Are Spain’s Royal Family the Most Stylish in the World?

The royals often take a summer vacation in Majorca, and this year they were snapped strolling through the island’s streets wearing casual outfits that screamed laid-back vibes. Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor, and Princess Sofía all sported cool, linen ensembles, while King Felipe looked like any smart Spanish dad in jeans and an open-collared blue shirt.

http://instagram.com/p/BXcwNH-DyBs/?taken-by=letizia_de_princesa_a_reina

On vacation in Majorca:

http://instagram.com/p/BJfrsCTjvDK/?taken-by=queenletizia

Easter mass with King Felipe’s mother, Queen Sofia:

http://instagram.com/p/BDgEj3bPKJr/?taken-by=queenletizia

Letizia, who the then-Prince Felipe met when she was a divorced newsreader on Spanish prime time television, is a strong supporter of homegrown designers, and is especially fond of Felipe Varela. She wore a Varela design during the Spanish State Visit to the United Kingdom in 2017, and to the wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge in 2011.

Letizia in Felipe Varela meeting Queen Elizabeth II:

http://instagram.com/p/BWe1Zd3De1P/?tagged=felipevarela

Letizia in Varela at Princess Sofía’s First Holy Communion (notice King Felipe’s matching tie):

http://instagram.com/p/BUOj225Bf_l/?taken-by=queenletiziastyle

Of all the royals, it is Queen Letizia who garners the most tabloid attention. All she needs to do is change her hairstyle slightly and she is splashed across the front pages. Her style is, on the one hand, classically royal; she likes smart, tailored dresses and coats, and isn’t afraid of a full-on ballgown and tiara for special occasions. But she also has a sartorial edge, which comes out in daring prints, bright colors and off-duty weekend ensembles.

This all-red outfit complete with cape and red lipstick is quite a daring option for the birthday of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands:

http://instagram.com/p/BTrITN6F48o/?taken-by=queenletizia

Leather trousers and lace-up heels for the inauguration of the trade fair for contemporary art in Madrid:

http://instagram.com/p/BCQUOMhPKOa/?taken-by=queenletizia

No one likes to see a member of the royal family frittering money away on expensive wear-once looks, and Queen Letizia is adept at recycling an outfit multiple times while still managing to make it look fresh.

Here she is wearing the same Felipe Varela suit on four separate occasions:

http://instagram.com/p/BTUHsGJhmER/?tagged=felipevarela

We can’t name the Spanish royals the world’s most stylish without taking a look at their competition. When it comes to queens and first ladies, Letizia has had some serious style-offs in the past, including with Argentine first lady, Juliana Awada, who wore an almost-matching outfit on a recent visit to Spain.

Argentina’s first lady Juliana Awada and Queen Letizia:

http://instagram.com/p/BQ36Nq1hDyw/?tagged=felipevarela

Queen Letizia with Queen Rania of Jordan:

http://instagram.com/p/BCPi7yFvKJA/?taken-by=queenletizia

Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II is hard to beat when it comes to bright, colorful style, and she loves a good hat. But Letizia gave her a run for her money during the 2017 Spanish State Visit in this yellow ensemble:

http://instagram.com/p/BWcoET2F6QG/?tagged=spanishstatevisit

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge are another stylish young royal pair, but Letizia pips Kate to the style crown with her more daring looks:

http://instagram.com/p/BXLipDQhgdJ/?taken-by=katemidleton

What makes so many fashion lovers pay particular attention to Queen Letizia is that she often wears high street brands, such as Spanish behemoth Zara, which makes recreating her look incredibly easy. If she wears a coat from the brand, expect it to sell out within days, as eager shoppers snap up their own piece of regal style.

A blush-pink Zara ensemble:

http://instagram.com/p/BWJ9WFkBW_L/?taken-by=queenletiziastyle

A Zara embroidered jacket:

http://instagram.com/p/-xG4ugPKM1/?taken-by=queenletizia

While King Felipe can sport a smart military uniform to perfection, he also enjoys more casual dressing, as seen in the photograph below, snapped when he was visiting a local business forum. His open-collar, linen jacket and laid-back stance make him seem approachable and un-stuffy.

http://instagram.com/p/BWCe5KrA8K2/?taken-by=queenletizia