The Unusual Story of a Television Reporter Who Accidentally Became the Queen of Spain

People
year ago

Going from an ordinary family to becoming a princess, the story of Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, the present Queen of Spain, is a modern fairy tale like the ones we read about in books. Rocasolano’s story, where she pursued her passion for journalism and accidentally became a queen, proves love works in mysterious ways.

She was born in a middle-class family.

Just like in the true Cinderella story, the life of Queen Letizia had nothing to do with royalty — until it did. Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born on September 15, 1972, to a family of a journalist and a nurse, and her grandfather worked as an ordinary taxi driver in Madrid. Later in life, Rocasolano decided to follow in her father’s footsteps, and after finishing high school, she continued her studies in journalism.

She became a successful journalist.

SIPA/EAST NEWS

Rocasolano got her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in different branches of journalism. After her studies, she worked in several big media agencies inside Spain and abroad and managed to build quite a successful career covering the most prominent world events.

She was married before she met the Prince of Spain.

Before meeting Felipe, the Prince of Spain, Rocasolano was married to Alonso Guerrero Pérez, a writer and a high school literature teacher. Even though the marriage didn’t last long and the couple split just a year after, Rocasolano inspired her ex-husband to write a book, El Amor de Penny Robinson (The Love of Penny Robinson). Pérez later admitted that even though the book is considered fiction, it’s based on their story.

The way she and the prince met sounds like a movie plot.

Utrecht Robin/ABACAPRESS.COM/EAST NEWS

In 2002, Rocasolano was still working on one of the TV channels in Spain and couldn’t even imagine how her life would change. Meanwhile, Prince Felipe saw some of her reporting on-screen and fell in love with her. The rumors say that he later asked his journalist friend to introduce them to one another, and the fairy-tale-like love story started there.

They got engaged in 2003 and got married in 2004. Prince Felipe and Rocasolano wed in Madrid, and she wore a fabulous wedding dress from a Spanish designer.

Miguel Cordoba/SIPA/SIPA/East News

As of today, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia have been together for 18 years. They’ve raised 2 daughters together, Princesses Leonor and Sofia.

She is admired for many things, including her sense of style.

Queen Letizia, being the first “common” Queen of Spain, has millions of fans who adore her, among other things, for her sense of style. Queen Letizia is known for her love of affordable fashion. She often attends events wearing non-expensive luxury brands in the form of affordable yet stylish outfits.

Preview photo credit SIPA/EAST NEWS, Abaca Press / Alamy Stock Photo

Comments

Get notifications

Related Reads