Queen Letizia has long taken a swerve on one very royal action but as she arrived for a special anniversary event, it was all change.
The Queen of Spain has rarely been seen being given a posy of flowers on official engagements – a regular occurrence at most royal events. However, since her marriage to King Felipe VI, in 2004, Letizia hasn’t often been seen receiving flowers.
It’s led to speculation that the Spanish queen might have hay fever or another allergy which means she prefers not to be given flowers.
However, on a visit to the city of Jaen, she was presented with a giant bouquet and seemed happy with the gift.
The gift came as King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived in Jaen and was filled with symbolism. The bouquet was made up of plants from the local area.
The King and Queen of Spain were there to mark the 1,200th anniversary of the establishment of Jaen as a capital. In 825 it was made the capital of the region of Yayyan.
The visit has been much anticipated in the area with the Mayor of Jaen, Julio Millán, also presenting King Felipe VI with the baton of the city council.
There were more gifts for the royal visitors to mark this special anniversary including sweets and olive oil as well as a lithograph by the celebrated Jaen artist, Francisco Carrillo Rodríguez.
King Felipe and Queen Letizia, having left their bouquets behind, walked to the Mudejar Hall where they saw an exhibition marking the anniversary. There was a chance for a walkabout as they made their way through the sunny streets on a perfect spring day.
The royal visitors posed for plenty of selfies as they made their way through the sizeable crowds that had turned out to see them and Queen Letizia couldn’t resist the chance to hold a baby.
The visit also took in the Arab Baths Cultural Centre where the archaeology of the region is celebrated.
The anniversary tour was actually postponed from 2025 when a huge power cut affected much of Spain and Portugal the day before the king and queen were due in Jaen.
