The Christmas spirit once again fills the Zarzuela Palace. This year, the anticipation surrounding the holidays is especially heartfelt, as Queen Letizia looks forward to reuniting with her daughters, who are coming home for the break. Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía are the main—and most cherished—gift for the royal couple, making these days truly warm and memorable for the Bourbon-Ortiz family.
As the holidays approach, the official schedule of the monarchs becomes less demanding, giving the queen the chance to fully devote herself to family affairs. Although the detailed calendar of December events has yet to be released, it is expected that Queen Letizia will make very few public appearances. One of the final official events of the year is traditionally the meeting of the board of trustees of the Princess of Girona Foundation, which took place last week. The whole country eagerly awaits the annual release of the royal family’s Christmas card with their warm wishes.
Infanta Sofía will arrive in Madrid first. Her holiday break from Forward College in Lisbon, where she studies international relations, begins on December 18 and will last until January 12. Shortly after, on December 20, the heir to the throne, Princess Leonor, will also arrive at the palace. Her leave from the General Air Force Academy in San Javier ends on January 7, right after participating in the Military Epiphany ceremony. The return of both daughters will undoubtedly be the highlight of the season for King Felipe and Queen Letizia.
The holidays promise to be especially heartfelt this year, as the Ortiz Rocasolano family is once again reunited in Madrid. The queen’s mother, Paloma Rocasolano, has returned to the capital after living for several years in Murcia with her partner. Now she, Queen Letizia, and her sister Telma live in the same city and can see each other much more often, especially during the quiet Christmas period on the official calendar. It’s a perfect opportunity for the sisters to support each other, as Telma recently went through a breakup with her partner.
Traditionally, the royal family follows an established routine. Christmas Eve is likely to be spent in a close circle with Paloma Rocasolano and Telma. Christmas Day will be dedicated to Queen Sofia, and Epiphany will be celebrated with Letizia’s father, Jesús Ortiz. For the King and Queen, nothing is more important than seeing their daughters at home, healthy and happy. And this year, they have much to be proud of: Leonor recently completed her first solo flight on a training aircraft, and Sofía will no doubt return from college with excellent grades and plenty of interesting stories.
RUSSPAIN Reference. Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, born in 1972, was a well-known journalist and television presenter before marrying Crown Prince Felipe. She worked for agencies such as EFE and Bloomberg, as well as channels like CNN+ and Televisión Española. After their wedding in 2004, she became Princess of Asturias, and in 2014, following her husband’s accession to the throne, she became the Queen Consort of Spain. Queen Letizia is renowned for her impeccable style and active public life. She oversees projects in the fields of education, healthcare, and culture.
