Let’s Level With Letizia

Felipe has a Law Degree, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Georgetown University and speaks four languages fluently.

On June 12th, in Rome, Queen Letizia of Spain will be named Special Ambassador for the FAO (the UN Food and Agriculture Organization). Exactly one week later both she and her husband King Felipe will complete their first year as sovereigns of Spain, since on June 19th, 2014, Juan Carlos abdicated –after 40 years on the throne– in favor of the heir apparent (his third and only male child). In a country where for centuries monarchs have reigned supreme but not supremely well, this couple’s role will be decisive in the 21st century.

The Royal Family –which had seemed to be a group of levelheaded and responsible people– is gravely affected by the Spanish corruption syndrome, after Princess Cristina and her husband have been accused of setting up a money-laundering scheme and King Juan Carlos was caught hunting elephants in Botswana, invited by one of his millionaire Arab friends, while his country suffered the most severe economic crisis in decades. Fortunately, Felipe has not been involved in the money-avid craze that seems to have poisoned Spain, from the Royals to the last petty politician. The king’s only apparent fault is –in this country where snobbery has just gone mainstream– to have married a plebeian –as the local press insists on calling her– instead of an aristocrat. 

Felipe has a Law Degree, a Master’s Degree in International Relations from Georgetown University and speaks four languages fluently. Letizia has a degree in Journalism, a Master’s Degree in Audiovisual Journalism, speaks English and was a successful journalist before she married. Both are the first Spanish monarchs to have gone to university. Spain is extremely lucky to have them as international ambassadors. Hopefully we’ll be seeing more of Queen Letizia’s serious cosmopolitan side and less of her anxious fashion-aware persona.