Queen Letizia of Spain stuns in vibrant red trouser suit as joins King Felipe in Oviedo to mark Spain's National Armed Forces Day

Queen Letizia of Spain was stylish in a vibrant red trouser suit as she joined her husband King Felipe of Spain in Oviedo today.

The royal, 51, wore the chic, single-colour ensemble as the couple honoured troops during Spain's National Armed Forces Day.

Letizia paired the eye-catching ensemble with a simple but stylish pair of flat white trainers.

Mother-of-two Letizia let her bold trouser suit, which she paired with a top of the same colour, take centre stage and carried no handbag.

Her jewellery was also kept to a minimum: she wore a pair of statement drop gold and red earrings, and a chunky gold ring was visible on her index finger. 

King Felipe (left) and Queen Letizia (right) are photographed in Oviedo as they mark the Armed Forces 2024 Day

The Spanish queen (pictured) stunned in a vibrant red trouser suit, which she paired with a classic pair of white trainers

When it came to her hair and make-up, the royal wore her chestnut locks loose and blow dried into a glossy, straight style.  

And she opted for one of her trademark looks, pairing a fresh complexion with a natural pink lip, and light brown, smokey eye.

Her husband, King Felipe, also looked dapper, sporting full military regalia for the official appearance.

Spain's National Armed Forces Day, which dates back to 1978, is an annual event held to raise awareness around, and recognise the work of, the Armed Forces.

It is widely celebrated across the country, with commemorative events taking place over several days.

The royal couple's appearance comes amid speculation about their marriage, with a  veteran journalist recently sensationally claiming that pair are living separately and just 'keeping up appearances' in public.

At the end of last year, Jaime Peñafiel, 91, sent shockwaves through the Spanish Royal Family after he alleged the monarch's wife had a romantic relationship with her ex brother-in-law. 

Now, Letizia, who marked her 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday, is bracing herself for more shocking allegations from the journalist after he confirmed he has penned another book about her to follow his explosive Letizia & I, which first made headlines last November.

Mother-of-two Letizia (pictured) opted for one of her classic make-up looks, looking natural and polished at the event

BOLD: The royal opted for an extremely vibrant look, pairing her red two-piece suit with a matching coloured top

The royal couple were snapped bowing their heads in respect as they marked the annual Armed Forces Day

Queen Letizia (pictured) look characteristically stylish at the event, wearing her glossy chestnut locks loose, paired with natural make-up

King Felipe (pictured) looked dapper at the event, opting to wear full military regalia for the appearance in Oviedo

His first book relied heavily on allegations made by UK-based businessman Jaime del Burgo, 53, who has sensationally claimed he was still romantically involved with Letizia after her 2004 wedding to King Felipe.

Peñafiel, sacked by El Mundo, which is the second largest print newspaper in Spain, following the release of Letizia & I, has announced he is about to publish a new book called ‘Los Silencios de Letizia’ - English for ‘Letizia’s Silences.”

Its contents have been kept a closely-guarded secret - but online teasers ahead of its May 28 release hint at claims that Letizia left the Spanish Royal Family’s summer residence in Majorca during a ‘marital crisis’ for a meeting with another man.

Spanish media which have touched on its imminent publication have also claimed the book will address 'for the first time' the identity of a man she was allegedly on a Madrid-New York flight with in 2012 when Letizia is said to have travelled 'incognito' to avoid being recognised but was spotted by a famous painter.

The book’s author, who despite his 91 years of age is as active as ever and is now writing for Spanish news website OK Diario, has shown he’s lost none of his appetite for controversy by sensationally claiming he believes Spain’s King and Queen are no longer sharing the same bed or even cohabiting.

Peñafiel told Madrid-based online newspaper El Cierre Digital, which operates under the slogan ‘Truth-driven investigation’: 'I don’t think they even live under the same roof. 

'They are keeping up appearances. Felipe is a good person, as I have said already. He’s putting on a brave front and Letizia has done him a lot of harm.'

He also predicted the couple, who have maintained what the mainstream Spanish press have described as a dignified silence in the face of ongoing infidelity claims by Jaime del Burgo, would follow in the footsteps of Felipe’s parents Juan Carlos and Sofia. 

Spain’s former king is now living in exile in Abu Dhabi after corruption investigations he was caught up in left his reputation in tatters although he returns to his homeland from time to time.

The appearance comes amid sensation claims made by a journalist who alleges that pair are living separately and just 'keeping up appearances' in public. The palace has previously refused to comment on the speculation

Despite the speculation surrounding the royal couple, they were snapped smiling at each other at one point during the event

The royal appeared to be in good spirits, amid reports in the Spanish press about the state of her marriage

ROYAL WAVE: Mother-of-two Letizia smiles as she waves at passing crowds during the annual Armed Forces day

Jaime Peñafiel has been quoted as saying of Queen Letizia and her husband, after consistently accusing most Spanish media of portraying an idyllic union between the pair that is far removed from reality: 'I don’t think there will be a divorce, but there could be an agreement like the one Juan Carlos I and Sofia established in which each one leads their own life.'

The battle-scarred journalist, a former war reporter who is a household name in Spain, went on to admit he was 'very proud' of his new book and describes it as a 'very difficult and very reflective work'. 

News of Jaime’s second book in quick succession comes just three weeks after Jaime del Burgo, who was married to the Queen of Spain’s sister, revealed the 'tell-all book' he was promising to publish following his sensational claims of an affair with Letizia will now be a TV film and documentary instead.

