Spain's King and Queen are living separate lives and just 'keeping up appearances' in public, alleges journalist who first made bombshell claims about Letizia having 'romantic relationship with ex brother-in-law'

Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI are living separately and just ‘keeping up appearances’ in public, a veteran journalist has sensationally claimed.

At the end of last year, Jaime Peñafiel, 91, sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after he alleged the monarch’s wife had a romantic relationship with her ex brother-in-law.

Now, Letizia, who marked her 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, is bracing herself for more shocking allegations from the journalist after he confirmed he has penned another book about her to follow his explosive Letizia & I, which first made headlines last November.

His first book relied heavily on allegations made by UK-based businessman Jaime del Burgo, 53, who has sensationally claimed he was still romantically involved with Letizia after her 2004 wedding to King Felipe.

Peñafiel, sacked by El Mundo, which is the second largest print newspaper in Spain, following the release of Letizia & I, has announced he is about to publish a new book called ‘Los Silencios de Letizia’ – English for ‘Letizia’s Silences.”

Its contents have been kept a closely-guarded secret – but online teasers ahead of its May 28 release hint at claims that Letizia left the Spanish Royal Family’s summer residence in Majorca during a ‘marital crisis’ for a meeting with another man.

Queen Letizia and King Felipe VI (pictured in July 2023) are living separately and just ‘keeping up appearances’ in public, a veteran journalist has sensationally claimed

Spanish media which have touched on its imminent publication have also claimed the book will address ‘for the first time’ the identity of a man she was allegedly on a Madrid-New York flight with in 2012 when Letizia is said to have travelled ‘incognito’ to avoid being recognised but was spotted by a famous painter.

The book’s author, who despite his 91 years of age is as active as ever and is now writing for Spanish news website OK Diario, has shown he’s lost none of his appetite for controversy by sensationally claiming he believes Spain’s King and Queen are no longer sharing the same bed or even cohabiting.

Peñafiel told Madrid-based online newspaper El Cierre Digital, which operates under the slogan ‘Truth-driven investigation’: ‘I don’t think they even live under the same roof.

‘They are keeping up appearances. Felipe is a good person, as I have said already. He’s putting on a brave front and Letizia has done him a lot of harm.’

He also predicted the couple, who have maintained what the mainstream Spanish press have described as a dignified silence in the face of ongoing infidelity claims by Jaime del Burgo, would follow in the footsteps of Felipe’s parents Juan Carlos and Sofia.

Spain’s former king is now living in exile in Abu Dhabi after corruption investigations he was caught up in left his reputation in tatters although he returns to his homeland from time to time.

Jaime Peñafiel has been quoted as saying of Queen Letizia and her husband, after consistently accusing most Spanish media of portraying an idyllic union between the pair that is far removed from reality: ‘I don’t think there will be a divorce, but there could be an agreement like the one Juan Carlos I and Sofia established in which each one leads their own life.’

The battle-scarred journalist, a former war reporter who is a household name in Spain, went on to admit he was ‘very proud’ of his new book and describes it as a ‘very difficult and very reflective work’.

At the end of last year, Jaime Peñafiel, 91, sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after he alleged the monarch’s wife had a romantic relationship with her ex brother-in-law. Pictured, the Spanish royal couple in a picture shared to mark their 20th wedding anniversary

Jaime Del Burgo (pictured with the sister of Letizia), 53, who is based in the UK, has shockingly alleged that he and the Spanish King’s wife had an affair after the former journalist’s 2004 nuptials to Felipe VI. He has more than once doubled down on the bombshell claims on social media

Although its title suggests it will focus on Letizia, Jaime is also expected to use it to discuss his sacking by El Mundo following the fallout from his first book.

He has said of his dismissal: ‘I felt very bad because I spent more than three decades with them, but I take responsibility for what I have written and I don’t regret anything.’

News of Jaime’s second book in quick succession comes just three weeks after Jaime del Burgo, who was married to the Queen of Spain’s sister, revealed the ‘tell-all book’ he was promising to publish following his sensational claims of an affair with Letizia will now be a TV film and documentary instead.

The 53-year-old father-of-two has said he will produce it and work will begin after the summer ahead of a launch next year.

He shocked the world last year by alleging he had a relationship with Queen Letizia before and after her 2004 wedding to King Felipe VI.

Del Burgo, who was married to Letizia’s younger sibling Telma Ortiz for four years until they divorced by mutual consent in 2016, made many of his allegations in Jaime Peñafiel’s first book Letizia & I.

