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Queen Letizia of Spain

Queen Letizia of Spain (born Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano on 15 September 1972) is the queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Felipe VI.

By Ethan Anderson| Reviewed by Olivia Bennett, Standards & Fact-Checking Lead| Updated July 26, 2026|2 min read| Fact-checked

Queen Letizia of Spain (born Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano on 15 September 1972) is the queen consort of Spain as the wife of King Felipe VI. She became queen on 19 June 2014 upon her husband's accession to the throne. Before entering royal life, she worked as a journalist and news anchor, and she is noted as the first Spanish queen to have been born a commoner.

Early life and career

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born in Oviedo, Asturias, and later worked as a journalist and news anchor before joining the Spanish royal family. She studied information science and audiovisual journalism.

Marriage and accession

She married Felipe, then Prince of Asturias, in 2004. When King Juan Carlos I abdicated in June 2014, Felipe became king and Letizia became queen consort.

Role as queen consort

As consort of the reigning monarch, Letizia has no separate constitutional powers of her own. She represents the Crown at public engagements and is involved with charities and organizations.

Public image and patronage

Letizia is publicly associated with social issues including education, health, culture, children’s rights, and nutrition. She has also served as FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition.

Key facts

  • Queen Letizia is the wife of King Felipe VI and queen consort of Spain since 19 June 2014.
  • Before marriage, she worked as a journalist and news anchor.
  • She is the first Spanish queen to have been born a commoner.
  • She is involved in public work focused on charities, education, health, and international cooperation.
  • She and Felipe VI have two daughters, Leonor and Sofía.
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Canadian context

Canadian readers may know Queen Letizia through international coverage of the Spanish royal family, especially her public appearances on education, health, and humanitarian issues.

Frequently asked questions

Who is Queen Letizia of Spain?
She is the queen consort of Spain and the wife of King Felipe VI.
What was Queen Letizia’s name before marriage?
Her birth name is Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano.
When did she become queen of Spain?
She became queen on 19 June 2014, when Felipe VI acceded to the throne.
What did Queen Letizia do before becoming royalty?
She worked as a journalist and news anchor in Spain.
Does Queen Letizia have constitutional powers?
As queen consort, she does not have constitutional functions of her own unless she becomes regent.
How many children does she have?
She has two daughters: Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía.

References

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Queen_Letizia_of_Spain
    Supports: Birth name, birth place, marriage, accession date, role as queen consort, and public duties.
  2. Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations — https://www.fao.org/goodwill-ambassadors/ambassadors-and-champions/her-majesty-queen-letizia/en
    Supports: Her background, marriage to Felipe VI, and role as FAO Special Goodwill Ambassador for Nutrition.
  3. The Independent — https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/royal-family/queen-letizia-spain-age-felipe-daughter-b2396168.html
    Supports: Commoner background, accession in 2014, and focus on social issues.
  4. IMDb — https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1474562/bio/
    Supports: Birth details, journalist and news anchor career, and children.