When Letizia Ortiz arrived at La Zarzuela in 2003, she began to understand how the family functioned internally. She witnessed King Juan Carlos’ extramarital affairs while Queen Sofia turned a blind eye, which worried her.
According to Spanish royalty expert Pilar Eyre, before the wedding, Letizia had a serious conversation with Felipe and made it clear: “I will not tolerate any infidelity; I am not like your mother.”
Felipe, who was deeply in love, replied, “I will never cheat on you, because I love you… and because I am not like my father.” That promise marked the beginning of their commitment.
The then-King Juan Carlos did not want Felipe to marry a journalist. He believed Letizia would undermine the monarchy. But his son made it clear that it was her or no one. “If I’m not happy, I can’t be a good king,” he told his father.
At that time, Felipe was still dating Eva Sannum, which helped them mislead the press for months. When Letizia moved to La Zarzuela, she shared a room with her boyfriend while studying History, International Relations, Protocol, and English. She passed everything with honors in record time.
The early years were tough. During a kiss, Letizia asked a worried friend, “Could you get me a spaceship and take me away from all this?” She looked so sad that stories about her circulated, some fabricated, others exaggerated.
Pilar Eyre recalls that Letizia suspected the leaks originated from the palace to divert attention from Juan Carlos’ misconduct and his relationship with Corinna Larsen.
The marriage went through several crises, one so severe that they were separated for a few months.
However, Pilar Eyre firmly states that both have remained true to their vows. “Neither of them, and I can vouch for it, has ever been disloyal.” Today, they are one of the most stable royal marriages on the international stage.
Letizia has become the Spanish monarchy’s most powerful asset, so much so that the Royal Family’s popularity is attributed to her. Felipe proudly and openly acknowledges this. Not even her daughters have managed to eclipse her.