Last weekend was unusually eventful and full of contrasts for Infanta Elena, elder sister of King Felipe VI. While all eyes in Seville were on the wedding at the House of Alba, the Duchess of Lugo traveled to the heart of Castile to attend a very different kind of event. She became the guest of honor at the 7th Gastronomic Fair in Labajos, a tiny municipality in the province of Segovia, where officially no more than a hundred people reside.
The highlight of the visit was the presentation of the symbolic award “Golden Chickpea 2025” to the Infanta. This event, organized to promote the local agri-food sector, became a true celebration for the entire region. In addition to sampling traditional chickpea dishes, entertainment was organized for guests, including inflatable attractions, go-karts, and even archery. Infanta Elena personally accepted the honorary prize, delighting both local residents and organizers.
The unusual choice of location for a royal family member’s visit has a simple explanation. The Infanta has a long-standing and close friendship with Rita Allendesalazar y de la Sierva, who owns an estate near Labajos. The head of the municipality, Margarita MeroΓ±o, openly expressed her delight, noting that the Infanta’s acceptance of the award is a huge support for local farmers and a wonderful opportunity to showcase their products nationwide. The friendship between Elena and Rita, the daughter of the former head of the Royal Household’s protocol, began in childhood and grew stronger through shared passions such as horseback riding and bullfighting. Rita has always been one of the main sources of support for the daughters of the honorary king Juan Carlos during the most challenging periods of their lives.
However, the Infanta’s schedule was not limited to the gastronomic festival. The very next day, on Sunday, she reunited with her sister, Infanta Cristina, in the city of TorrejΓ³n de Ardoz. Together, they attended the solemn ‘Flag Dedication’ ceremony, which marked the conclusion of the local patron saint festivities. This was their first public appearance together in over a year, and it immediately drew significant media attention. The event featured a military parade with aerial demonstrations and an impressive parachute jump. This appearance highlighted Infanta Elena’s close ties with the Armed Forces, while her sister Cristina is more closely associated with the field of education.
This busy weekend precedes another important event on the royal family’s calendar. At the parade for Spain’s National Day on October 12, it is expected that the royal couple, their daughters, and the honorary kings will appear together for the first time in nearly five years, ending a period during which official duties prevented the entire family from gathering for a group photograph.
