Queen Letizia’s Engagement Suite

Today marks the 20th Anniversary of the Engagement of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain! The then Prince of Asturias and Letizia Ortiz announced their engagement to a surprised public and press at the Palacio Real de El Pardo on this day in 2003, 20 years ago, and the soon-to-be Princess received this striking Sapphire and Pearl Suite among her Engagement Gifts!

To mark their engagement, the then Prince of Asturias gave to Doña Letizia Ortiz an eternity ring from Joyería Suarez, made of white gold set with baguette diamonds. The now-Queen of Spain gave to her fiancée a pair of cufflinks with sapphires set in gold.

After the Engagement was announced to the press, the Royal Family, the King’s Family and Doña Letizia’s Family posed in a group picture. This was followed by an intimate family dinner hosted by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the Zarzuela Palace. During that dinner, more gifts were exchanged. King Juan Carlos gave to his future daughter-in-law the Lady Royal Oak watch from the Swiss brand Audemars Piguet.

Queen Sofia gave to Doña Letizia a necklace and a pair of earrings made of pearls, sapphires and diamonds set in white gold. Her Majesty placed the necklace on her future daughter-in-law’s neck straight away.

There has always been some misunderstanding regarding the origin of these suite, as many state that the pieces belonged to the late Countess of Barcelona. However, Doña Sofía clarifies this to journalist and writer Pilar Urbano in one of the many interviews conducted for the book ‘La Reina Muy de Cerca’ (2008). When referring to the jewels given to her daughter-in-law, HM notes:

“a necklace of blue stones, diamonds and sapphires with a hanging pearl, a teardrop. It was not part of the Crown jewels. I had it, from my wedding.”

The Queen does not mention the matching earrings, but the truth is that Doña Sofía had already worn these pieces in public before giving them to her in 2003. Eagle eye users from Foro Dinastías have also spotted a couple of occasions where Doña Sofia wears the necklace: a State Visit to Guatemala in 1977 and an audience in Zarzuela Palace for the Missionaries of Charity in 1995.

The future Princess of Asturias would wear her Engagement Sapphire and Pearl Suite on the eve of her marriage to Don Felipe, at the gala dinner offered by King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the El Pardo Palace .

Unfortunately, Queen Letizia has never worn her Engagement Suite again in public. The earrings would make a second appearance 16 years later at the Pascua Militar celebrations in 2020.

This article was written by assistant editor, David Rato, who runs the Spanish Royal Jewels account on Instagram!