She goes for the content – ​​Letizia of Spain

The duties of a queen or princess include so much more than appearing in a beautiful dress and dazzling with jewelry. In the series ‘she goes for the content’, moderator Petra tells you all about the substantive tasks of the ladies. With today: Queen Letizia of Spain.

A queen consort’s priority is first and foremost to support the king, her husband Felipe. And, of course, this also includes caring for her children, as stated so beautifully on the official website of the Spanish royal family.

Letizia accompanies Felipe to the annual reception for the Diplomatic Corps.

Letizia’s agenda

Fortunately, we might say, queens these days also have their own agenda. So is Letizia. To the extent that this is feasible within the King’s household and in the first instance within the secretariat of the Prince of Asturias.

Education

In the field of education, Queen Letizia is particularly committed to educating children aged 6 to 16. She is also committed to promoting and supporting vocational training. Just like Princess Laurentien, she also likes to promote reading, specifically reading comprehension.

Health

She is also concerned with the physical and mental health of children. Healthy nutrition, physical activities and the development of social skills. This is partly to prevent addictions at critical ages. Queen Letizia is also committed to research into rare diseases. In this capacity, for example, she attended a research awards ceremony in Berlin in 2010.

Spanish Association against Cancer

In September 2010, Queen Letizia became honorary president of the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC). This was her first permanent honorary chairmanship in the field of public health. Letizia assumed this honorary presidency because of the impact of the disease on society and because of the association’s relevance in the fight against cancer through research, information, prevention campaigns and volunteer work. It is a committed and active presidency and therefore, in addition to participating in specific activities in the above-mentioned areas, Queen Letizia periodically holds working meetings to stay informed about the association’s activities, programs and projects.

At the beginning of this month, on February 2, 2014, Letizia chaired an event on World Cancer Day. This initiative is promoted by the Spanish Association against Cancer (AECC).

Hesperia Foundation

Felipe and Letizia, like all 8 grandchildren of King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, were heirs of Juan Ignacio Balada Llabrés, who died on November 18, 2009. His goal was for Felipe and Letizia’s share to become a public interest foundation set up. The foundation was named ‘Hesperia Foundation’. The foundation is committed to training young people so that they have better access to the labor market, projects of a social nature and promoting culture. So a very broad area.

The Hesperia Foundation conducts scientific research into rare diseases. In addition, she is also committed to helping people with disabilities, so that they can enter the labor market properly (collaboration with the FPDIM foundation). For example, she provides support to various groups in Spanish society, such as people with a visual impairment, people with deafness, people with autism spectrum disorders.

A collaboration with the Caritas foundation ensures that young people who have dropped out of school are helped to start a new education or get a job. Care is also taken together with the Spanish Red Cross for young people with social risks. A special daycare center has been set up for this purpose.

Help with Drug Addiction

Since 2015, Queen Letizia has taken over the chairmanship of the Aid for Drug Addiction Foundation from Queen Sofia.

Royal Council for the Disabled

Letizia is honorary president of the Royal Council for Disabled People. This organization is involved in all kinds of things involving people with disabilities. They represent disabled people and their families, support scientific institutions that deal with diagnoses, delve into treatments, have contacts with professionals, and so on.

Princess Girona Foundation

Letizia also regularly volunteers for the Princess Girona Foundation. Leonor has become the honorary chairman of this foundation since she came of age. Until then, her father was. This does not alter the fact that Letizia is also actively committed to the organization. The Girona Foundation is committed to young people at national level. The Princess Girona Awards are also presented annually.

Army

Queen Letizia is also present, together with the king, at military activities. She herself maintains contact with the armies through her presence on Armed Forces Day. She also distributes flags to military units and chairs the flag oath ceremony of the Royal Guard.

UNICEF

UNICEF Spain can also count on its support. As Honorary President of UNICEF Spain, she regularly attends the UNICEF Awards ceremony, which takes place once every 2 years.

National holiday

Of course, the royal family is also present every year on National Day.

Other

Of course, this is not all that Letizia does. These are only her official duties and patronages. She makes many more visits, on the Casa Real website I come across all kinds of things. For example, on February 6, Letizia was present at the opening of Safe Internet Day, a day with the theme: Safe Internet.

Letizia visits a foundation that helps prostitutes.

On holiday?

Want to go on holiday quietly, without the press around you? Forget it when you’re Queen of Spain. In Spain it is common to go on holiday to Mallorca. No long holidays abroad. And privacy in Mallorca? They don’t know that. To keep things a bit relaxed, the royal family holds a photo shoot when they are on holiday in Mallorca, in the hope of getting a bit of rest afterwards.

Abroad

In addition, Queen Letizia accompanies the king on official trips and state visits abroad.