The 53-year-old father-of-two has said he will produce it and work will begin after the summer ahead of a launch next year.

He shocked the world last year by alleging he had a relationship with Queen Letizia before and after her 2004 wedding to King Felipe VI. 

Del Burgo, who was married to Letizia’s younger sibling Telma Ortiz for four years until they divorced by mutual consent in 2016, made many of his allegations in Jaime Peñafiel’s first book Letizia & I.

At the start of the month he announced on X, formerly Twitter: 'And Nothing but the Truth, the book I promised, will instead be a TV film and documentary with eight episodes. I will start the production after summer. Coming in 2025.'

In his post, he also once again shared an undated selfie the Spanish Queen, 51, took in a bathroom mirror during one of her pregnancies. He's previously suggested this is 'evidence' of their relationship. 

His apparent U-turn on his ‘tell-all’ book project sparked criticism from his social media followers, with Madrid-based right-wing political advisor Jose David Sanchez saying it showed he had 'lost absolutely all his credibility'.

Del Burgo's claims about his alleged affair with Queen Letizia have included the claim they talked about starting their own family and a new life together in the States during a ‘secret romance’ while she was still with Felipe VI.

The Spanish royal couple has maintained what has been described as a 'dignified silence' amid speculation around their relationship

King Felipe (pictured in Oviedo today) marked his 20th wedding anniversary to Queen Letizia on Wednesday

Queen Letizia, who used to be a journalist, joined the Spanish royal family when she married King Felipe on May 22, 2004 

LADY IN RED: The Spanish Queen (pictured) paired her all-red ensemble with a pair of earrings featuring a red stone

The King appeared to be pointing at something, prompting Letizia to look in the same direction during the event in Oviedo

King Felipe looked dapper in full military regalia, and Queen Letizia looked chic in a vibrant red trouser suit

In Jaime Penafiel’s book he claimed he was carrying an engagement ring in his pocket during a meeting at Madrid’s Ritz Hotel with his 'then-girlfriend' Letizia in 2002 when she told him she had fallen in love with the future King of Spain.

He alleged he became friends with Felipe after they met and was asked by Letizia to be a witness at their May 22, 2004 wedding.

He 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.

The businessman claimed their romantic relationship was forged in Venice and went back more than 20 years.

He also recalled a moment he says occurred following Princess Leonor’s birth when they were lying together in a hammock by a pool, saying in Peñafiel’s book: 'Letizia told me "I love you" and I responded "I love you".'

Last Boxing Day, Del Burgo shared with his thousands of followers on X the 'four stages of the relationship' with Letizia in a message he is thought to have first published in early December before removing and then reposting it.

He listed them in his claim as: '1) Love relationship, from 2002 to 2004; 2) Friends and confidants, from 2004 to 2010; 3) Long-lasting and continuous loving relationship, 2010 and 2011; 4) As brothers-in-law, from 2012 to 2016.'

In another post he claimed that he and Letizia discussed the issue of divorce from Felipe and they sought legal advice, adding: 'We considered New York as the best option for permanent residence, the idea that we would have our child by surrogate in Los Angeles was proposed to me.'

Telma Ortiz is now with Irish lawyer Gavin Bonnar and the couple welcomed their first child together in October 2021. Gavin shares two children with his first wife musician Sharon Corr. 

Neither Spain's Royal Family or Letizia have made any comment about the claims repeatedly and very publicly aired by Jaime del Burgo or Jaime Penafiel.

Referring to the scandal last year, a spokesperson for the Spanish Royal Family told FEMAIL: 'We have no comment to make about this.' 

Letizia studied her Masters in broadcast journalism and after a stint at Asturian daily paper, La Nueva España, she went on to work for ABC, a popular national newspaper that enjoys the third largest circulation in Spain. 

Next came a stint at Spanish news agency EFE before a move to Guadalajara in Mexico saw her take on a role on local paper, Siglo 21.

Back in Spain a year later, she worked for the Spanish version of Bloomberg, a news channel and agency specialising in economics, before moving to CNN+.

Before she met Felipe of Spain, Letizia was married to high school literature teacher Alonso Guerrero Perez, who was nine years her senior.

The couple wed in 1998 following a 10-year romance, with the pair meeting when the future Spanish queen was just 16.

Before the royal couple (pictured) married, Letizia was married to high school literature teacher Alonso Guerrero Perez, who she met when she was just 16-years-old

Like the palace, Queen Letizia has not commented on any of the rumours swirling around her marriage

Letizia's marrige to Felipe prompted a wave of support from the Spanish public for the Royal Family

King Felipe (pictured, left) and Queen Letizia (pictured, right) have continued to present a united front amid speculation surrounding their marriage

The couple was spotted appearing to share several warm moments during the event, at one point smiling widely at each other

They tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the town of Almendralejo, Badajoz, but divorced the following year.

By the time she met her husband-to-be, Felipe, in 2002, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where along with anchoring the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin she reported on a wide range of breaking news event.

As a news anchor, she reported live from Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks in 2001. She met Prince Felipe the following year – at the site of an oil spillage in Northern Spain. The year after first meeting Felipe, Letizia quit her job and a few days later their engagement was announced.

Letizia and Felipe's marriage in Madrid in 2004 prompted an upswing in support for the royal family, and her habit of championing High Street brands like Zara proved popular. She and Felipe had two daughters, Leonor in 2005 and Sofia in 2007.

The couple has continued to put on a united front amid the shocking claims, most recently releasing official family portraits to mark their 20th wedding anniversary.