Two years after the passing of influential businessman Fernando Fernández Tapias, who died at the age of 84, his legacy was honored at a special evening event. The ceremony, organized by the Madrid Business Confederation (CEIM) to mark 40 years of his leadership, brought together family, friends, and prominent figures from the Spanish business world. Among those paying tribute to the former vice president of Real Madrid was also Jesús Ortiz, father of Queen Letizia.
The presence of the journalist from Asturias, who usually avoids the public eye, drew particular attention. Also present were the businessman’s widow, Nuria González, and their youngest children, Iván and Alma, who couldn’t hold back their emotions during the moving speeches about their father. The widow expressed deep gratitude for the organization of the memorial evening, highlighting how important it was for her children to hear such warm words about their father—helping them to better understand and remember his impact, since they were still very young during his most active years.
The reason behind Jesús Ortiz’s presence at this event lies in their mutual acquaintance—Lalo Ascona. This successful Asturian journalist, who later became a prominent businessman, was not only a close friend of the late Fernández Tapias, but also a longtime colleague of the queen’s father. It was at the communications agency led by Ascona that Jesús Ortiz worked after his family moved to the capital in the late 1980s. This long-standing professional connection explains his decision to attend the memorial evening. Notably, Ascona was among those who defended Tapias’s business reputation in court, denying rumors about his cognitive decline.
Currently, Jesús Ortiz leads a quiet life in the Madrid suburb of Pozuelo de Alarcón with his second wife, journalist Ana Togores. He keeps a low profile and avoids commenting on matters related to the royal family. The only exception to this rule occurred many years ago when, after the announcement of his daughter’s engagement to Crown Prince Felipe, he participated in a television program. At that time, he spoke warmly of Letizia, describing her as one of the most caring, determined, and well-read people he knows. Since then, the queen’s father has maintained strict silence regarding the monarchy, appearing alongside the royal family only at official family events.
