Letizia closes the door on the past

In the past, it's been reported that Letizia of Spain isn't overly keen on the traditional royal holidays in Mallorca.  But as the country's new royal family posed for photos for their summer break at the Marivent Palace in Madrid, the new queen looked very happy to be almost by the seaside.  As she and King Felipe walked out to meet the press, accompanied by their two daughters, the queen stopped to close the door of the palace before she made her way down the steps to the waiting press.  And with that gesture and a huge smile, she also closed the door on the questions over how much she really enjoys her time at this traditional Spanish royal residence.

Queen Letizia closes the door behind her as she and her family prepare to pose for photos marking their summer holidays in Mallorca 

At the start of her husband's reign, there were questions over whether Letizia and Felipe would go to Mallorca but they have chosen to spend a week there.  And the new family looked very relaxed as they took the photocall by themselves for the first time.  The queen chose a pair of print leggings and a white T shirt for the call while her daughters were in matching dresses but contrasting colours - while Leonor wore pink at her father's accession and Sofia was in blue, this time they swapped with the heiress to the throne in turquoise and her sister in rose.  The king said they were grateful to Mallorca for offering them several lovely days of holiday.

Felipe, Letizia, Leonor and Sofia at the start of their traditional summer break in Mallorca on August 5th 2014

In years gone by, this photocall was a sure thing in the royal calendar and involved a bigger family. In 2007, just after the birth of the Infanta Sofia, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were joined by their three children, a son in law and their daughter in law and eight grandchildren.  Spilling down the steps of the Marivent, all the royalty of modern Spain.  Now, the regal picture is very different. In recent years, as the House of Bourbon saw its reputation falter, the numbers dwindled until the situation became too complicated for a pose to be viable at all.  Now, following the abdication of Juan Carlos and the accession of Felipe, a new family stands before the photographers.  Just four of them, the future of the monarchy, all on the one step with no need for a wider lens.

And then there were four - Spain's Royal Family pose for traditional summer photos