The annual presentation of the Princess of Asturias Foundation awards traditionally concludes with a visit to one of the towns in the region that has been named an ‘Exemplary Town.’ This distinction is more than just an honorary title. It brings with it the attention of the royal family—King Felipe, Queen Letizia, and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia—as well as a substantial cash prize of 40,000 euros. For small municipalities, of which there are many in Spain, such a sum provides significant support.
These royal visits are always rich in amusing and touching moments, as interactions with local residents take place in an informal setting. This year, the award went to the village of Valdesoto, and its residents witnessed several humorous situations. The royal couple and Princess Leonor responded to the events with great humor, even when the heir to the throne began receiving rather extravagant marriage proposals from local gentlemen.
Although most of the public’s attention was focused on Princess Leonor, it was her mother, Queen Letizia, known for her natural demeanor and ability to connect with people, who became the central figure of the day. Her visit to a small Asturian town in the municipality of Siero was no exception. Almost immediately upon arrival, she made a remark that instantly drew the attention of her fans and confirmed long-standing speculation about her interest in social media.
This incident suggests that the queen has retained some habits from her previous journalism career. In particular, she appears to actively use the internet to prepare for official events. It became evident that before her visits, Her Majesty browses Instagram for information about the places, events, and people she is about to meet. Otherwise, it would be hard to explain what happened next.
While walking through Valdesoto, the queen approached one of the young residents, 21-year-old Cristina García, and made comments that made it clear she recognized the young woman from her Instagram activity. Cristina is the creator of the popular account “Valdesoto sin filtros,” where she humorously parodies the well-known journalist Gloria Serra and her show “Equipo de Investigación.” Her short videos, dedicated to the village’s preparations for the royal visit, quickly went viral due to their originality and humor.
In her videos, Kristina speaks in the Asturian dialect and uses the most unexpected objects as a microphone, adding even more charm to her work. She is not alone in her videos; other residents of the village also take part in the project. However, it was Kristina whom the queen managed to recognize in the crowd. This brief episode confirmed that Letizia is not just aware of social networks, but is also an active user, likely maintaining one or several anonymous accounts. Some celebrities had previously mentioned that the queen admitted to following their profiles.
