24 NOVEMBER 2003
Spain's Prince Felipe and his new fiancée Letizia Ortiz have announced the date of their wedding. The 35-year-old royal will marry his newsreader love on May 22 next year.

The announcement puts an end to fevered speculation as to when the couple, who will tie the knot at a midday ceremony in Madrid's spectacular Almudena Cathedral, would make their vows.

It had been rumoured that the future king would marry in June, but the couple have already shown they are anything but predictable. The enamoured pair stunned Spain with the sudden announcement of their engagement on November 1.

Letizia, who is already one of the country's best-known TV personalities, is a divorcee without any royal or aristocratic links. She is highly respected for her journalistic work, however, and the people of Spain have warmly embraced her as their future Queen.

Her marriage to the dashing Prince Felipe will come just a week after Prince Frederik of Denmark and his betrothed, Australian Mary Donaldson, say "I do" in Copenhagen.