Biography of Letizia Ortiz | Young journalist converted into Princess of Asturias and future Queen of Spain

The story of a young journalist converted into Princess of Asturias and future Queen of Spain after her wedding with Prince Philip.

Childhood in Asturias

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born on September 15, 1972 in Oviedo, daughter of nurse Paloma Rocasolano, Madrid, and Asturian journalist Jesús Ortiz, founder of antenna 3 Radio in the Principality and director until 1987; He is currently divorced and maintains a relationship with the journalist Ana Togores. Maternal grandparents, Francisco Rocasolano and Enriqueta Rodríguez, live in Alicante. His paternal grandfather, José Luis Ortiz, was married to the popular announcer of Radio Oviedo and Radio National Menchu Alvarez del Valle, who perhaps instilled her granddaughter Letizia passion for journalism, when the girl went to dancer.

Letizia attended primary education in the public school Gesta de Oviedo, where her sisters did: Telma, who works in an organization not gubernalmental in Jerusalem, and Erika, already married and with a son. After Letizia studied at the Institute of Alfonso II, where she received ballet classes three days per week. When he was fifteen years old, the family moved to Madrid for business reasons of the father. Ramiro de Maeztu there continued his studies at the Institute, where finished high school and fell in love with the Professor of literature, the Extremadura Alonso Guerrero Pérez, which kept a long courtship until they married civilly in August 1998.

Felipe and Letizia waving from the Royal Palace

But twelve months after the wedding, both agreed to dissolve the marriage, not long after that Alonso (who, in 2003, exercised his profession in Guadalajara) had finished his latest book: short man, who says the collapse of a writer faced with divorce. This separation was joined at the same time another perhaps more painful for Letizia: their parents.

Tenacious journalist

At the age of eighteen Letizia had entered at the Complutense University, where he graduated in journalism. Even in College, he began to work at Abc and the Efe Agency, which joined the International Edition, last year's race. Then, between 1992 and 1993 was intern in the newspaper the new Spain's Oviedo, where he made their practices in the areas of economy, television and entertainment, at a time where he had strengthened his passion for reading. After you successfully held a master's degree in audiovisual information and moved for a year to Mexico, where he attended doctoral studies, while working at the newspaper Siglo 21 in Guadalajara (Jalisco), which completed his training, although he did not read his doctoral thesis.

Letizia began his television takeoff on the news channel CNN +, of the Prisa group, where he became one of the faces of the founding team, along with Marta Fernández. He was there for two years on the morning shift, which began its broadcast at 5 o'clock in the morning. By then he had already left to live with his mother to the Moratalaz district.

In 2000, he joined Spanish Television, where in the summer replaced Baltasar Magro weekly report, until September 2003 he began to reach four million spectators each day at nine o'clock in the evening news. After his commitment to the Prince, many reminded her also as Special Envoy in the attacks of September 11, the Iraq war or the Prestige disaster. But your professional image highlighted especially in the delivery of the Prince of Asturias Awards this last year, when Felipe de Borbón shook hands with him while both lovers barely they could hide his complicity.

In his new home in the District of Valdebernardo, where he moved in late 2001, collects books novel and essay. Also has a passion for film, to the point that has made a brief foray into the cinema with the short call from angel.

The commitment

Felipe and Letizia met in mid-2002, during a dinner in casa de Pedro Erquicia, director of documents TV. It seems that the heir to the throne was captivated the journalist, and has transcended the relationship continued and was consolidated in the spring of 2003, to the point that in summer both spent a few days on vacation abroad. Then continued looking at intimate friend of don Felipe, both in Madrid and in Barcelona. On this occasion, the Royal House forged a security plan so that it does not transcend the relationship until it considers suitable. And it worked, because the surprise that was the announcement of the engagement, on Saturday, November 1, was in all areas.

The proposal of marriage, with all inherent in the Act Protocol, took place on November 6, but three days before the promised were presented for the first time, caught in hand, before a small group of reporters in the garden of the new House of Prince, who quite naturally said smiling: "gives Me a lot of joy express the love I'm Letizia. She is the woman that I want to get married, and meets all the requirements to assume the responsibilities of Princess of Asturias and next Queen of Spain".

Before the altar of the Catedral de la Almudena

The choice of Letizia was well accepted by the Spanish public, who ran the press with special pages dedicated to him by his fellow journalists, who played a decisive role in her the fact acquired a veneer of normality and, above all, so that it may be construed as a symbol of the democratic maturity of the Spaniards and of the will of the monarchy to be close to the people taking advantage of the decision of the Prince - with the consent of the Kings Juan Carlos and Sofia – to further strengthen the role of the monarchy in the future that are presumed to be uncertain for much of European royalty.

