Letizia's latest debut is a big one

Approaching one year from the accession of her husband, Felipe VI, Letizia of Spain has hit another first. She's made her debut solo overseas visit as queen, heading to in Honduras and El Salvador for four days of meetings and engagements to promote co-operation between the countries. And this foreign trip might well quieten some of her critics who, for several years now, have asked why she spent so little time outside of Spain supporting the country's interests.

Queen Letizia of Spain on her first day in Honduras with the President, Juan Orlando Hernandez, and his wife, Ana Garcia Hernandez

(photo @anagarciacarias Twitter)

Letizia arrived in Honduras in the middle of their afternoon which is late evening European time but if she was feeling jetlagged it didn't show as she stepped off the plane brimming with confidence to be greeted by the country's first lady, Ana Garcia Hernandez.

La Reina llegó a Honduras en un viaje para conocer proyectos de la Cooperación Española http://t.co/dJlQ3G2eC3 pic.twitter.com/26GANXlcIe

— Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) May 26, 2015

After her official welcome she had time to head to her temporary home to change for a night of culture and a gala dinner in her honour. There was a speech from the queen during which she told the gathering that she had come to Honduras to share the determination in Spain to support Honduras as it continues to develop. She said she wanted to give visibility to the co-operation work that goes on between Spain and Honduras and to see for herself, first hand, some of the projects that includes.

Junto a @JuanOrlandoH y ministros compartimos con Su Majestad,la Reina Letizia de España en Cena de Gala Presidencial pic.twitter.com/KAs6RPpRwk

— Ana G. de Hernández (@anagarciacarias) May 26, 2015

Letizia has a packed agenda ahead of her on this visit. Her first full day in Hondruas will include a visit to Comayagua to see a school specialising in rehabilitation and a chance to see some of the water treatment projects going on in the country. The queen will also meet Spanish people working on co-operation in Honduras at a reception at her country's embassy there.

View image | gettyimages.com

 
 As she moves on to El Salvador, Letizia will visit a centre to help women who have been affected by violence as well as more water and sanitation projects. Her visit will come to an end with a visit to projects promoting artistic and cultural co-operation between El Salvador and Spain.
 

View image | gettyimages.com

 
 This is a big moment in the career of Letizia as Queen of Spain. For almost two decades, these co-operation trips have been the reserve of Queen Sofia who made dozens of visits around the world to see all kinds of projects and problems being tackled through Spanish co-operation. Not only is Letizia making her solo overseas debut as queen, she is following in the footsteps of a woman who is rarely seen to get anything wrong. Sofia is a hard act to follow.

Queen Letizia and Ana Garcia Hernandez, First Lady of Honduras, at the start of the royal visit

(photo @anagarciacarias Twitter)

Letizia has plenty of support on this trip with several government official accompanying her. And the packed and varied programme will give the queen plenty of opportunity to fulful her aim of learning first hand about co-operation. It is also an opportunity to consolidate her position as a queen consort as the first anniversary of her husband's accession approaches. Felipe and Letizia have had a relatively successful first twelve months in arguably the toughest royal roles around at the moment. A win for Letizia on this major visit could be a game changer for both her and her husband. This is a debut with meaning.