ORQueen Letizia’s gesture served as a signal so that his daughters Leonor and Sofía left their chair at the official lunch for the anniversary of King Felipe’s proclamation and went to the center of the room to surprise their father. The queen was aware of every movement of her daughters and followed her phrases with her head, as if she had previously rehearsed them herself. It was not the first time that the queen orchestrated a ‘spontaneous’ moment within the Zarzuela protocol.
In recent years, there have been frequent times in which the queen has told her daughters where to stand, she has changed places with assistants to respect the strict rules that govern royal events or she has tightened her expression when she has verified that something is wrong. It was coming out as it should. Within the Royal House, there is no greater expert in protocol than the queen herself. Letizia takes the lead in many of the changes that have occurred in the last ten years.
There have been several experts who have wanted to point out the queen as the engine of change. An evolution that, in recent months, has picked up speed. We have been able to see how the kings are closer, their daughters take center stage and the demands are relaxing. Zarzuela opens to new airs.
“Queen Letizia is the great thinking head”
Gloria Campos, protocol expert, did not hesitate to affirm what many think. “You can’t imagine how Letizia has helped make all these things work,” she says. What are all these things? Following the strict protocol that governs the actions of the Royal House is complicated. Many experts, in fact, maintain contrary versions when it comes to acts that, in many cases, had never occurred before.
“I think the people who denigrate Queen Letizia are unaware of it”, he explained during his speech in ‘Better late’. The queen’s plebeian origin has been one of the great criticisms leveled at her from the most noble circles. Letizia’s origins, her humble family and having grandparents with common professions were ugly. No one could imagine that, some time later, she would be the member of Zarzuela with the most global vision.
“In these ten years it has been the shadow that has been determining many important developments in the protocol and in the view of the Royal House and in the speeches,” he says. Campos describes Letizia as “the great thinking head” in matters of protocol of the Royal House. And not only in that. Many of the changes that have been made clearly have the queen’s touch.
The last formal acts of Queen Letizia
The control with which Letizia approaches each of her official appearances has also been a source of ridicule and criticism. The queen, professional if ever there was one, not only prepares her speeches, but she is interested in the attendees, studies the topic and highlights the journalistic past that she has marked her so much. Letizia asks a lot, she always stands out. Everything that happens around him makes him curious.
It is logical that, in addition, he pays special attention to what happens in the events and makes decisions so that mistakes are not repeated. It has been especially at the events where her daughters have been where the more ‘controlling’ Letizia has made an appearance. The queen is concerned about the correction of the Princess of Asturias and Infanta Sofía. So much so that it has not been strange to see her repeating the words of her daughters’ speeches in the audience.
This attitude, which has been criticized from circles that are not friendly to the queen, has also meant that all Royal Family events occur smoothly and organically. Letizia indicates with gestures and movements where each person has to go and how they should behave. She doesn’t usually miss one.
The secret gestures of Kings Felipe and Letizia
In reference to their latest appearances, the code that Kings Felipe and Letizia usually carry out at events came to light to indicate that they must continue with their agenda. Always attentive, the kings never show discomfort when faced with questions and always appear correct and interested. However, their many events mean that they cannot dedicate the necessary time to each of the attendees.
That’s when the kings, both Felipe and Letizia, they make the gesture of looking at an imaginary watch on their wrist. It is the way of telling the other that it is time to abandon the act and leave. The queen also usually looks at her daughters and her husband to indicate to them that they should continue with her day. A code that prevents Zarzuela staff from addressing the kings to tell them how much time they have left in the middle of their private circles.
