Royal Jewels on Spain’s National Day

The Spanish people have celebrated their nation’s history and culture over the years in various ways on October 12. The day has sometimes been connected to Columbus Day celebrations, as well as a pair of important Catholic feast days (Our Lady of the Pillar and Our Lady of Guadalupe). Today, the festivities are focused more on the Spanish nation, and not so much on its colonial history in other parts of the world. The Spanish royals mark the day by attending a military parade and a reception in Madrid.

King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain stood with other government officials and dignitaries to view Tuesday’s military parade in Madrid.

They were joined by Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez for the event.

And their younger daughter, Infanta Sofia, was also on hand to watch the military parade.

The Princess of Asturias usually also appears alongside her parents and her sister for the parade, but this year, Leonor wasn’t present. In August, she left Spain to head to Wales, where she is studying at the United World College of the Atlantic. (She’s pictured above saying goodbye to her family at the airport in Madrid.) She is one of several young royals who have recently attended the school, including the Duchess of Brabant and Princess Alexia of the Netherlands.

Along with the traditional military parade, the King and Queen were also present for the National Day reception at the Royal Palace in Madrid.

The reception offered us a better view of Letizia’s clothes and jewels for the celebrations. She wore a pale blue-gray dress with simple but impactful accessories.

Along with her usual golden ring, which she wore on her left hand, Letizia’s major accessory was a pair of sparkling gem-set earrings.

These diamond and aquamarine earrings are from Bulgari, and they’ve been favorites of Letizia’s for years. (See a close-up from a previous occasion here.) The aquamarine drops are removable, and Letizia also wears the diamond and aquamarine hoops separately on occasion.