The then Prince of Asturias and Letizia Ortiz announced their engagement to a surprised public and press at the Palacio Real de El Pardo on this day in 2003, 20 years ago, as their relationship had been a well-kept secret.
The Engagement had been announced by the Spanish Royal Court on November 1st, just days after the Prince of Asturias had been photographed with the journalist Letizia Ortiz at the Prince of Asturias Awards.
Two days later, the Prince of Asturias and Letizia Ortiz appeared outside the Residencia del Príncipe for a Press Conference, when the King said:
We are very much in love and we wanted to show together our great joy for our commitment”.
On November 6th, the Prince of Asturias and Letizia Ortiz appeared in front of the Palacio Real de El Pardo, where they exchanged their gifts.
The then Prince of Asturias gave to Letizia Ortiz an eternity ring from Joyería Suarez, made of white gold set with baguette diamonds. The now-Queen of Spain gave to her fiancée a pair of cufflinks with sapphires set in gold.
After the Engagement was announced to the press, the extended Royal Family and Letizia’s Family posed for a group picture, ahead of an intimate family dinner hosted by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the Zarzuela Palace.
King Juan Carlos gave to his future daughter-in-law the Lady Royal Oak watch from the Swiss brand Audemars Piguet.
Queen Sofia gave to Doña Letizia a necklace and a pair of earrings made of pearls, sapphires and diamonds set in white gold, and placed the necklace on her future daughter-in-law’s neck straight away.
Royal Guests and Relatives gathered from around the world for the Wedding Ceremony in the Cathedral Santa María la Real de la Almudena in Madrid in May 2004.
