Queen Letizia of Spain travelled to San Millán de la Cogolla, in the Autonomic Community of La Rioja, to preside over the closing act of the International Seminar of Language and Journalism.
Her Majesty travelled to the Monastery of Yuso accompanied by the Minister of Science and Innovation, Diana Morant Ripoll, because the title of this year’s conference was “Scientific hoaxes: journalism and language as defence weapons.”
Upon her arrival on Wednesday, 6 October, the Queen was welcomed by the President of the La Rioja Autonomic Community and President of the San Millán de la Cogolla Foundation Concepción Andreu, the President of the La Rioja Parliament Jesús María García, the Government Representative in La Rioja Autonomic Community María Marrodán, the Mayor of San Millán Raquel Fernández, and the President of FundéuRAE and Director of the Spanish Royal Academy Santiago Muñoz.
Following interventions from the authorities that were present, the President of FundéuRAE moderated the debate “CoViD, dissemination and scientific journalism: the challenges of the pandemic,” that featured a discussion between members of the healthcare community who also took it to social media to make their voices heard, as well as academics and members of the scientific community at large.
To close the act, Her Majesty spoke a few words, thanking the organisers for an event that gives food for thought about the role the information apparatus plays in keeping society safe, but also how communication is evolving.
Following a photo opportunity with the authorities, Queen Letizia met with some of the participants in the court of the monastery before heading back home.
Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was a well-known face in Spain’s journalism in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She was famously the reporter who covered the US invading Iraq in 2003 for TVE, Spain’s public television. The images made headlines shortly after, when, in November of the same year, the Royal House announced her engagement to the Prince of Asturias (now King Felipe), meaning that she was already in a relationship with the heir to the Spanish throne when she travelled in a war zone. She has never hidden her passion for journalism since becoming a member of the Royal Family and has often been seen greeting her old colleagues with warmth and friendliness whenever she meets them in official events.