Princess of Asturias to the Queen of Spain

After the wedding, Princess Letizia joined the tight schedule of Prince Philip. 17th of July 20, 2004 the new grooms moved to Mexico to perform his first official trip, and as he gained more confidence and experience in the profession of Princess, Letizia progressively abandoned the role of mere consort of Prince, presiding over one part of the acts. Thus, in 2005 he made his first official speech, and in 2006, as reported by the Royal House, launched an agenda of activities with the opening of the College that bears his name in Pozuelo de Alarcón.

On October 31, 2005, fifteen months after the wedding, Princess Letizia gave birth to their first daughter: the infanta Leonor, heir to the throne Spanish in their status as firstborn. The second daughter of the Royal marriage was born on April 29, 2007 and received the name of his grandmother: the infanta Sofía. The Royalists who had suffered prolonged singleness of Prince Philip breathed quiet. Meanwhile, and once fulfilled his duties as mother, Letizia was gaining greater prominence in trips abroad; in 2008 chaired solo acts of the visit of the Prince to Poland, and in 2010 made his first official trip (to Berlin) without the company of Prince Philip.

After a few years in which abounded the speculation about the delicate state of health of the King and that the image of the Crown had been blurred by various scandals (case Noos, involving Iñaki Urdangarín and the Infanta Cristina, and the painful picture of a monarch of safari in Botswana in the midst of a devastating economic crisis) on June 2, 2014 announced his intention to abdicate in favour of Prince Felipe, destined to reign as Felipe VI of Spain Juan Carlos I. How in the old tales, although without having to discover a heretofore hidden noble origin, Letizia aunque sin necesidad de descubrir_ le un hasta ahora oculto origen noble, letizia paso spent thus person running Queen of Spain, opening an expectation of recovery for the battered reputation of the monarchy.

Chronology of Letizia Ortiz

1972	Born in Oviedo.
1987	He moved to Madrid with his family. He studied high school at the Instituto Ramiro de Maeztu from Madrid.
1988	He began the career of journalism at the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, where ends up graduating.
1992-93	He works as an intern in the journal The new Spain 's Oviedo.
1995	He studied the PhD in Mexico. At the same time he works for a newspaper in Guadalajara.
1998	He made his debut on television in the News CNN + channel
1998	After a long courtship he marries civil with Alonso Guerrero, Professor of literature who he had met at the Institute.
1989	It divorces. The marriage lasted 12 months. That same year his parents divorce. Letizia returns to his mother's House.
2000	Joined Spanish Television, first in the weekly report program and then sent special in various conflicts (September 11, the Iraq war).
2002	Known personally to Prince Philip, who, they say, was captivated with Letizia. The relationship is strengthened and, against all odds, manages to keep it secret.
2003	It happens to be host of the news of the night in Spanish Television. On 1 November the Royal House is given to meet the commitment of marriage between Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz. On November 6 the proposal of marriage ceremony takes place.
2004	On 22 May is celebrated the Royal Wedding between Prince Felipe, heir to the Spanish Crown and Letizia Ortiz.
2005	Born the infanta Leonor, heir to the throne of Spain.
2007	Born infanta Sofía.
2014	After the abdication of Juan Carlos I, Felipe and Letizia are proclaimed Kings of Spain.

Letizia Ortiz and ka Royal Wedding

Prince Felipe de Borbón

The Prince of Asturias and heir to the Crown of Spain was born in Madrid on January 30, 1968, at the clinic of our Lady of Loreto. It is the third child and first male of the Kings of Spain Juan Carlos I and Sofía of Greece.

The first public appearances of Prince Felipe with official occurred in 1975, on the occasion of the proclamation as King of his father Juan Carlos I. In 1977 he received the titles of Prince of Asturias, Prince of Gerona and Prince of Viana. These titles are those who traditionally corresponded to the heirs of the kingdoms of Castile, Aragon and Navarre. In addition, were granted him the titles of Duke of Montblanc, count of Cervera and Lord of Balaguer.

Coinciding with his coming of age, on January 30, 1986, he swore fidelity to the Constitution and the King before the Executive and legislative branches, and the representatives of the institutions of the State. From the moment he assumed the institutional functions of the heir to the Crown.

