Wedding of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz facts for kids
Quick facts for kids 
Monogram of Felipe and Letizia
as Prince and Princess of Asturias |
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| Date | 22 May 2004 |
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| Venue | Almudena Cathedral, Royal Palace of Madrid |
| Location | Madrid, Spain |
| Participants |
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The wedding of Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz was a very special event in Spain. It happened on May 22, 2004, in the beautiful Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. At that time, Felipe was the heir to the Spanish throne, meaning he would one day become king. Letizia was a journalist.
This wedding was a huge deal because it was the first state wedding in Spain in over 50 years. It was also the first royal wedding in nearly a century! About 25 million people in Spain watched it on TV. More than 1,200 guests came, including members of 36 royal families and leaders from different countries.
Contents
Engagement Announcement
The exact date when Prince Felipe and Letizia started dating is not known. On November 1, 2003, the Royal Household announced that Letizia Ortiz and Prince Felipe were engaged. Prince Felipe proposed with a beautiful 16-carat diamond ring. Letizia gave him special white gold and sapphire cufflinks and a classic book.
The official meeting where the families formally agreed to the marriage happened on November 6, 2003. This took place at the El Pardo Palace.
Pre-Wedding Dinner Gala
The night before the wedding, on May 21, 2004, the royal family hosted a fancy dinner. This special gala dinner was for their guests at the Royal Palace of El Pardo. About 300 guests attended this elegant event.
Prince Felipe and Letizia sat at the main table. They were joined by important guests like the Queen of Denmark and the King and Queen of Norway. Other tables were hosted by King Juan Carlos I and Queen Sofia. Many kings, queens, and presidents from around the world were there. After dinner, guests enjoyed a dance in the Room of the Austrias.
The Wedding Ceremony
The wedding ceremony was planned for around 11:00 in the morning. A special procession was arranged to take the groom to the cathedral. He would then wait for the bride to arrive.
At 10:42 AM, the royal procession left the Royal Palace of Madrid. It was led by an officer and six guards. The procession included many members of the Spanish royal family.
The bride, Letizia, arrived at 11:12 AM in a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV. She had planned to walk, but it was raining heavily. When King Juan Carlos I entered the cathedral, the national anthem of Spain played. The moment when Felipe and Letizia gave their consent to marry was at 11:49 AM. After the ceremony, the newlyweds left the cathedral. They then took a tour through the streets of Madrid.
Wedding Tour of Madrid
After the church ceremony, the new Prince and Princess of Asturias took a special car tour. They rode in a black Rolls-Royce Phantom IV. The car was escorted by the Motorcycle Section of the Royal Guard. They drove through many famous streets in Madrid, like Bailén Street and Gran Vía.
Later, the motorcycle escort was replaced by a horse escort. This included a band of bugles and a cuirassier section. They continued their tour through the Paseo del Prado. The tour ended at the Basilica of Our Lady of Atocha. There, Princess Letizia placed her bridal bouquet before the image of the Virgin of Atocha. This is a traditional custom for Spanish royalty.
After this, the Prince and Princess greeted the large crowds. Then, they returned to the Royal Palace. They waved to the people gathered in the Plaza de Oriente from the palace balcony.
Wedding Banquet
After their tour of Madrid, the newlyweds went to the Royal Palace for a grand banquet. Both King Juan Carlos I and Prince Felipe gave speeches.
The King spoke about the great happiness of the royal family. He asked the new couple to always think of Spain. He encouraged them to serve the Spanish people with love and devotion. Prince Felipe replied, expressing his happiness. He promised that their lives would be dedicated to the well-being of Spaniards. He also thanked both families for their support. The Prince ended his speech with a tribute to those who had passed away.
The royal meal was created by famous Spanish chefs. It included delicious items like Jabugo ham and Manchego cheese. There were also seafood tartlets and roast capon. For dessert, there was a special cake and other treats.
The Wedding Cake
The wedding cake was designed by Spanish cakemaker Francisco Torreblanca. It was a chocolate cake with several layers. Along with the main cake, other desserts were served. One new dessert was called "Royal Gianduja". It combined the favorite flavors of the Prince and Princess.
Wedding Attire
The Bride's Dress
Letizia wore a beautiful empire-style tiara. This was the same tiara that Queen Sofia wore when she got married. Her wedding dress was designed by Manuel Pertegaz. It was white and fitted at the waist. The dress had long sleeves and a wide skirt. It also had a very long train, measuring 4.5 meters (about 15 feet). The train was embroidered with special royal symbols. The dress was made from Valencia silk. It had silver and gold threads woven into it.
The veil was a gift from Prince Felipe. It was made of natural silk tulle in ivory white. It had hand-embroidered designs like the fleur-de-lis. Letizia's shoes were made by designer Pura López.
The Groom's Uniform
Prince Felipe wore the Great Tag suit of the Army. The emblem of the Infantry was embroidered on his collar in gold thread. His cuffs had badges showing his rank as Commander. The Prince also wore the Collar of the Order of the Golden Fleece. This is a very important award. He also wore other military honors.
Guests and Invitations
The official list of wedding guests was not made public. However, Prince Felipe said there were between 1,200 and 1,400 guests.
The invitations were sent out in April 2004. There were three different letters. One was signed by the King and Queen. Another was from the Chief of the Royal Household. The third was from the bride's parents. All the letters were sent in English. The invitations asked guests to the church ceremony and the banquet.
New Titles for the Couple
After their marriage, Letizia received all the titles that belong to the Prince as the heir to the Spanish throne. From then on, they were known as:
- The Prince and Princess of Asturias
- The Prince and Princess of Gerona
- The Prince and Princess of Viana
- The Duke and Duchess of Montblanch
- The Count and Countess of Cervera
- The Lord and Lady of Balaguer
Letizia also received the special title of Royal Highness.
Tribute to Those Remembered
On the morning of the wedding, at 8:00 AM, a special tribute was made. An Army officer and two Royal Guards placed a wreath of flowers. The wreath had the words: "Always in our memory, Felipe and Letizia." This was placed in the Forest of the Absent. This is a place with trees and flowers in the Emperor Charles V square. It is a memorial to those who passed away.
Wedding Coverage
The royal wedding was shown on Spanish public television. It set a national record for the most-watched TV program ever. About 25.1 million people in Spain watched it. This number does not even include the millions who watched it from other countries. This audience was even larger than the weddings of the Prince's sisters.
Around 5,600 news organizations from all over the world covered the wedding. It was estimated that between 1.2 and 2 billion people might have watched it globally.
