The wedding of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain

The day the heir to one of the grandest monarchies in the world married… a TV journalist. We look back at the wedding of King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain on their 19th anniversary

• King Felipe and Queen Letizia were married 19 years ago today
• They had dated in secret before announcing their surprise engagement 
• READ MORE: The most eye-wateringly expensive royal engagement rings

The ceremony was staged by one of the grandest monarchies in Europe.

It was attended by the world’s royals, including King Charles, who watched as the bride swept into the cathedral in a stunning Manuel Pertegaz gown.

And adding to the magnificent drama was this extraordinary fact: the heir to the Spanish throne was marrying a mere television journalist. 

Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano and Prince Felipe had dated in secret before announcing their surprise engagement and then marrying at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid on 22 May 2004.

Today is their anniversary. 

Letizia’s dress, with a statement high-standing collar and delicate embroidery, was paired with a veil gifted by her future husband, now King Felipe VI of Spain.

Letizia donned the glittering Prussian tiara which had been worn by her mother-in-law, then Queen Sofia, on her wedding day in 1962.

The ceremony took place two months after the Madrid train bombings and the pair dedicated their wedding to the victims of the attack.

Here, The Mail’s new Royals section looks back at the memorable moments from one of Europe’s most glamorous royal couples on their 19th wedding anniversary…

The bride, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, arrived at the Almudena Cathedral in a Rolls-Royce with her father Jesús José Ortiz Álvarez for her wedding to the then Prince Felipe

Letizia was covered by an umbrella as she appeared at the cathedral on what was a rainy day in Madrid

Crown Prince Felipe, now King Felipe VI of Spain, was dressed in military uniform as he accompanied his mother, Queen Sofia, to the cathedral

The bride stunned guests and the rest of the world as she emerged in an elegant Manuel Pertegaz gown with a dramatic 15ft train

Letizia greeted her fiancé in a sweet moment, assisted by bridesmaids, as she arrived at the front of the cathedral

Set among the grandeur of Almudena Cathedral, and watched by 1,600 guests, the pair said their vows in a Catholic service

The bride’s statement dress featured a high-standing collar with delicate embroidery depicting ears of wheat and lilies. She also opted to wear the Prussian tiara, previously worn by her mother in law, then Queen Sofia, at her wedding to King Juan Carlos in 1962

Letizia’s ornate silk tulle veil featured similar embroidery to her dress and was a gift from her husband

The couple exchanged rings during the ceremony, conducted by Cardinal Rouco Varela, the archbishop of Madrid

While Letizia had been previously married and divorced, she was able to marry King Felipe at a Catholic service because her first wedding had taken place in a civil ceremony

The pair left as the first couple to have been married at Almudena Cathedral after it was consecrated by Pope John Paul II in 1993

The newlyweds were greeted with a military salute as they emerged from the cathedral to waiting crowds

Letizia’s cascading bouquet featured lilies, used to represent the House of Bourbon. It also included apple blossom as a sweet reference to Oviedo, where Letizia was born

As Letizia laughed with her new husband, her wedding band and her engagement ring were on display. The engagement ring features 16 baguette diamonds on a band with a white gold trim

The couple waved to cheering crowds as they were driven from the cathedral in a Rolls-Royce

They later appeared alongside the then King Juan Carlos and his wife, Queen Sofia, on the Royal Palace’s balcony

Felipe kissed the forehead of his new bride during the state banquet held for the couple’s wedding. In his speech, he said: ‘we will always think of Spain’

The family and guests of the bride and groom sat for an official wedding picture in the Royal Palace in Madrid

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