How Queen Letizia of Spain has spent the month supported by King Felipe and her daughters during public outings as they put on united front amid explosive ‘affair’ claims from her ex brother-in-law

The Spanish Royal Family has been beset by outlandish claims from Queen Letizia’s ex brother-in-law that he had an ‘affair’ with the royal after her marriage to King Felipe.

At the start of this month, the Queen’s former brother-in-law Jaime Del Burgo caused shockwaves again when he claimed that he is still in contact with the mother-of-two in an interview with Argentinian newspaper Clarín.

Since the latest bombshell claims, the Spanish Royal Household has put on a strong united front – with Letizia, 51, having not been pictured undertaking a solo outing since June 25.

Instead, the glamorous Queen has been surrounded by her supportive family during engagements, appearing alongside her lookalike daughters, Infanta Sofia and Princess Leonor, or clinging onto her husband’s arm.

Most recently, Letizia and Felipe, 56, dazzled in black tie as they attended an awards ceremony in Madrid on Thursday evening.

The royal couple, who are both known for their sharp and glamorous dressing, looked more stylish than ever at The Mariano Awards in the Spanish capital. The awards recognise scientific and innovation initiatives in the nation.

This joint outing followed Leonor and Sofia making a surprise appearance as they joined their parents in Madrid on Wednesday to meet with the board of trustees of the Foundation Spanish Committee of United World Colleges (UWC).

As Leonor, 18, and Sofia, 17, have studied at UWC Atlantic in Wales, the event had a personal element for both princesses. 

In recent weeks, the two have been heavily involved in the official agenda, having welcomed the Spanish football team after winning the Euros and attending the Princess of Girona Foundation Awards. 

It is allowing the family to put on a display of unity, after troubled months filled with shocking affair allegations aimed at the Queen herself. 

On Tuesday, King Felipe and Queen Letizia were the image of proud parents as they presided over a ceremony at the Naval Military School in Pontevedra with their daughter Leonor. 

The family was also snapped smiling as they made a public appearance together at the Princess of Girona Awards 2024 at the Costa Brava Palace Congress in Lloret de on July 10.

Their united front follows explosive claims made by Letizia’s ex brother-in-law Jaime Del Burgo, who earlier this year suggested they had an ‘affair’ after her marriage to the King. 

Queen Letizia looked radiant as she stepped out in dusky blue dress to attend a meeting at Netflix headquarters in Spain on June 25

King Felipe and his family attend the delivery of Royal offices of employment at the Zaragoza Military Academy on July 03

Queen Letizia put on a united front with her husband King Felipe and their daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia as they stepped out together in Barcelona on July 9

The businessman – who dated the Queen when she was still a newsreader and was married to her sister Telma from 2012-2014 – recently claimed that he is still in contact with the royal in an interview with Argentinian newspaper Clarín.

He said: ‘We have shared many years of our lives together. We have been a family. As I have always said, ours was not a relationship of lovers. The lover would be him, in any case. I mean Felipe.’

The father-of-one went on to describe his romance with Letizia as a ‘committed, long-lasting, exclusive relationship’. 

Jaime claimed Letizia wanted to start a family with him and they shared the dream of ‘growing old holding hands’. 

Elsewhere in the interview, Jaime said he was trying to expose the ‘rottenness of the Crown’ but was ‘asked to flee’ by Queen Letizia. 

However, the businessman goes on to claim that he is still in contact with Letizia and last spoke to her on May 12. 

At the end of last year, Jaime made a series of shocking claims about his relationship in the book ‘Letizia & I’ by veteran royal journalist Jaime Penafiel. In January, the author was sacked by the newspaper El Mundo after 20 years.

Letizia’s former brother-in-law told the author that he met the Queen before 2000 and their alleged relationship began on a romantic trip to Venice, years before she met King Felipe.

Jaime – who is the son of the former politician Jaime Ignacio del Burgo – claims he was planning to propose to Letizia when she announced that she was dating a mysterious ‘diplomat’ over dinner at the Ritz hotel in Madrid in 2002.

Describing how ‘serious and significant’ their relationship was, the author made the unlikely claim that Jaime was ‘carrying an engagement ring his his pocket’ that evening.

Letizia reportedly told him that she had ‘met someone who would oblige her to quit her profession’, which Jaime said led him to deduce her mystery partner was Felipe. 

After the pair reportedly decided to just be friends, Jaime is said to have advised Letizia: ‘Don’t announce the romance, just the wedding.’ 

Following their engagement announcement in 2003, Letizia – who had divorced her first husband in 1999 – allegedly asked Jaime to be a witness at their wedding.

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 was 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.’ 

The Spanish royals at a reception to honour the Spanish football team after their Euros win 

Letizia and Felipe, 56, dazzled in black tie as they attended an awards ceremony in Madrid on Thursday evening 

Princess Leonor, King Felipe, Queen Letizia and Infanta Sofia during a meeting with Patronato of the Foundation Spanish Committee of United World Schools (UWC) in Madrid on 17 July

The royals were in attendance to present the Royal Commissions to the new officers of the Navy on July 16

Jaime 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.

He sensationally claimed: ‘When we met, she took hold of my hand and asked me why I had never asked her to marry me. Obviously I didn’t reply. 

‘I encouraged her as best I could. The last thing she said to me before we said goodbye to each other in that restaurant was a request: “Never leave me.”‘

In the book, Del Burgo described 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 claims that Felipe ‘uses [him] as a good man because he felt incapable of calming [Letizia] down’ on occasions. 

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

Jaime – 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 claimed that ‘love was always there’ in their relationship since, he claimed, they travelled to Venice together. Jaime shared a photograph to X which was taken during one of Letizia’s pregnancies between 2005-2007.

Queen Letizia (second right) Princess Leonor (left) and Infanta Sofia (right) were snapped together at a meeting on July 10

The Spanish Royal Family – including Princess Sofia – were out in full force for a military ceremony on July 3

Queen Letizia appeared in great spirits as she stepped out alongside King Felipe for a meeting at Zarzuela Palace on June 27

In the book, Jaime sensationally claims that Letizia whispered that she loved him when they were lying in a hammock by a pool at her home following Princess Leonor’s birth.

Jaime Penafiel goes on to write that Jaime del Burgo subsequently wrote a play called ‘La Hamaca, which in English is ‘The Hammock’, and edited it but never distributed it. 

Following this, Jaime alleges they ‘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.’ 

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].

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

In December, businessman Jaime Del Burgo shared this unseen selfie of Queen Letizia with his X followers. He claimed that the royal was wearing his pashmina and said it ‘took care of her’

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

‘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 the Queen’s sister 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.

A spokesperson for the Spanish Royal Family previously told FEMAIL: ‘We have no comment to make about this.’