Letizia of Spain wears Isabel II’s historic pearl necklace for her first outing of the year

Every January 6, the celebration of the Military Easter (Military Easter) inaugurates the annual calendar of official events of the Spanish royal family. It’s also the first outing of the year for the queen Letizia d’Espagnewho again presided over the ceremony on Monday alongside the King Philip VI and the princess Leonor.

Protected from the cold by a fur-trimmed jacket during the opening ceremony of this celebration on the parade ground of the royal palace, she took off her coat when she entered to begin the reception of participants, revealing her look , composed on this occasion of a burgundy sweater and a long matching skirt. The skirt has been part of Letizia of Spain’s wardrobe for years, and she debuted it at the reception of the diplomatic corps in January 2019. On this occasion, she paired it with a white blouse, as the queen usually does it Rania of Jordanwhile today she chose to wear it with a sweater which, being of the same color, gives the effect that it is in fact a dress.

On the jewelry side, she chose the most precious from the royal jewelry box, the pearl necklace that the queen Victoria Eugeniagreat-grandmother of King Felipe, bequeathed to the “jewels of passage” (the lot made available to the current queen). The necklace was the engagement gift given by Francis of Assisi of Bourbon to the queen Isabelle II of Spain in 1846. Years later, King Alphonse XIII saved it from being sold at auction by purchasing it for his wife, Queen Victoria Eugenia, to whom he gave it in 1906.

Queen Letizia, who first wore the necklace in 2018, paired it on Monday with also pearl earrings that she has had since Leonor’s birth.

The Queen will reappear on Thursday alongside the King during the reception of the diplomatic corps accredited in Spain. On Saturday January 11, she will travel with Felipe to Cádiz to say goodbye to Princess Leonor, who will board the ship Juan Sebastián Elcano for a five-month trip with her comrades from the Naval Academy.

Originally published by Vanity Fair España