Queen Letizia's niece Carla Vigo, 23, opens up about her mother's suicide when she was just 6 years old and reveals her own battles with anxiety and eating disorders after feeling 'abandoned'

The niece of Queen Letizia of Spain has spoken out about the traumatising impact of her mother's suicide in a heartbreaking new interview.

Carla Vigo, now 23, was just six years old when her mother and Letizia's sister, Erika Ortiz Rocasolano, passed away in 2007 aged 31. 

A post-mortem examination found that she died from an overdose of pills, possibly tranquillisers.

In a new interview with Spanish magazine Lecturas, Carla said she felt 'abandoned' by her mother's death, 'because you choose to live or not', and candidly addressed her struggles with anxiety ever since.

The Spanish socialite - who has been working in theatre to make it as an actress - also detailed her experiences with anorexia and bulimia, saying she had engaged in self-harm, according to Spanish publication Look. 

The now 23-year-old was just six when her mother, Erika Ortiz Rocasolano, passed away in 2007 aged 31 (Carla and her mother are pictured together)

She said: 'My first anxiety attack hit me when I was four years old. When my mother died, when I was 6 years old, I started going to therapy.

'Until I was 22 years old I couldn't say goodbye. I clung to her. There have been many years without being able to mourn. I understood that she had an illness, but I felt abandoned, because you choose to live or not.'

Carla has previously been hospitalised due to a 'delicate medical episode', according to Spanish media. 

The socialite has previously credited her love of dancing for saving her life in the difficult years following her mother's death. 

She made her debut as an actress in 2021 in a production of 'Yerma', the novel by Federico García Lorca, and has recently been volunteering in a care home. 

Elsewhere in the candid interview, Carla discussed her relationship with her aunt, Queen Letizia, the wife of King Felipe VI of Spain.

Carla Vigo (pictured) - the niece of Queen Letizia of Spain - has spoken out about the traumatising impact of her mother's suicide in a heartbreaking new interview

Carla (left) was a young bridesmaid at the wedding of her aunt Queen Letizia and King Felipe in 2004

Erika Ortiz (pictured in 2004) died by suicide aged 31 in 2007 after taking an overdose of pills

She said she feels 'represented' by Letizia and referenced a speech her royal aunt gave for mental World Mental Health Day in October, in which she performed a 'rap' to raise awareness. 

Carla, who is the cousin of Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia, was a young bridesmaid at Letizia's wedding to King Felipe in 2004. 

The socialite was raised by her father, sculptor Antonio Vigo, after her mother's death.

Erika Ortiz wrote to members of her family before taking the fatal overdose and died in her sleep. 

Letizia's sister Erika and her husband Antonio Vigo are pictured left, in the top row, before the baptism of Leonor at the Zarzuela Palace in Madrid in January 2006

At Erika's funeral in February 2007, her heartbroken sister Letizia - then six months pregnant - was pictured breaking down in tears

It was reported she had been suffering from depression after the breakdown of her marriage to Carla's father and had found being in the royal spotlight difficult. 

At her funeral in February 2007, her heartbroken sister Letizia - then six months pregnant - was pictured breaking down in tears as she was supported by King Felipe.

'Thank you to everyone who has shown sympathy following the death of my little sister,' Letizia said at the time. 

Queen Letizia's show of support for mental health last October has clearly resonated with her niece, and she performed lyrics from Madrid-born rapper El Chojin. 

Carla (pictured) says she feels 'represented' by Letizia and referenced a speech her royal aunt gave for mental World Mental Health Day

Carla Vigo during the performance of 'Yerma' on December 26, 2021 at the Carlos III Theatre in Aranjuez, Madrid

She showed that she was using her influence for good, saying: 'If today or tomorrow even one newspaper writes, 'The Queen Raps for the Mental Health Day it will bring attention to the cause.' 

'Investment in mental health is the guarantee of a prosperous and equitable future for all people. When there is no mental health, any hope of living fully is extinguished.' 

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