Doña Letizia’s most anticipated date: Book Day, Cervantes and lunch with writers

Literary week for Mrs. Letizia, an avid reader and passionate about letters. Book Day and the Miguel de Cervantes Prize ceremony are celebrated this Tuesday, April 23.

The kings preside at the University of Alcalá de Henares, in Madrid, over the ceremony for the most important award in Spanish literature, which this year goes to the Leonese Luis Mateo Diez. The 81-year-old writer will deliver a Cervantes speech from the secular pulpit of the auditorium of the Alcala University.

Letizia, a passionate reader, really likes this solemn event. Surrounded by academics and writers, she enjoys an event that gives all the prominence to writing and words. In the ceremony, the king will take the baton of command of the town hall, which will be given to him by the mayor of the Madrid town, Judith Piquet Flores, of the Popular Party. Her Majesty will also wear the Golden Fleece. At the end of the party, the Tuna will be played.

The next day, Wednesday, April 24, the Kings will offer a lunch at the Royal Palace in honor of the winner, who is attending with his family. It is expected that writers, academics and authorities will attend this meal, which will be served in the gala dining room, such as the Minister of Culture, Ernest Urtasun, the President of the Community of Madrid, Isabel Díaz Ayuso, the director of the Cervantes Institute, Luis García Montero; and Carmen Iglesias, Don Felipe’s tutor since his youth and a history scholar.

Luis Mateo Díez, this year’s Cervantes, presents a new novel

Luis Mateo Díez, academic with chair I (capital letter) since 2001, celebrates the Cervantes with the presentation of his new novel, The master of the track (Alfaguara), which hits bookstores this Thursday, April 25. Furthermore, he is the author of The provincial stations, The fountain of age, The complete hours, The castaway file, The lessons of thingss (Miguel Delibes award 2004), The sidereal elders and Celama (an account).