Queen Letizia has received an unexpected blow after the decision of Princess Charlene of Monaco became known. Albert of Monaco's wife has broken her usual discretion to implicitly confirm the personal distance she keeps from the Spanish monarch. This gesture has surprised many, but it has caused particular discomfort at Zarzuela, where they didn't expect such an obvious disagreement to come to light.
Charlene has always been a reserved figure within the European royal scene. Since she married Albert of Monaco in 2011, she has preferred to stay away from the more affectionate public relations among royals. Over the years, her distant attitude has fueled numerous rumors, especially about her lack of affinity with other royal consorts.
The South African, often nicknamed the "sad princess," has never cultivated close ties with figures like Máxima of the Netherlands or Mathilde of Belgium. With Letizia, that coldness has turned over time into a more obvious tension. Unlike other queens who usually keep up appearances and protocol, Charlene hasn't hesitated to show her lack of interest.
One of the clearest episodes occurred during Albert of Monaco's visit to Madrid in October 2022. While the Monegasque sovereign participated in events with the kings of Spain, Charlene's absence was seen as a sign of rejection. Although official reasons cited scheduling conflicts, her absence didn't go unnoticed.
Months later, both coincided at an audience in the Vatican that only confirmed suspicions. Queen Letizia took the first step to greet her, but Charlene's attitude was cold and rigid. Royal house expert Cristian Salomoni described that scene as clear proof that cordiality doesn't exist between them.
The decision of kings Felipe and Letizia
Previous gestures have made a deep impact at Zarzuela, where they continue to bet on keeping the image of institutional respect among monarchies. Letizia, very careful with her role, hasn't wanted to fuel the conflict or comment on it. However, Charlene's recent move, breaking her usual silence, has been interpreted as a direct provocation.
According to sources close to the matter, Letizia's discomfort is based on comments that the Princess of Monaco has allegedly made in private circles. Apparently, Charlene doesn't hesitate to speak ill of the Spanish queen, even going so far as to belittle her. These attitudes have ended up breaking any possibility of understanding between the two.
In this context, the Spanish royal house has also kept its distance in a subtle but significant way. On its official Instagram account, it follows most European royal houses, but not the Prince's Palace of Monaco. This omission has caught the attention of experts, who see in this gesture a clear sign of the deterioration of relations.
The poor relationship between Queen Letizia and Charlene of Monaco
It's also no secret that Letizia's circle perceives Charlene as an unreliable figure. Her coldness is compounded by an alleged indifference to protocol rules, which has made the Spanish kings uncomfortable more than once. For all these reasons, the relationship between the two women seems to have cooled to an irreversible point.
Beyond institutional matters, this situation has been a personal disappointment for Letizia. The queen had tried to keep a minimum level of cordiality with Charlene, in order to preserve the image of harmony among monarchies. But recent events have made it clear that this intention isn't reciprocated.
Although the queen of Spain isn't unfamiliar with the challenges her position entails, this kind of slight affects her on a personal level. Letizia is not only aware of the media impact these disputes have, but also of the damage they can do to the crown. For this reason, she has tried to avoid any public display of tension, even though the discomfort is obvious inside.
What seemed like a discreet distancing has now become an obvious confrontation, at least from the Monegasque side. Charlene has decided to break neutrality and expose a relationship that can no longer be hidden. Letizia, on the other hand, prefers to remain silent, even though the gesture has hurt her more than she's willing to show.