Wedding of Felipe and Letizia – 22nd May 2004

Crown Prince Felipe and Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano were married on the 22nd May 2004 in the Alumdena Cathedral, Madrid. The orginal festivites for the wedding were cancelled due to the train attacks in Madrid that March. A few days before the wedding on the 17th May the Prime Minister, José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero, and his wife hosted a lunch for the couple. Letizia wore a beautiful yet simple yellow suit with matching accessories by Felipe Varela. image On the eve of the wedding, the King and Queen hosted a dinner in honour of the couple at the Prado Palace. image Letizia choose Lorenzo Caprile to design a dress to match the diamond, sapphire and pearl jewels (once owned by the Countes of Barcelona) that had been an engagement gift. image The off-the–shoulder dress in platinum shantung silk had a stunning crystal encrusted train. image The economical Letizia had the gown later modified and she notably wore it during the French state visit in April 2009. image (alteration 1) image (alteration 2).

Letizia chose the 87-year-old Catalan designer Manuel Pertegaz, a favourite of Queen Sofia, to design her wedding dress. image The simple off-white dress was made of natural silk by the Valencian firm Rafael Catalá. image Pertegaz designed the dress with a continuous shoulder-to-floor cut falling into a 4.5 circular meter train. image The most striking feature of the gown was the high standing collar which had been embroidered with silver and gold thread both inside and outside. image The edging depicted the fleur de lys (from the Prince of Asturias crest), ears of wheat, clover and the fruit of the strawberry tree. image This design was also repeated in a pyramid shape on the train and front of the dress. image The wedding shoes picked up on some of the emblems embroidered on the dress and were made by Pura López. image As Letizia left the cathedral she spoke to Pertegaz saying “Everything is good, thank you.” image

Prince Felipe gave Letizia the veil as a wedding present and it had fleur de lys and ears of wheat woven onto it. image To hold her veil in place, Letizia borrowed the Prussian diamond tiara from the Queen which was also symbolic as it had been used by Sofia for her own wedding to Juan Carlos in 1962. The only other jewellery was a pair of dazzling diamond earrings, a wedding gift from the King and Queen. image

The bouquet was also full of symbolism as it included roses for the month of May, apple blossom for Letizia’s home region of Asturias, ears of wheat for fertility, lilies which are the flower of ther Bourbon dynasty and orange blossoms in honour of the Countess of Barcelona. image The bouquet was presented to the Virgin of Atocha (image) and later Letizia carried a fan which dated back to the end of the 19th century. The fan which included mother of pearl ribs and 17th century Venice-style lacing had once belonged to Princess Isabel of Bourbon. It was chosen personally by Letizia to pay special homage to Madrid and the Spanish Royal Family. image

The bride was attended by four pageboys (Felipe’s nephews Froilan, Juan, Pablo and Miguel) and three flower girls (Felipe’s niece Victoria, Letizia’s niece Carla Vigo Ortiz and Victoria Lopez Quesada Borbon-Dos Sicilias). image The two older bridesmaids were Victoria Cordorniu Alvarez de Toledo and Claudia Gonzalez Ortiz. image All the attendants wore white and gold outfits designed by Lorenzo Caprile who was inspired by the 19th century Court paintings of Goya. image (with Carla and Victoria) image

The wedding dress along with those worn by Queen Sofia, Infanta Elena and Infanta Christina were put on display at the Museum in the Royal Palace of Aranjuez. image, image

More information and pictures can be found at this thread and for the pre-wedding dinner at this thread.

Filed under Spain
Tagged Fashion, Felipe VI of Spain, Prussian Diamond Tiara, Queen Letizia of Spain, Wedding, Wedding Anniversary.

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