While there has certainly been no announcement of a third pregnancy for the future King and Queen of Spain, purely coincidental evidence leads me to believe that Letizia Princess of the Asturias may be adding to her family. This is based entirely on the fact that Crown Princess Mary of Denmark latest pregnancy was announced last week. The royal lives of Mary and Letizia have run on parallel courses since the very beginning, with Mary trotting ahead of Letizia in all family milestones by only a week or so each time.
ENGAGEMENT: 24 days difference
The much-anticipated engagement of Mary Donaldson and Crown Prince Fredrik of Denmark was announced on 8 October 2003 while the engagement of Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano took the world by surprise on 1 November.
WEDDING: 8 days difference
The Danish crown couple marched to the altar on 14 May 2004, but still made it to the church on time to see their Spanish counterparts get married on 22 May.
FIRST CHILD: 16 days difference
Mary and Fredrik welcomed the first addition to their family, the future King Christian, on 15 October 2005, while Letizia and Felipe's firstborn, Infanta Leonor, was born on 31 October, amidst speculation about whether Spain would change the laws regarding succession so that she, as a female, might be able to become queen. (The laws, incidentally, have still not changed.)
SECOND CHILD: 8 days difference
The Danes were thrilled by the arrival of the first Danish princess of her generation with the birth of Princess Isabella to Mary and Fredrik on 21 April 2007 while Spain celebrated another little infanta on 29 April to Letizia and Felipe, who named her in honor of her grandmother Queen Sofia.
NEW BABIES?
The Danish court announced last week that Crown Princess Mary is not only pregnant, but expecting twins in January 2011. This certainly ups the ante for Princess Letizia. Judging by her latest photos, it doesn't look like she's entered the baby stakes again yet. But, in order to stay competitive, she must not only conceive quickly but doubly! (Incidentally, Mary is also just seven months older than Letizia and Fredrik is four months younger than Felipe.)
I believe Leanor is in line to be Queen unless theSpanish CPs have boy-in Spain a womancan inherit
ReplyDeleteYou are correct. In the 18th Century, the Bourbon dynasty in Spain (and in France) did not allow women to reign, but those laws were set aside to allow Isabella II to succeed in 1833. Isabella is Leonor's great-great-great grandmother and the only (so far) queen regnant of Spain.
ReplyDeleteI apologize for the inaccuracy of my post. It is the question of male-preference which has not been resolved but would not impact Leonor unless she has a brother.
That's ok- I just couldn't figure out who would be after Felipe is not his daughter- Love your blog!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!
When the Spanish crown was reinstated following General Franco's dictatorship, the line of succession was understood to be King Juan Carlos' children, following male-preference primogeniture, which means the youngest child, Felipe and his descendants take precedence over his sisters, because he is male. Therefore, the current line of succession in Spain is:
ReplyDelete1. Felipe The Prince of the Asturias (the king's only son)
2. Infanta Leanor (Felipe's 1st daughter)
3. Infanta Sofia (Felipe's 2nd daughter)
4. Infanta Elena The Duchess of Lugo (the king's eldest daughter)
5. Felipe de Marichalar y de Borbon (Elena's son)
6. Victoria de Marichalar y de Borbon (Elena's daughter)
7. Infanta Cristina The Duchess of Palma de Mallorca (the king's youngest daughter,
followed by her children:
8. Juan Urdangarin y de Borbon
9. Pablo Urdangarin y de Borbon
10. Miguel Urdangarin y de Borbon
11. Irene Urdangarin y de Borbon
It is unclear who, if anyone, would be #12 on the list.