King Felipe VI of Spain is well aware of the risks associated with outdoor activities. The King recently attended the Spanish Economic Forum, Wake Up, Spain!, where he revealed a new look that elicited sympathetic reactions from the audience.
Felipe appeared with rosy cheeks and a sunburned face, a result of a recent skiing trip to Formigal. Notably, his forehead remained burn-free thanks to the helmet and glasses he wore while on the slopes.
“This is what happens when you don’t protect yourself properly from the sun,” he joked, prompting laughter from attendees after he apologized for his appearance.
The King had just returned from the Formigal resort in the Aragonese Pyrenees, where he enjoyed the company of close friends, including Antonio Gericó, CEO of Aramón. While there, they dined at Las Mugas, a highly regarded restaurant overseen by chef Toño Rodríguez.
Queen Letizia, Felipe’s wife of 20 years, did not join him on this ski trip. Instead, she traveled to the Republic of Cape Verde, where she visited a shelter focused on enhancing “protection, care, and treatment services for women victims of gender-based violence.”
According to the Queen’s official Instagram, she also visited the Cooperativa de Corte y Costura to learn about women’s empowerment and economic autonomy projects on Santiago Island.
Felipe and Letizia’s trips come just two months after they bid farewell to their eldest daughter, Princess Leonor, who began a six-month naval training program in January on the Spanish ship Juan Sebastián de Elcano. “With sadness and hope, it will be very good for her,” Felipe told Spanish media at the time, while Letizia expressed that it would be “many months without seeing her.”
Before her departure, the King emphasized the significance of military training for Leonor’s future. “An experience, dear Leonor, that will remain, as it did for me and your grandfather, among the best memories of your military training,” he said during the ceremonial send-off. Leonor’s training will span three years, requiring her to be away from her family for extended periods.
As the couple adjusts to life without their eldest daughter, they recently attended an unveiling of their portraits at the Bank of Spain, captured by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz.
Queen Letizia dazzled in a black strapless gown designed by Spanish couturier Cristóbal Balenciaga, featuring ruched detailing on the bodice, along with a red satin shawl draped over her shoulders and exquisite jewelry. Felipe, dressed in his military uniform, looked regal and proud in his portrait. Leibovitz joined them for the special occasion, dressed in a simple all-black outfit that included trousers and a puffer vest over a long-sleeve shirt.
