SUPPORT OUR JOURNALISM: Please consider donating to keep our website running and free for all - thank you!

Spain

Queen Letizia returns to one of her favourite sectors

Queen Letizia undertook one of her favourite engagements and officially opened Madrid’s Book Fair, hosted in Buen Retiro Park. 

Donning a bright pink dress, the Queen arrived at the park on the morning of Friday, 27 May and was welcomed, among others, by the Minister of Education, Pilar Alegría, and the Mayor of Madrid, José Luis Martínez-Almeida. 

Out of the 378 stands that make up this year’s edition of the Fair, Queen Letizia visited 14 of them; some were publishers’ stands (like Editorial Reino de Cordelia or Editorial Galaxia Gutenberg), while others were focused on geographic areas (like Madrid’s Municipality Pavilion, Portugal Space or Europe Pavilion). 

On her tour, she also made a stop at the stands for the Ministry of Culture and Sports, the Cía and Cervantes Library, many smaller libraries and even the Children Pavilion Madrid’s Book Fair. 

Queen Letizia is very much involved with children’s literature, as is evidenced by her annual presence at the award ceremony for “El Barco de Vapor” and “Gran Angular” prizes, which recognise authors of children’s literature. 

This year’s edition of the Madrid Book Fair is titled “Hojea el Mundo” (“Browse the world” in English) and will take place between 27 May and 12 June in one of Madrid’s landmarks. 

Since its foundation in 1933, the fair has only grown, so much so that, in 1967, it had to be moved from Paseo de Recoletos to Buen Retiro Park, where it is still being held today. In 2019, the event expanded to also include sections focused on Latin America, which increased the cultural ties between all countries that share the Spanish language as a common heritage.

The fair is dedicated to the promotion of bookshops, libraries, public and private entities, and editors, all of whom contribute to elevating “books, reading and the activity” of said actors. 

Queen Letizia is expected to welcome leaders in Madrid for a NATO summit on the 30th before travelling to the Islamic Republic of Mauritania for a cooperation trip from 31 May until 2 June.