On a day like today, it has been 21 years since the wedding of Mary of Denmark and Frederik. Coinciding with this anniversary, what happened between the now Queen Mary and Queen Letizia on that significant day has just come to light. Letizia, who was not yet married at the time, was the only one who did not wear a tiara, and the reason lies in the fact that she was Felipe's fiancée.
The current kings of Spain had not yet walked down the aisle, so protocol required Letizia not to wear a tiara. It was the first royal wedding for Leonor's mother, and she did not need a crown to shine. Her unbelievable red Caprile dress went down in history and elevated her as the best-dressed at the ceremony.
What happened with Queen Letizia at Queen Mary's wedding is revealed
May 14 is a date marked in red by Queen Mary. On a day like today, but 21 years ago, the then Princess of Denmark married Prince Frederik. It was one of the most talked-about royal weddings, especially because it was Queen Letizia's first.
Letizia attended on Felipe's arm and attracted attention for two reasons, the first being her spectacular red dress by Lorenzo Caprile. The second was being the only guest who did not wear a tiara. Now what happened at Queen Mary's wedding and what caused Queen Letizia not to wear a crown has come to light.
What happened was that, at that time, Letizia was not yet officially a member of the Spanish Royal Family. Her wedding with the then Prince Felipe was scheduled for May 22. Therefore, she did not have access to the Spanish Crown jewels.
Moreover, there was no tradition allowing royal fiancées to wear tiaras before marriage. Her outfit consisted of a red dress by Lorenzo Caprile, complemented with art deco jewelry lent by Queen Sofía. This ensemble was praised for its elegance and sophistication, and Queen Letizia managed to stand out without resorting to traditional royal jewelry.
Queen Mary invited Queen Letizia despite her status
Despite Queen Letizia not yet being part of the monarchy, Queen Mary was kind enough to invite her to her wedding. Indeed, they have many things in common. The relationship between Letizia and Mary has been close since their royal engagements, announced just a few days apart in 2003.
Both shared similar experiences entering royalty from commoner origins and went through the same complications. Both Queen Mary and Queen Letizia have been subjects of criticism and media scrutiny, from their fashion choices to their behavior. Despite this, both have managed to keep firm and have shown their commitment to their respective Royal Houses.
However, if there is something that unites them above all, it is their role as mothers of future kings. Both queens have seen their firstborns begin military training aimed at their role within the institution. In Mary's case, her son Christian began his military journey shortly after Leonor.
For years, there have been rumors about whether that friendship between Mary and Letizia is kept today. Although they have coincided at some events, it has been a while since they exchanged visits. We have to go back to January to see the last meeting they had in Poland for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
The solemnity of the event did not offer the opportunity to relate beyond the moment, but the greeting between both monarchies did.