There’s something about Queen Letizia that has always struck me, and it’s not just that she looks flawless at every event. The thing is, at 53, she has a physique that many 30-year-olds would envy.
Toned arms, a strong back, and solid posture. None of that is luck or pure genetics. There’s a routine behind it, and it’s quite demanding.
What sports does Queen Letizia do to get that athletic body?
The Queen does a combination of different activities. Her daily routine includes stationary biking, yoga, Pilates, stretching, and strength training. But there is one activity that is more surprising than the rest: climbing.
It’s not widely known, but it is said that she requested that a climbing wall be installed at the Zarzuela Palace so she could practice climbing without being on public display. This makes perfect sense when you understand the benefits of the sport: it works the shoulders, back, arms, and legs at the same time, requires total concentration, and, according to several studies, lowers cortisol levels.
The Perricone diet: the other cornerstone of Letizia’s self-care routine
Exercise is only part of the picture. The Queen has also been linked to the Perricone diet, which was developed by the American dermatologist Nicholas Perricone.
Interestingly, this diet wasn’t created for weight loss, but to improve the skin from the inside out, with an anti-aging and anti-inflammatory focus.
Salmon is the undisputed star of the diet, but it also includes chicken, turkey, tofu, spinach, oats, berries, avocado, extra-virgin olive oil, and green tea. It’s nothing out of the ordinary, but it does provide a pretty solid foundation if followed over time.
This isn’t a 30-day challenge or a period of intense exercise before summer. It’s a lifestyle that combines daily exercise, an anti-inflammatory diet, and, it seems, a sport as well-rounded as climbing.