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Princess Letizia: Why The Future Queen Of Spain Is A Little Bit Great

Enough of all the judging already!

Letizia Ortiz, you might have heard of her.

She's about to be the Queen of Spain.

[Gabriel Solera/Getty Images]
[Gabriel Solera/Getty Images]

Cool, huh?

Well, we think so, but apparently that's not a viewpoint shared by much of the media.

Since the abdication of King Juan Carlos on June 2, after 39 years reigning over Spain, newspapers and magazines have gone into a frenzy, discussing the pros and cons of Letizia as future Queen.

Largely, they have focussed on her fashion, comparing her style, outfit by outfit, to our own Kate Middleton, as if it's a battle that needs a victor.

 [Getty]
[Getty]

But even more unkindly, many have landed on the "skeletons in her closet" as means of undermining her character.

We've seen headlines that cite the "scandal" of her previous divorce, rumours about her nosejob and lines about the "alleged abortion that [mars] her reputation."

It seems that there's something about being Royal that opens you up to a battering ram of criticism and speculation.

Well, pooh pooh to that!

Instead of chastising Princess Letizia for having a past that, let's be honest, is actually pretty standard, we've decided to focus on all the reasons she's a little bit great.

1. She's NOT just a pretty face

Award winning journalist, check! [GETTY]
Award winning journalist, check! [GETTY]

This gal's got a degree AND a masters in broadcast journalism.

Not only that, she was a respected news anchor for Spanish television outlet TVE, who reported on serious topics, like an on-the-ground account of events at Ground Zero, 9/11.

In fact, she met Prince Felipe De Bourbon in Galicia in November 2002 while she was covering the environmental damage to the coastline of the northwestern region by the sinking of the Prestige oil tanker.

And to top it all off, she even won an award for Best Spanish Journalist Under 30 in her own country.

Can't argue with that!

2. She's not afraid to speak her mind

When her husband Prince Felipe interrupted her, during a press conference in which she was explaining her reasons for gradually leaving her job at TVE, she snapped: "Let me finish!" at him.

You go guuurrrl.

3. She likes the highstreet too

[GETTY]
[GETTY]

Instead of spouting silly lines like "Shame [Kate] didn't follow Letizia's choice of sexy sandals", how about we celebrate the fact that BOTH Kate Middleton AND Princess Letizia enjoy a good old high street bargain.

Note that Zara floral print dress on the left.

Nice.

4. Charitable Deeds

She might have given up her TV broadcasting days, but that doesn't mean she's stopped making an impact.

She's known for her involvement in various charities.

[Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage/GETTY]
[Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage/GETTY]

Here she is receiving guests of the Fundacion Sindrome De Down (Downs Syndrome Foundation) at the Zarzuela Palace.

[Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage/GETTY]
[Juan Naharro Gimenez/WireImage/GETTY]


5. She gives GOOD ballgown

[GETTY]
[GETTY]


6. She's divorced

In 1998 she married Alonso Guerrero Pérez, after dating him for years.

People have judged her negatively for this, but we say being brave enough to leave a marriage that isn't right shows strength of character.

7. She's not afraid of a little PDA

[GETTY]
[GETTY]

With her daughters Sofia and Leonor, that is.

8. She DOES smile

She's been accused of being cold and sombre at public engagements.

Besides the fact that she's not a trophy wife, whose job might be to smile on command and look pretty, actually, reports of her downcast demeanour just aren't really true.

[GETTY]
[GETTY]
Looking very miserable with her husband [GETTY]
Looking very miserable with her husband [GETTY]
No fun, really this woman looks like NO FUN, right? Not. [Niccolo Guasti/WireImage/GETTY]
No fun, really this woman looks like NO FUN, right? Not. [Niccolo Guasti/WireImage/GETTY]
Yep, CANNOT crack a smile. [Fotonoticias/WireImage/GETTY]
Yep, CANNOT crack a smile. [Fotonoticias/WireImage/GETTY]

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