At the start of the month he announced on X, formerly Twitter: ‘And Nothing but the Truth, the book I promised, will instead be a TV film and documentary with eight episodes. I will start the production after summer. Coming in 2025.’

In his post, he also once again shared an undated selfie the Spanish Queen, 51, took in a bathroom mirror during one of her pregnancies. He’s previously suggested this is ‘evidence’ of their relationship. 

King Felipe and Queen Letizia on their wedding day in Madrid in May 2004. Del Burgo claims he was going to propose to the newsreader until she announced she had met King Felipe

His apparent U-turn on his ‘tell-all’ book project sparked criticism from his social media followers, with Madrid-based right-wing political advisor Jose David Sanchez saying it showed he had ‘lost absolutely all his credibility’.

Del Burgo’s claims about his alleged affair with Queen Letizia have included the claim they talked about starting their own family and a new life together in the States during a ‘secret romance’ while she was still with Felipe VI.

In Jaime Penafiel’s book he claimed he was carrying an engagement ring in his pocket during a meeting at Madrid’s Ritz Hotel with his ‘then-girlfriend’ Letizia in 2002 when she told him she had fallen in love with the future King of Spain.

He alleged he became friends with Felipe after they met and was asked by Letizia to be a witness at their May 22 2004 wedding.

He also made the incredible claim that the Queen asked to see him the night before the wedding at the exclusive El Latigazo restaurant in Madrid – where she asked him to ‘never leave’ her.

The businessman claimed their romantic relationship was forged in Venice and went back more than 20 years.

He also recalled a moment he says occurred following Princess Leonor’s birth when they were lying together in a hammock by a pool, saying in Peñafiel’s book: ‘Letizia told me “I love you” and I responded “I love you”.’

Last Boxing Day, Del Burgo shared with his thousands of followers on X the ‘four stages of the relationship’ with Letizia in a message he is thought to have first published in early December before removing and then reposting it.

He listed them in his claim as: ‘1) Love relationship, from 2002 to 2004; 2) Friends and confidants, from 2004 to 2010; 3) Long-lasting and continuous loving relationship, 2010 and 2011; 4) As brothers-in-law, from 2012 to 2016.’

In another post he claimed that he and Letizia discussed the issue of divorce from Felipe and they sought legal advice, adding: ‘We considered New York as the best option for permanent residence, the idea that we would have our child by surrogate in Los Angeles was proposed to me.’

Telma Ortiz is now with Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2021. Gavin shares two children with his first wife musician Sharon Corr.

In her recent album The Fool & The Scorpion, Sharon wrote lyrics which included ‘the queen’s twisted sister’ – which fans speculated were inspired by her children’s new step-mother.

Other even more lurid sexual claims about Queen Letizia, which Mail Online has chosen not to publish, have been aired online and in some Spanish media.

Neither Spain’s Royal Family or Letizia have made any comment about the claims repeatedly and very publicly aired by Jaime del Burgo or Jaime Penafiel.

Referring to the scandal last year, a spokesperson for the Spanish Royal Family told FEMAIL: ‘We have no comment to make about this.’

Del Burgo latest remarks about an apparent TV show come after he had mysteriously deleted all his posts on X. He seemed to have restarted his social media account in March, after entirely emptying his profile.

Earlier that month, his profile photo had been replaced with a simple black background. The cover picture was also an elusive blurred image (this remains the same), and he followed no accounts, although he now follows Elon Musk, who owns X.

In his post, he also once again shared an undated selfie the Spanish Queen, 51, took in a bathroom mirror during one of her pregnancies. He’s previously suggested this is ‘evidence’ of their relationship

Taking to X, formerly Twitter, at the start of May, the lawyer also revealed his plans to produce an eight-part TV series, detailing the ‘truth’ about his bombshell claims

Contributing to Peñafiel’s Letizia y Yo (Letizia and I), Del Burgo claims in the book that he and Letizia were dating when she met Felipe and were still romantically involved after her wedding to the Spanish King 20 years ago.

Following the bombshell allegations, the entrepreneur shared a selfie the Queen took in a mirror during one of her pregnancies as ‘evidence’ of their relationship.

In it, the royal can be seen wearing a black pashmina – which Del Burgo claims belonged to him – and he also typed out a message in his social media post, supposedly sent to him by Letizia. 

