THE FIRST APPEARANCE

November 3, 2003

To the big joy of the press and the Spaniards the Prince of Asturias and his fiancée Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano already appeared in public together today. In the evening they posed for the gathered press outside the house of the Prince of Asturias at the Zarzuela Palace complex.

Felipe: We wanted, once we made the official announcement of our engagement, to appear before you all and the Spanish population to thank you for the numerous samples of affection that we have received these two days and also to be together. I am very happy to be able to show how happy our engagement has made me and how in love I am with Letizia. For every couple, it is an important step to become engaged. I say to you with conviction that Letizia is the woman with whom I want to share my life and to form a family and in addition, as to the Crown, I have the security of knowing that Letizia unites all the qualities and capacities necessary to assume the responsibilities and functions as Princess of Asturias and as future Queen of Spain. Our coming together allows us to give continuity to the parliamentary monarchy as it consecrates our Constitution. But above else, We present ourselves here in love, committed, with conviction and full of hope and, of course, devoted to serving Spain and the Spaniards. Thanks.

Letizia: I understand the surprise that this decision caused nearly everyone, but it is a mature decision, the fruit of very intense reflections and covered with the weight and the sureness of the deep love that we have ourselves and of the course that we've undertaken together. From when I was very young I was always a journalist and until the 31 years that I am now, I have exerted my profession with desire, dreams, determination and in that same way I now confront what we started now, with responsibility, vision and hard work to serve Spain and the Spaniards.

Afterwards they visited a concert by violinist Mstislav Rostropovich in honor of the Spanish Royal family at the Royal Theatre in Madrid. The concert was attended also by among others King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia of Spain, Infanta Elena and Don Jaime de Marichalar.

Translation of speeches of Felipe and Letizia: Heather