Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born on 15th september 1972 in Oviedo. Her first 15 years were spent in the state school "La gesta de Oviedo" until labour duties of her family forced them to go to Madrid. Once there she carried on her formation in the institute "Ramiro de Maeztu". Before being added to the civil register Letizia, daughter and granddaughter of journalists, began her career in communication media like "La Nueva España", "ABC" and the "Agencia EFE" in the last years of her college studies. She did Communication Science, branch Journalism, in the Universidad Complutense de Madrid, then she did a master in audiovisual journalism, she spent some time in Mexico, where she started her doctor's degree while she worked at the newspaper "Siglo XXI", and finally she returned home.
With her formation completed, she worked at Bloomberg, a TV channel about economy where the Agencia EFE is involved. Then she did some work as an actress in "La mirada del ángel", a short supervised by EFE. When CNN Plus began its broadcasting, she managed to get through the tryouts, and she began the new work in January 1999. On 2000 she changes channel again. Now she was at TVE, where she used to work at "Telediario 2" as newscaster. She covered the 11-S attempts on the USA, the "Prestige"'s tragedy in Galicia, and Iraq after Saddam. Her career was rewarded with the "Larra" Prize on 2001, given by the Spanish Press Association to the best journalist younger than 30. Presenter of "Informe Semanal", the Morning Newscast, the special reports about the Euro, the "Telediario 1" (in summer 2003 with Josep Puigbó); and in september the "Telediario 2" (with Alfredo Urdaci, the TVE news master). On friday, the 31st October 2003, she did her last newscast.
At a dinner party in the fall of 2002, all of Ortiz's plans would change, however. There, she met His Royal Highness Prince Felipe of Asturias, heir to the Spanish throne. Instead of being intimidated by this much-loved, and available, prince, Ortiz engaged him in conversation and soon, sparks flew. For one year, they dated in secret; on November 1, 2003, The Prince and Ortiz finally announced their relationship at a much-publicized press conference. To the great surprise of everyone, however, they also announced their engagement. Though her middle-class upbringing and past relationships were accepted by the Prince's parents, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, they had a hard time swallowing the news that came in early 2004. Waldo Saveedra announced to the Mexican press that he had painted the future princess nude and was going to reveal the piece of art in Buenos Aires, Argentina, on May 22, 2004, the day of the royal wedding. Ortiz has been quick to point out that the paintings simply depict her face atop another woman's naked body, but nervousness has run through conservatives in the press and Spanish monarchy. Still, Ortiz's stance as the archetypal Spanish modern woman has won her many fans and she still stands to become Princess of Asturias on May 22, 2004.
