By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2026-06-09 11:45:03 | Updated at 2026-06-10 21:18:17
1 day ago
Queen Letizia of Spain took fashion inspiration from the Princess of Wales this weekend as she stepped out in a striking white Self-Portrait dress during Pope Leo XIV's visit.
The royal, 53, was accompanied by her husband, King Felipe VI, alongside daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, for an outdoor Mass service on the feast of Corpus Christi led by the Pope in the Spanish capital on Sunday.
Opting for a white dress by Kate Middleton's go-to brand, Self Portrait, Letizia invoked her 'privilège du blanc' - a rare exception to the historic dress code that permits queens and princesses from Catholic countries to wear white when meeting with the Pope.
Known as the 'White Tailored Taffeta Midi Dress', Letizia's glamorous dress retails at £450, and has drawn numerous similarities to previous outfits worn by Britain's future Queen.
For the occasion, the Spanish Queen accessorised with drop earrings and a white handbag, while her simple nude heels helped tie together the effortlessly chic look.
Since she first entered the royal fold in 2011, the Princess of Wales has showcased her fondness for Self-Portrait, a luxury fashion brand that are well-known for feminine silhouettes and stylish use of guipure lace.
During a Buckingham Palace garden party last month, Kate stepped out in a stunning ivory Self-Portrait ensemble and also showcased a nude tailored midi dress by the luxury brand for the Royal's Easter Sunday service in Windsor the month prior.
On Saturday, more than a million people lined the streets of Madrid as Felipe and Letizia welcomed the Pontiff to Spain for his week-long visit in a ceremony hosted at the Royal Palace.
Queen Letizia of Spain took fashion inspiration from the Princess of Wales this weekend as she stepped out in a striking white Self-Portrait dress during Pope Leo XIV's visit
The royal, 53, was accompanied by her husband, King Felipe VI, alongside daughters Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, for an outdoor Mass service on the feast of Corpus Christi led by the Pope in the Spanish capital on Sunday
Opting for a white dress by Kate Middleton's go-to brand, Self Portrait, Letizia invoked her 'privilége du blanc' - a rare exception to the historic dress code that permits queens and princesses from Catholic countries to wear white when meeting with the Pope
The religious leader's Spanish arrival marks the first papal visit since 2011 and will see the Pope also visit Barcelona and the Canary Islands of Gran Canaria and Tenerife.
Queen Letizia looked ever so regal in a floor-length white lace dress by luxury Spanish label, The 2nd Skin Co, and accessorised with a statement white buckled belt and slingback heels from footwear brand Magrit.
Her gorgeous rose and gold diamond earrings by Luzia come to a total cost of £2,272.
Meanwhile King Felipe, 58, sported a polished look in a tailored black suit and gold striped tie as he posed next to Pope Leo.
He was also joined by the couple's daughters Princess Sofia, 19, and Princess Leonor, 20, who matched in shirt-style long black dresses which were cinched at the waist by belts.
More than a million people flocked to the streets of Madrid to catch sight of Pope Leo XIV holding his open-air Mass this morning.
The Pontiff was driven through the Spanish capital in his beloved 'popemobile' on the second day of his official week-long visit to the country - the first in 15 years - with devotees shouting 'long live the Pope' and waving Spanish and Vatican flags.
The event fell on the Catholic Corpus Domini feast day, which often features processions of faithful through towns and cities led by a priest carrying the Eucharist.
On Saturday, more than a million people lined the streets of Madrid as Felipe and Letizia welcomed the Pontiff to Spain for his week-long visit in a ceremony hosted at the Royal Palace
Queen Letizia looked ever so regal in a floor-length white lace dress by luxury Spanish label, The 2nd Skin Co, and accessorised with a statement white buckled belt and slingback heels from footwear brand Magrit
In Spain, as in other predominantly Catholic countries, the processions often feature elaborate floral carpets arranged along the route, with locals throwing petals themselves in front of the Pope's route.
Cibeles Square - best known as the rallying point for Real Madrid fans celebrating their club's titles - was transformed into a giant communion of a different kind, as Pope Leo urged the 1.2million listeners of his sermon to care for others.
He told the crowd, which included the Spanish royal family, that God 'identifies with the poor, the downtrodden, those who are alone and forsaken', before carrying a gilded monstrance, or container, holding a Eucharistic host and walked over the floral carpets.
On Saturday, thousands of devotees lined the streets of central Madrid before an estimated 600,000 young Spaniards attended a vigil service at Real Madrid's Santiago Bernabeu stadium, kneeling for several minutes in silent prayer alongside the Pope.
'Let me take the opportunity to tell all of you: Don't ever be afraid of thinking about a vocation to the priesthood or religious life, or other services in the church,' Leo told the crowd.
The Pope has been keen to highlight the long tradition of Catholic devotion to encourage especially young generations to find their faith in a once-staunchly Catholic country where religious observance has largely been on the wane.
He said the continued observance of such devotional practices points to what Spain can and should be for the world.
'Herein lies the task of Spain today and in the future: to ensure that the religiosity which has shaped and defined this country for centuries is not a museum of the past to be visited, but a school of faith from which to draw even today,' Leo said.
During his apostolic journey, the religious leader is hoping to bring a message of unity in a country polarised with political and church scandals.
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