The career trajectory of Queen Letizia of Spain shifted from the rigorous field of international journalism to her current constitutional role as consort following the 2014 abdication of King Juan Carlos I. Before joining the Spanish royal household, she served as a news anchor for RTVE and reported on major global events including the 9/11 attacks.
Journalism and Broadcasting
Born in Oviedo in 1972, Letizia pursued a career in media after graduating from the Faculty of Information Sciences at the Complutense University of Madrid. Her early professional experience included roles at the newspaper Siglo 21 in Mexico and the news agency EFE. Between 2000 and 2003, she was a central figure at the state broadcaster RTVE, where she eventually anchored Telediario 2. Her reporting spanned critical geopolitical moments, including the war in Iraq and the 2002 Prestige oil tanker disaster in northern Spain.
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Letizia Ortiz married Felipe, Prince of Asturias, on 22 May 2004 in the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. The marriage followed the announcement of their engagement in November 2003. This followed a previous marriage to Alonso Guerrero Pérez, which lasted from 1998 until their 1999 divorce. Since 2014, she has held the position of Queen Consort of Spain. The couple has two daughters, Leonor and Sofía, born in 2005 and 2007 respectively.
Official Duties and Representation
As queen consort, Letizia holds no constitutional power, which limits her to a representative role. She serves as a public face for the Spanish Agency for International Development and Cooperation, frequently traveling to oversee humanitarian efforts. She maintains memberships in the Academy of Television and Audiovisual Arts and Sciences of Spain and the Asociación de la Prensa de Madrid, reflecting her background in communication.
Fast facts
- Born: 1972, Oviedo
- Consort of Spain: 2014
- Education: Complutense University of Madrid
- Languages: Spanish
- Religion: Catholicism
- Notable Award: Grand Cross of the Order of Charles III
- Nationality: Spain
Questions readers ask
Does Queen Letizia have constitutional functions?
No, as the consort of the monarch, she is constitutionally prohibited from performing such functions unless she assumes the role of regent.
What was her profession before marriage?
She was a journalist and television news anchor, working for employers including EFE, Grupo PRISA, and RTVE.
Achievements
- Grand Cross of the National Order of Merit
- Affiliated with Grupo PRISA, Agencia EFE and Vocento
- Worked as journalist, television presenter and aristocrat
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