Queen Letizia of Spain braves the rain in stylish mac as she joins King Felipe at Columbus Day military parade in Madrid

Queen Letizia of Spain did not allow the rain to dampen her style as she stepped out in Madrid for a public appearance at Columbus Day in Madrid today.

The 52-year-old royal was joined by her husband King Felipe, 56, as she presided over the National Day military parade – known in Spain as Dia de la Hispanidad.

Unfortunately, the weather was less than ideal – with the Autumnal event bringing grey skies and drizzle.

But this did not affect Letizia from looking typically stylish, as she paired her classic beige belted mac with a red dress, co-ordinated kitten heels pointed pumps, and a clutch bag in the same hue. 

Some photos show the mother-of-two holding a large navy umbrella to keep the rain off her ensemble as she strode to the engagement.

Columbus Day is celebrated in Spain every year, on October 12. Among the celebrations are a military parade attended by the royal couple, who joined other authorities at the Plaza de Neptuno and together for the event, before they then presided over the raising of the Spanish national flag. 

And while it is always attended by a slew of high-profile guests, most eyes are often on Queen Letizia, as eager royal watchers are keen to see her style and observe her regal presence. 

The daytime event, which calls on female guests to wear a dress and men to don suits, always attracts an elegant crowd.

And Letizia did not disappoint, pairing her practical yet stylish look with standout accessories in a flattering scarlet shade.

As she often chooses to do, the mother-of-two wore her thick chestnut tresses loose, letting her shining locks tumble past her shoulders.

And she let her natural beauty shine through, by wearing a fresh make-up look, which showed off her glowing complexion, and made her brown eyes the focal point, with soft, smoky brown liner and shadow.

Peach blush made the most of her striking high cheekbones, while her lips looked elegant but subtle in a flattering slightly pearlescent dark nude-style style shade. 

The air and land military parade is attended by various security, civil protection and emergency agencies, as well as Units of the Armies, the Navy, the Civil Guard, the Emergency Military, Royal Guard, and State Security Forces and Corps. 

Meanwhile, her husband Felipe looked equally dapper, wearing a dress uniform for the annual event. 

Queen Letizia and King Felipe were joined by their daughter Princess Leonor, 18, for the event.

The heir to the Spanish throne is currently undergoing three-years of military service in the navy, and attended the event wearing her military garb. 

However, according to Spanish media reports, they were not joined by their daughter Infanta Sofia, 17, who is currently studying for her two-year International Baccalaureate diploma at a Welsh boarding school.

She started studying at UWC Atlantic College, which is based in a 12th century castle in South Wales, in September 2023.

The royal followed in the footsteps of her elder sister Princess Leonor – heir to the Spanish throne – by taking up a place on the two-year, £68,000 course at the specialist education college in the Vale of Glamorgan.

And they are first from the only European royals to study at the prestigious institution, joining a long list of regal alumni including Princess Elisabeth, heir to the throne of Belgium, who graduated in 2020, and King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands. 

Situated at the 12th century St Donat’s Castle on the country’s south coast, the college, dubbed the ‘Hippie Hogwarts’, was founded by German educationalist Kurt Hahn.

School fees for the two-year course cost a whopping £68,000 and include Tai Chi, the theory of knowledge and Tibetan literature.

A statement released in February 2023 by the Spanish Royal Family, when it was announced that Infanta Sofía would be attending the school said: ‘The cost of the international baccalaureate that the Infanta Sofía will take will also be paid in full personally by Their Majesties the King and Queen with their annual allowance.’

Sofía started at the boarding school that summer after passing the entry tests required to enrol in the International Baccalaureate study programme.

Like her sister, she moved to the UK and live in one of the eight boarding houses available on the campus.

Willem-Alexander, the King of the Netherlands, studied at the College from 1983 to 1985 and graduated with an International Baccalaureate before undertaking his military service and moving on to study History at Leiden University from 1987 onwards.

Princess Elisabeth of Belgium, 21, the daughter of King Philippe and Queen Mathilde, enrolled in 2018 but had to cut her time at the college short due to the Covid-19 pandemic, and continued her studies online from home.

Princess Raiyah of Jordan, the daughter of King Hussein of Jordan and Queen Noor also attended the institution as a teen before studying Japanese as an undergraduate at The University of Edinburgh.

Education at the school is played out in a 12th century Castle by the sea – with its own seafront, woodland, farmland and valley.

Atlantic College is located near the town of Llantwit Major on the South Wales coast, overlooking the Bristol Channel. It has been continuously inhabited since it was first built. 

The extensive grounds also include the 12th-century St Donat’s Church and the historic terraced gardens, as well as preserved woodland, farmland and Heritage Coastline.

St Donat’s Castle is the main building of the College, housing the Tudor Great Hall, the Gothic Dining Hall, the Bradenstoke Hall used for assemblies and performances and an extensive 25,000-book Library.

Students at the school stay in eight purpose-built boarding houses, which accommodate approximately 48 students each.

The modern accommodation houses are named after either ancient Welsh kingdoms or benefactors to the college: Pentti Kouri, Morgannwg, Powys, Whitaker, Gwynedd, Tice and Sunley.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe’s appearance today followed the couple attending the National Culture Awards at the Reina Sofía National Museum of Art in Madrid on Thursday. 

That evening, Queen Letizia presided over the presentation of the National Culture Awards 2022 and 2023. 

The annual awards seek to promote cultural activities – which is understood to be a service to citizens – and to express society’s recognition of those involved.

This includes recognising the work of people or institutions that either with their works, or through their active participation in various fields of artistic or literary creation, contribute to the enrichment of the cultural heritage of Spain.

The awards have several categories which span a range of activities, largely artistic endeavours.

These include fine arts, cinema and audiovisual, book reading and letters, and performing arts and music.

Also included are categories seeking to highlight historical heritage, cultural industries and – perhaps more controversially – bullfighting.