Queen Letizia brings back special jewelry piece from her pre-royal days


It's been 22 years since the Spanish royal publicly wore the piece - the last time was at a royal affair less than two weeks before her wedding


King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia  before the presentation of the 75th Planeta Novel Prize, on 15 October, 2026 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.© Europa Press via Getty Images
Alexandra Hurtado
Alexandra HurtadoUS Royal News CorrespondentNew York
1 hour ago

Queen Letizia of Spain has brought out a special bracelet from her jewelry box. The royal added sparkle to her wrist on Thursday as she attended the 75th edition of the Premio Planeta de Novela. According to HOLA! Spain, the diamond piece had not been seen publicly in more than two decades. 

22 years ago

The bracelet is one piece of jewelry Letizia has had in her collection since before her marriage to King Felipe. Prior to Thursday, the Queen was last seen wearing the bracelet on the eve of now-Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark's nuptials in May 2004, at a pre-wedding event in Copenhagen that she attended with her then-fiancé Felipe.

Letizia wore the bracelet to an event ahead of Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark's wedding in 2004© CLAUS FISKER/AFP via Getty Images
Letizia wore the bracelet to an event ahead of Queen Mary and King Frederik of Denmark's wedding in 2004

The couple's appearance at the wedding in Denmark came less than two weeks before their own royal wedding on May 22, 2004 in Madrid, Spain.

The bracelet from her pre-royal days wasn't the only dazzling jewelry Letizia wore on October 15. The Spanish Queen also stepped out wearing her PDPAOLA Pavé Twist Hoops earrings and a statement ring.

 Queen Letizia before the presentation of the 75th Planeta Novel Prize, on 15 October, 2026 in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. © Alberto Paredes/Europa Press via Getty Images
Letizia took the diamond bracelet out of her jewelry box for an appearance in Barcelona on October 15

Night out in Barcelona

Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia's mother looked characteristically chic at the ceremony on October 15, dressed in a black Sybilla gown that featured geometric cutouts at the neckline and shoulders, with her hair parted to one side and styled in waves.

The Queen and King of Spain presided over the presentation of the literary award, which is described as the "world's most lucrative award for an unpublished novel," in Barcelona. Writer Isabel Allende was named the winner of this year's Premio Planeta Award. The Chilean novelist received her award onstage from the King and Queen.

While Felipe pointed out that he doesn't usually speak at that particular ceremony, he said on Thursday that he was motivated to do so because of an "important anniversary."

Letizia and Felipe (pictured with Isabel Allende) presided over the 75th edition of the Premio Planeta de Novela© Lluis GENE / AFP via Getty Images
Letizia and Felipe (pictured with Isabel Allende) presided over the 75th edition of the Premio Planeta de Novela

"Today we celebrate the 75th edition of the Planeta Prize for Fiction, which testifies to the strength of this project and its deep roots among writers and readers, as confirmed by this year's record number of entries," Felipe said, translated to English.

Later in his remarks, the King said: "The freedom to imagine other lives allows us to recognize ourselves in the experiences of others, to approach realities different from our own, and to discover, in that diversity, both what unites us and what makes us different. In this possibility of knowing ourselves better, of understanding others, and of recognizing human plurality, lies one of literature's greatest contributions to our democratic coexistence.

"For all these reasons, the Queen and I would like to congratulate Grupo Planeta on these 75 years of commitment to writers and readers, and all the people who, through their work and dedication, make this Prize possible."

More Royalty
See more
Conversation

For more information on our conversation section, please read our Community Guidelines. Comments featured and views shared are not endorsed by HELLO!.