Letizia's most important outfit

This Saturday, Prince Felipe will take the lead at the parade to mark Spain's National Day for the first time.  With his father, King Juan Carlos, still recovering from a hip operation performed just over a fortnight ago, the prince will be the senior member of the royal family on the podium as the Spanish Armed Forces march past.  His mother, Queen Sofia, won't attend the parade because protocol demands different, more elaborate honours from the military for the consort than for the heir.  It means that the Armed Forces will keep to a restricted programme as far as the royals are concerned.  And it also means that for the first time, Letizia will be the sole female member of the royal household on show.  What she chooses to wear has never been more important.

 

The Princess of Asturias on Spain's National Day in 2012.  Her low key tweed suit was more than overshadowed by the row over her sister in law, the Infanta Elena, not sitting with other senior royals during the ceremony

It might seem frivolous to focus in on a frock on such a big day but Letizia is all about image.  The princess with a penchant for fashion is known to love being on trend and her clothes have made just as many headlines as her modernising touch.  And one of the biggest hits of criticism she ever took was when she turned up at the National Day parade in 2010 in grey trousers with a peach blouse.  It was a great outfit but not really what protocol expected or demanded. 

 

The princess at the royal reception on Spain's National Day in 2010 when her choice of outfit caused controversy. 

This is the first time we will see the Prince and Princess of Asturias acting in place of the king and queen on such a major occasion. And while it's been made very clear that the prince is there as the heir and not a substitute monarch or a regent, this is a big moment for him and his wife.  It's the first chance they have to show the world what their style of monarchy might be like.  While being first in line for the throne demands lots of public appearances, being at the very top of the royal tree requires acts of state on a regular basis.  As the prince and his wife meet the constitution head on, how they both look and behave on this day will be taken as a sign of what's to come when Felipe is king and plenty will be read into it, regardless of the Asturias' intentions.

 

The shawl didn't really cover up the fact that Letizia's smart casual approach hadn't gone down too well with everyone

So, while the weather and the wardrobe will have some bearing on what Letizia wears, history is also calling this October 12th.  The next chapter in Spain's royal story will start as much with image as with gestures.