Leonor and Letizia, united by a snow-white tailored suit: on the 20th anniversary of the Kings’ marriage proposal

20 years have passed since this announcement. Royal House makes public the official engagement of Felipe and Letizia: “Their Majesties the King and Queen have the great satisfaction of announcing the marriage engagement of their son, His Royal Highness the Prince of Asturias Don Felipe, with Doña Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano. The marriage proposal will take place at the Zarzuela Palace next Thursday , November 6. The wedding will be celebrated at the beginning of summer 2004 in the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena in Madrid. Palacio de la Zarzuela, November 1, 2003.” This announcement precipitated the entire sequence for the story we experienced later. This anniversary comes to the Kings in Denmark, where they undertake a state visit.

The official engagement of the Prince with the journalist caused an enormous stir, a media impact that convulsed all the newsrooms. We then record the first image of the couple together after this announcement. It was November 3rd. All of Spain knew that there would be a state wedding of the heir and that the chosen one is the presenter of the Telediario. ““Letizia is the woman with whom I want to share my life and start a family,” the Prince revealed that day. Letizia, a journalist, used to speaking in front of a camera, stressed: “The weight and solidity of the deep love we have for each other and the common project we began”. Three days later, on November 6, the marriage proposal was celebrated. It was not in Zarzuela, but in El Pardo. In the same place as on October 31, Leonor celebrated her 18th birthday in an unprecedented and private meeting of the Borbón and Ortiz family.

That November 6, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano chose a snow-white Armani pantsuit. A polished, minimal and very urban design for its official presentation to the country. The same style that his daughter Leonor chose for her historic swearing-in of the Constitution before the Cortes on October 31, for his 18th birthday. I don’t believe in these coincidences. Letizia acts as a guide with her daughters. She also closely measures the image her daughters project and they share dresses, shoes and jewelry. ANDs the emotional closet. For Leonor, the image of a 21st century, modern and feminist princess was sought. For that, she left behind the old protocol of a long dress and ordered a custom-made suit from the Madrid tailor shop Serna. A sign, a detail and a connection between mother and daughter. Modernity has arrived at the palace through two women: the Queen and the future head of state.

That cold morning of the official request Letizia showed us the White gold wedding ring with baguette-cut diamonds. But there was another detail. When he said: “Let me finish”. A phrase that has been repeated ad nauseam and that now, 20 years later, barely has the impact it had then. In order not to lose the thread, you have to take the times into account. Times mark everything. The journalist arrives at Zarzuela on the aforementioned November 1. Only five days later, the presenter reaches all Spaniards and her photograph opens all the news and newspapers. Hence, the impulsive “let me finish” that she threw at Don Felipe without measuring the planetary reach that he had later. We all knew her as the presenter of TVE’s Newscast. On October 31, he hosted what would be his last news program on the public network.. This Monday, November 6, she travels with her husband to Denmark on a three-day state visit. We will be waiting to see if the Kings give us a gesture or a romantic look.