Queen Letizia and King Felipe have marked a milestone with their new portraits, which are now on display at the Bank of Spain.
The stunning photographs, taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz in February, are finally available to the public after a long nine-month wait.
The photos are, without a doubt, spectacular. Letizia appears wearing a dress from a private Balenciaga collection, complemented with diamond jewelry.
Felipe, meanwhile, wears an elegant military suit. Although the portraits have been generally well received, there has been no shortage of criticism, especially directed towards the queen.
Criticism of the official portrait of Queen Letizia
Although King Felipe has managed to avoid the initial criticisms, Letizia has once again been the center of attention.
From experts in the Royal Household to social media users and television commentators, many have expressed their opinions about the photographs.
The magazine Lectura has highlighted certain criticisms: “She’s not a queen, she’s a Hollywood star”, some have stated, referring to Letizia’s choice not to wear a tiara in the images.
This decision to dispense with ostentatious jewelry and focus on the dress, cape, and setting has generated controversy.
A journalist on a Spanish program commented that “if we didn’t know them, the king would look like a king to us, but the queen doesn’t look like a queen. It is a portrait more of an aristocrat than a monarch.”
It is worth noting that, according to the Royal House, it was Annie Leibovitz who chose for Letizia not to wear a tiara, even though she arrived with one to the photo shoot.
An expert in the Royal House emphasized that the lack of the crown is evident:
“The king is the king, and she is a luminous woman. I’m missing a tiara, but that was Annie Leibovitz’s choice.”
However, the reaction on social media has not been entirely favorable, with comments such as “Letizia looks gorgeous, but she looks like a Hollywood actress, not a queen.”
Despite the anticipation they generated, it seems that the queen’s style has not entirely convinced some viewers.
It is important to note that these portraits are not official but were commissioned by the Bank of Spain for display in the royal portrait gallery.
In any case, these portraits have not only revolutionized the concept of the monarchical image but have also sparked an interesting debate on the representation and perception of royals today.