Tantrums And Tiaras​​​​​​​
The Australian Women's Weekly|July 2018

The reign in Spain is facing its most thunderous forecast yet, as commoner Queen Letizia elbows her mother-in-law, Queen Sofía, aside in a right royal rumpus pitching the old guard against the new world order. William Langley investigates.

William Langley
Tantrums And Tiaras​​​​​​​

The Zarzuela Palace, an ornate, palm-fringed pile in the hills outside Madrid, is billed as the world’s largest royal residence, but, as things stand, it may not be large enough. Living within it are two queens at war, and the power struggle between them may determine the future of Spain’s embattled monarchy.

In a wing of the main building sits the much loved 79-year-old Queen Sofía, wife of former King Juan Carlos, who abdicated four years ago. Related by blood or marriage to virtually every noble house in Europe, Sofía is devoutly religious and a staunch defender of traditional royal ways.

Down below, in a spacious, terracotta-roofed villa, known as the Prince’s Pavilion, lives her commoner daughter-in-law, Queen Letizia, 45, a vivacious former TV reporter, whose husband, King Felipe VI, took over the throne when his father stepped down.

Letizia has been a divisive figure almost since she arrived on the royal scene 14 years ago. While many Spaniards welcomed her as a breath of fresh air, and admired her smart, energetic style, stories began to circulate – supposedly spread by disenchanted courtiers – of her bossiness, obstinacy and volcanic temper.

Still, there was little to suggest that Sofía was among Letizia’s detractors – until the feud between the pair burst spectacularly into public view.

After an Easter Sunday church service this year on the Mediterranean island of Majorca, Sofía put her arms around her granddaughters, Princess Leonor, 12, and Princess Sofia, 11, to pose for a seemingly innocent photograph. Letizia, the girls’ mother, who had been hovering close by, abruptly stepped in, blocking the shot, and pushing Sofía’s arm off her eldest daughter’s shoulder. An anxious-looking King Felipe, 50, then stepped in to calm things down, while Juan Carlos looked on in astonishment.

This story is from the July 2018 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

This story is from the July 2018 edition of The Australian Women's Weekly.

Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.

MORE STORIES FROM THE AUSTRALIAN WOMEN'S WEEKLYView All
Hitting a nerve
The Australian Women's Weekly

Hitting a nerve

Regulating the vagus nerve with its links to depression, anxiety, arthritis and diabetes - could aid physical and mental wellbeing.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024
Take me to the river
The Australian Women's Weekly

Take me to the river

With a slew of new schedules and excursions to explore, the latest river cruises promise to give you experiences and sights you won’t see on the ocean.

time-read
4 mins  |
July 2024
The last act
The Australian Women's Weekly

The last act

When family patriarch Tom Edwards passes away, his children must come together to build his coffin in four days, otherwise they will lose their inheritance. Can they put their sibling rivalry aside?

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2024
MEET RUSSIA'S BRAVEST WOMEN
The Australian Women's Weekly

MEET RUSSIA'S BRAVEST WOMEN

When Alexei Navalny died in a brutal Arctic prison, Vladimir Putin thought he had triumphed over his most formidable opponent. Until three courageous women - Alexei's mother, wife and daughter - took up his fight for freedom.

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2024
The wines and lines mums
The Australian Women's Weekly

The wines and lines mums

Once only associated with glamorous A-listers, cocaine is now prevalent with the soccer-mum set - as likely to be imbibed at a school fundraiser as a nightclub. The Weekly looks inside this illegal, addictive, rising trend.

time-read
10 mins  |
July 2024
Jenny Liddle-Bob.Lucy McDonald.Sasha Green - Why don't you know their names?
The Australian Women's Weekly

Jenny Liddle-Bob.Lucy McDonald.Sasha Green - Why don't you know their names?

Indigenous women are being murdered at frightening rates, their deaths often left uninvestigated and widely unreported. Here The Weekly meets families who are battling grief and desperate for solutions.

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2024
Growing happiness
The Australian Women's Weekly

Growing happiness

Through drought flood and heartbreak, Jenny Jennr's sunflowers bloom with hope, sunshine and joy

time-read
8 mins  |
July 2024
"Thank God we make each other laugh"
The Australian Women's Weekly

"Thank God we make each other laugh"

A shared sense of humour has seen Aussie comedy couple Harriet Dyer and Patrick Brammall conquer the world. But what does life look like when the cameras go down:

time-read
7 mins  |
July 2024
Winter baking with apples and pears
The Australian Women's Weekly

Winter baking with apples and pears

Celebrate the season of Australian apples and pears with these sweet bakes that will keep the midwinter blues away.

time-read
10+ mins  |
July 2024
Budget dinner winners
The Australian Women's Weekly

Budget dinner winners

Looking for some thrifty inspiration for weeknight dinners? Try our tasty line-up of low-cost recipes that are bound to please everyone at the table.

time-read
5 mins  |
July 2024