their outfits for official visits or on her daily outings.

She is said to have a strong royal lineage on her mother’s side, having descended from the ‘Rocasolano’ family. Her father’s side is also said to have the noble blood of the medieval-era ‘Constables of Castile’, though it remains unproven.

Her wedding outfit was designed by Spanish designers, where her bridal gown was created by Manuel Pertegaz and her bridal shoes were crafted by Pura Lopez. Her bridal veil made from delicate, hand-embroidered and silk tulle fabric is said to have been a present from her would-be husband.