TIMELINE OF DEL BURGO’S CLAIMS ABOUT HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SPAIN’S ROYAL FAMILY

Pre-2000 – Letizia Ortiz, who was a newsreader at the time, meets Jaime del Burgo – the son of a politician – and the pair start dating2001 – Letizia and King Felipe meet on the site of a oil spillage. Jaime claims he was planning to propose when she told him about her new royal romance2003 – Letizia and Felipe announce engagement. 2004 – The couple marry at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid. Jaime claims he was asked to be a witness during the ceremony2005 – The couple welcome Princess LeonorFebruary 2007 – Letizia’s sister Erika suddenly passes away April 2007 – Princess Sofia is born. During one of her pregnancies, Jaime claims Letizia sends him a selfie confessing her love.2010 – The couple reportedly profess their love for one another and allegedly meet with lawyers. Jaime claims they looked at properties in the US to move to. He also claims Letizia suggested they use a surrogate in LA to have a baby2011 – Jaime claims Letizia ends their relationship over the phone2012 – Jaime marries Letizia’s sister Telma. The couple relocate to New York2014 – Telma and Jaime announce their separation

 

It read: ‘Love. I wear your pashmina. It’s like feeling you by my side. It takes care of me. It protects me. I count the hours until we see each other again. Love you. Get out of here. Yours,’ 

Father-of-two Del Burgo divorced Telma Ortiz by mutual consent in 2016 – four years after they married and two years after they split up.

He claimed in Peñafiel’s book that he was carrying an engagement ring in his pocket during a meeting at Madrid’s Ritz Hotel with his ‘then-girlfriend’ Letizia in 2002 when she told him she had fallen in love with the future King of Spain.

He alleged he became friends with Felipe after they met and was asked by Letizia to be a witness at their May 22, 2004 wedding.

Del Burgo also made the incredible claim that the Queen asked to see him the night before the wedding at the exclusive El Latigazo restaurant in Madrid – where she asked him to ‘never leave’ her.

The businessman – who is the son of the former politician Jaime Ignacio del Burgo – said their ‘romantic’ relationship was forged in Venice and pre-dated the year 2000.

He also recalled a moment he says occurred following Princess Leonor’s birth when they were lying together in a hammock by a pool, saying in the book: ‘Letizia told me “I love you” and I responded “I love you”.’

Telma is now with Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2021. Gavin shares two children with his first wife – musician Sharon Corr.

In her recent album, The Fool & The Scorpion, Sharon wrote lyrics which included the phrase ‘the queen’s twisted sister’ – which fans speculated were inspired by her children’s new step-mother.

Meanwhile, Del Burgo married Swedish lawyer Lucía Díaz Liljestrom. His X bio also once said he is father to ‘Ulla and Liv’ – but is now blank.

Speaking to El Cierre Digitial, Peñafiel said Letizia was Del Burgo’s ‘great love’ and the pair’s relationship turned into a ‘great friendship’ after she became romantically involved with Felipe.

What’s more, the royal’s ex-brother-in-law also made the far-fetched claim that he ‘dealt’ with Letizia’s pre-nuptial agreement and helped to front the cost of the Queen’s family’s wedding outfits.

He is quoted as saying: ‘When the wedding with Felipe came round, I dealt with the pre-nuptial agreement as you know, amongst other things.

‘I also had to pay Letizia’s family’s expenses because [former King] Juan Carlos refused to pay or even go halves with me. So with the help of my friend Felipe Varela, I dressed her mum, grandmother and her sisters. And with the help of Jaime Jason, her father, grandparents and a cousin.’ 

Two decades after their wedding at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid, the royal couple looked as loved up as ever (pictured next to their daughters in a new portrait) – despite being rocked late last year by explosive claims made by Letizia’s ex brother-in-law that he had once been romantically linked to her 

The Queen – who donned a surprisingly casual pair of white sneakers – appeared as jovial as ever as she posed alongside her husband in the family photos 

In the book, Letizia’s alleged ex-lover describes Felipe as a ‘kind-hearted man’ and even goes on to say that he had a ‘great friendship’ with the royal.  He told the author: ‘I told him my problems and he told [me] his.’

The businessman even said that Felipe ‘uses [him] as a good man because he felt incapable of calming [Letizia] down’ on occasions. 

Following the wedding, Del Burgo described how Letizia was like a ‘fox in a chicken coop’ as she was ‘cleverer than any of them’. 

Del Burgo – who says the Queen nicknamed him her ‘yogi pal’ – claims he still had a romantic relationship with Letizia even after the wedding in 2004. He also claims he has kept ‘photographs, videos, mobile phones’ and text messages as evidence.

