QUEEN LETIZIA CHAMPIONS THE PROPER USE OF SPANISH AND SETS THE TONE AT FUNDÉURAE’S 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Sometimes, a minimal gesture is enough to reveal a deeply held conviction. Between carefully chosen words and eloquent silences, language once again took center stage.
At a time defined by informational immediacy and accelerated communication, Queen Letizia this week reaffirmed the value of linguistic rigor with an unusual blend of institutional solemnity and everyday humor. She did so while presiding over the ceremony marking the 20th anniversary of the Foundation of Urgent Spanish (FundéuRAE), held at the headquarters of the Royal Spanish Academy, an event that once again highlighted her close affinity with language and its care.
Founded by the EFE news agency and the Royal Spanish Academy, FundéuRAE was created to promote the proper use of Spanish in the media. Two decades later, the institution marked the milestone with an event that combined reflection, recognition, and linguistic current affairs, including the selection of “tariff” as the word of the year. The Queen, faithful to the annual gathering, underscored the foundation’s role as a practical tool for journalists and the general public in a context dominated by urgency and information overload.
Her speech, brief yet incisive, became one of the most talked-about moments of the day. Letizia surprised the audience by counting herself among those who frown at grammatical errors, even in everyday messages. “You’re looking at me, some of you are laughing, but you’re thinking the same thing I am. I’m not the only one with that quirk,” she said, drawing smiles and applause. She went on to express her wish to “belong to your tribe, the tribe of those who love language, rigor, the rich and velvety precision of words,” a remark that reinforced her image as an active defender of linguistic accuracy.
Beyond the symbolic weight of the event, the Queen’s presence also drew attention for her sartorial choice, which has become an extension of her public message. Letizia revived a pearl-gray midi dress by Spanish label Cortana, crafted in virgin wool, first worn in November 2023 and again in 2025. The wrap-style design, with its subtle draping, was paired with a wide black belt to define the waist and suede knee-high boots with a sensible heel an ensemble that balanced functionality, elegance, and sustainability.
The look was completed with rose-gold and diamond earrings by Gold & Roses, one of her favored jewelry brands. The choice reinforced a coherent image: sober, precise, and deliberate, in tune with the message she delivered from the podium. With an institutional calendar that shows no sign of slowing ahead of Christmas, and as the return of Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía to Zarzuela is anticipated, the Queen continues to fulfill her public duties with a clear narrative.
In a world dominated by rapid messaging and normalized errors, Letizia’s appearance at FundéuRAE’s anniversary served as a pointed reminder: caring for language is not an elitist gesture, but a way of better understanding reality. And as she made clear with a laugh, it is not an individual “quirk,” but a shared responsibility.