Birthday girl Queen Letizia of Spain cut an elegant figure as she toured the White House with King Felipe VI. The royal, who turned 43 on 15 September, was shown around Michelle Obama's organic garden while her husband was received in the Oval Office by President Barack Obama.
© Photo: RexThe queen turned 43 on 15 September
Letizia was chic in a white Hugo Boss jacket over a printed dress by one of her favourite designers Felipe Varela. It was her towering heels, though, that really won praise when pictures of the two high-profile couples were published by Pete Souza, the official White House photographer. One fan commented: "Queen Letizia heels though. Wow," another described her shoes as "ridiculously gorgeous".
The day had begun in Mount Vernon the home of George Washington, where the king and queen laid a wreath in honour of America's great founding father. The royals also visited Capitol Hill to meet with law-makers.
Their four-day trip is Letizia's second as queen. In her previous life as a journalist, she reported on the US presidential elections of 2000 and broadcast from Ground Zero following the September 11 attacks. Meanwhile, her husband studied international affairs at Georgetown University.
This year's tour concludes on 18 September after appearances in Miami and St Augustine. It is one of their first big commitments since their summer holiday in Majorca's Marivent Palace. Like the Queen's stay at Balmoral, Felipe and Letizia's visit usually combines leisure with some official duties.
© Photo: RexThis is Letizia's second visit to the US as queen
This year was difficult for Letizia as her grandfather taxi driver Francisco Rocasolano died aged 98 at the start of July. In the last ten years he attended several royal occasions invited by his granddaughter, most notably her wedding and Felipe's coronation in July 2014. Supported by Felipe and their daughters Princess Leonor and Princess Sofia, this summer Letizia put a brave face on her loss when the family appeared at a photocall during the holidays.