The businessman insists that ‘love was always there’ in their relationship since they travelled to Venice together. The selfie Del Burgo shared on X was taken during one of Letizia’s pregnancies between 2005-2007. 

Following this, they allegedly ‘took steps forward with the goal of being free’ – which involved seeking legal advice and looking at properties in the US. 

One of the most damaging claims Del Burgo reportedly makes is that Queen Letizia suggested they have a child together using a surrogate in Los Angeles.

Around this time, Del Burgo claims that he confronted Letizia after photos of her kissing Felipe appeared on the covers of Spanish magazines. He claims the Queen told him: ‘I had to do it to protect us.’ 

Spanish Crown Prince Felipe de Bourbon and his bride Letizia look at each other as the royal couple appears on the balcony of Royal Palace May 22, 2004

Peñafiel also wrote that when Sofia was born, Del Burgo became uncle to both of the girls.

It then quotes him as saying: ‘It was a beautiful period. I didn’t have children, and those girls made me so happy. I was working in Brazil and suffered a pulmonary embolism.

‘I was in intensive care for a fortnight. I managed to get the Albert Einstein Hospital to give me a telephone Letizia and I spoke to each other every day on [the phone].

‘During my visits to Madrid I would often go to the cinema with Felipe, Letizia and some friends. Letizia and I would always sit together, holding hands. They were moments of happiness.’

However in August 2011, Del Burgo says Letizia abruptly ended their relationship when she called him and said: ‘We can’t continue seeing each other.’

Following this, he claims that a female friend told him to get in touch with Telma – who he had met when he first started dating Letizia.

The following year, the pair got engaged after just two months of dating. The Queen’s sister already had her daughter Amanda from her relationship with ex-partner Enrique Martin Llop. 

In 2012, the pair relocated to New York to start their married life – but Telma returned to Barcelona the same year before announcing their permanent separation.

Queen Letizia during her time as a newsreader for Television Espanola before her wedding to King Felipe

Telma Ortiz is seen leaving the EDP Gran Via Theater after attending the ‘We Choose Earth Tour’ on June 22, 2023 in Madrid

Letizia studied her Masters in broadcast journalism and after a stint at Asturian daily paper, La Nueva España, she went on to work for ABC, a popular national newspaper that enjoys the third largest circulation in Spain. 

Next came a stint at Spanish news agency EFE before a move to Guadalajara in Mexico saw her take on a role on local paper, Siglo 21.

Back in Spain a year later, she worked for the Spanish version of Bloomberg, a news channel and agency specialising in economics, before moving to CNN+.

Before she met Felipe of Spain, Letizia was married to high school literature teacher Alonso Guerrero Perez, who was nine years her senior.

The couple wed in 1998 following a ten-year romance, with the pair meeting when the future Spanish queen was just 16.

They tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the town of Almendralejo, Badajoz, but divorced the following year.

By the time she met her husband-to-be, Felipe, in 2002, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where along with anchoring the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin she reported on a wide range of breaking news event.

As a news anchor, she reported live from Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks in 2001.

She met Prince Felipe the following year – at the site of an oil spillage in Northern Spain. The year after first meeting Felipe, Letizia quit her job and a few days later their engagement was announced.

Letizia and Felipe’s marriage in Madrid in 2004 prompted an upswing in support for the royal family, and her habit of championing High Street brands like Zara proved popular. She and Felipe had two daughters, Leonor in 2005 and Sofia in 2007.

Letizia and her husband have continued to put on a united front amid the shocking claims, most recently releasing official family portraits to mark their 20th wedding anniversary.

In the sweet images, the Spanish King and his wife stood alongside their two daughters Princesses Leonor and Sofia for the new photographs.

The Queen – who donned a surprisingly casual pair of white sneakers – appeared as jovial as ever as she posed alongside her husband in the family photos.

In one image, King Felipe stood behind his wife and placed both hands on her shoulders – perhaps to signal his unwavering support.

The couple turned their heads away from the gaze of the camera, while their two daughters are seen walking towards them in the distance.

Set upon an idyllic green setting, it appeared the images were shot on the grounds of their home at the Palace of Zarzuela on the outskirts of Madrid.

In a separate image and against a backdrop of the palace, the King wrapped one arm around his stunning wife while she stood side on and smiled.

Meanwhile, in a third photo the royals modelled the role of a perfect loving family as they beamed beside each other while sitting on a wooden bench.

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