Sofía carries the Prince at the altar

He was educated in the schools of Santa Elena and Santa María de los Rosales, where he attended primary school and BUP, trying as far as possible be educated in the same way as the rest of his companions, without receiving special treatment by his office. In 1984, after completing his studies, he joined the Lockfield College School in Toronto (Canada), where he received a special award for his studies.

From September 1985 to July 1988, Felipe de Borbón carried out his military studies, in which passed by the various arms of the army. In 1992 he was promoted to captain in the air force, and from January 30, 1993 is Captain of the Spanish army, infantry weapon.

On the civil side, between October 1988 and June 1993, he started his studies at the Autonomous University of Madrid. These went to the degrees of law and economics, in addition to teaching of computer science and history. In September 1993 he began an MA in international relations at the Catholic Georgetown University, one of the most prestigious in the United States. In 1995 he graduated.

Prince Philip is a consummate athlete and practice among other sports squash and skiing, but in which stands out the most is the candle. Their classifications in the World Championship allowed him to be present in Barcelona as a member of the Spanish Olympic team, for which he was selected. His boat got the victory, in March 1992, in the Olympic classes sailing Spain Cup, which ensured its classification for the Olympics.

The Prince keeps routinely encounters with key institutions of the State as a means to learn its operation. It is also frequent to their attendance at various meetings of bodies of the State administration. He received in audience a multitude of personalities, both national and foreign, in order to stay informed about the political, social, economic and cultural reality that surrounds him. It also makes numerous official foreign trips. In addition, it is Honorary President of several associations and foundations, such as the Prince of Asturias Foundation, chaired by annually during the delivery of the prestigious Prince of Asturias Awards.

The Royal Wedding

On 1 November 2003, the Royal House announced the engagement between Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz. Five days later, the couple formalized the commitment to an official act of proposal of marriage which gathered in the Palace of El Pardo 350 accredited journalists. The bride and groom and their families then shared a lunch at La Zarzuela.

Felipe de Borbón and Letizia Ortiz got married on May 22, 2004, in the Cathedral of Santa María la Real de la Almudena de Madrid. The wedding was attended by representatives of thirty Royal houses and fifteen Heads of State, and 1,700 guests.

The nine began arriving guests at the Cathedral. An hour later they were members of the Government and Chairmen of autonomous regions, members of royalty and most illustrious guests followed. The rain, which fell with force from 11 o'clock in the morning, time in which began the ceremony, marked the day. The ceremony was rather grey, wrapped perhaps in remembrance of the recent fundamentalist attacks of the 11-M in Madrid, causing 200 victims. The audience in the courtyard of the Armory had to run to shelter from the rain and had to improvise measures to protect the bride and groom and guests of the water. Letizia Ortiz arrived at the Cathedral a Rolls, rather than walk, as planned, to protect it from the downpour. The same thing happened at the end of the ceremony, when it was necessary to prepare several buses to transport guests.

Most of the guests wore hats and headdresses and men wore morning coats clean, except the representatives of trade unions, dark suit, military and representatives of Arab countries. Black Knights Miguel Bose and the Prince Carlos de Inglaterra were exceptions with their models in the grey. Among the guests, was conspicuous by his absence Ernesto de Hannover, which had attended the gala dinner of the night before: Princess Carolina of Monaco came alone to the Cathedral.

Felipe and Letizia in their honeymoon trip

Felipe de Borbón, with his uniform of the army, waited for his bride at the foot of the altar, somewhat more than expected, where he received it with a kiss. Letizia, dressed by Pertegaz, bowed on arrival to the Kings.

The celebration was officiated by the Archbishop of Madrid, Antonio María Rouco Varela. It was a little emotional ceremony with few exceptions. The Kings held the rate and no one, not even the bride shed a single tear. The glances of complicity, hands touching and gestures of the bride and groom made up the few emotional moments. TVE was widely criticized in this regard.

After the ceremony, already Princes of Asturias abandoned the temple caught the arm. The promotion army Don Felipe's coworkers who formed an arch of sabers waited les in the door. After a stop at the Royal Palace, the Princes marched through the streets of Madrid. The ride began with rain and ended in sunshine, allowing that many locals and visitors are encouraged to take to the streets to accompany the couple. After making their way back by the same route, the Princes came to the courtyard of the Armory and came onto the balcony of the Royal Palace to greet the crowd. After family photos, remarriage and their guests celebrated the banquet in the Royal Palace.

Extracted from the website: Biografías y Vidas