What does Spain really think of its Queen? Former journalist Letizia 'struggled with being a full-time royal' and 'refuses to be a decorative vase' - as bombshell book brands her 'cold' and accuses her of cheating on King

The Spanish royal family has this week been rocked by yet more allegations of infidelity levelled at Queen Letizia, as a royal reporter has claimed King Felipe was left 'crushed and destroyed' by his wife's alleged affair.

Journalist Jaime Peñafiel, 91, launched a fresh attack on the European Queen in new book Letizia's Silences, which was published in Spain on Tuesday. It follows his sacking from Spanish newspaper El Mundo in January after he made a series of damaging allegations about the Queen in another book, Letizia & I.

But while Europe reels from Peñafiel's allegations and Letizia's ex-brother-in-law, Jaime del Burgo, continues to double down on claims he had an affair with the royal mother-of-two, the opinion of the Spanish people does not appear to have followed.

In local media, Letizia, 52, is hailed as a 'middle-class queen' who did not come from the aristocracy; rather, her background is in journalism. Since marrying into the royal family in 2004, the royal has been praised in favourable publications for 'carving out her own role' in issues about which she is 'passionate', considering that the constitutional responsibilities of the Queen Consort are simply to stand in as regent for the King.

However, while the Queen enjoys strong poll ratings (a recent poll for Hola! found that 61% of Spaniards thought she had strengthened the monarchy), it has not always been smooth sailing for her.

Queen Letizia of Spain has been blighted by repeated allegations of infidelity in recent months, but how do the people of Spain view her?

Argentine-born journalist Martín Bianchi, who has worked in Spain for around 15 years, recently reflected on a 'hostile' media reception Letizia received in her earlier days as Queen.

'Many media outlets were not fair to Letizia and her family, certainly not,' he told El Mundo last week. He then discussed the Spanish media's coverage of the tragic suicide of Letizia's sister, Érika, who died in 2007.

He went on to argue that Letizia 'has many enemies, many men and women who have wanted to see her fall' - however he stopped short of naming names. 

A Spain-based journalist, Martín Bianchi, has recently spoken up about how Letizia was subject to 'hostile' media reports when she married into the royal family

As a former journalist, some media outlets hailed Letizia Ortíz Rocasolano as the nation's 'first middle-class royal'

In recent years, as her daughters Princess Leonor, 18, and Infanta Sofia, 16, have stepped into the limelight, the Queen's maternal side has shone through in media reports 

In the opening chapter of Jaime Penafiel's book, the author sensationally claims that 'everything in Letizia's world has been broken' as a result of alleged 'deceit, adultery and betrayals'. 

The author goes on to say Queen Letizia has a 'cold, indestructible and determined' aura about her and that the royal's silence on the recent allegations signify her 'emotional immaturity'.

Jaime claims the royal 'resorts to silence as a way of controlling and punishing other people'. 

He then goes on to claim that Letizia's 'passive aggressive' behaviour towards King Felipe is the reason her 'mother-in-law [Queen Sofia] and sisters-in-laws [Infanta Cristina and the Duchess of Lugo] hate her so much'.

Letizia has certainly divided opinion among the Spanish people with a headstrong and defiant personality since she became a royal, and there have certainly been suggestions of conflict between the Queen and her mother-in-law - however the pointed allegations levelled by Penafiel against Letizia have not been reflected so strongly by the Spanish people and media. 

When she first announced her engagement to Felipe, who was then Prince of Asturias, Letizia's bold entrance into royal life certainly made an impression on the Spanish people and she divided opinion with her headstrong personality.

Pictured: King Felipe and Queen Letizia attend the wedding of Crown Princess Victoria of Sweden and Daniel Westling in Stockholm in 2010

Following his dismissal from Spanish newspaper El Mundo, the veteran journalist has now written another book - called 'Letizia's Silences' - which begins by delving into her early romance with King Felipe

As Letizia spoke of her respect for the role she would soon be assuming and announced her 'full integration' with the royal family (ie. that she would give up her journalism career), Letizia was briefly interrupted by her husband-to-be. However, she refused to allow him to speak over her and said: 'Let me finish' before continuing her speech to the nation's media. 

Additionally, there were reports of conflict at the heart of the royal family when King Felipe ascended the throne from his father King Juan Carlos, who had abdicated in the wake of corruption allegations.

Specifically, it was reported in Spanish media that there was tension between Letizia and her mother-in-law Queen Sofia, particularly in relation to Letizia and Felipe's daughters Leonor and Sofia.

An El País report from 2018 suggested: 'In the palace, the deterioration of relations between both is evident.'

Pictured: Queen Letizia's ex-brother-in-law Jaime del Burgo with his ex-wife Telma when they were still married

Pictured: Veteran journalist Jaime Penafiel, 91, attends event in Madrid in December 2018. The author has confirmed he is no longer employed by the Spanish newspaper El Mundo

The report alleged there were two different royal families; the public and private faces. 

It referred to a clip of the royals in Palma de Mallorca, where they travel each year for their summer holidays, which appeared to show Letizia and her mother-in-law 'tussling' over the young girls.

The footage showed Queen Sofia attempting to pose for a photo with her granddaughters, while the girls' mother appeared to stand in the way of the cameras.

The report alleged: 'The arrival of [Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia] strengthened Letizia, who was by then more familiar with the way the palace worked and was ready to mark her territory.'

It also suggested that Letizia made it clear to Queen Sofía that 'she was not welcome' to make regular visits to the palace to see her granddaughters because it disrupted their routines. Meanwhile, however, Letizia's own mother Paloma Rocasolano, visited frequently.   

However, in more recent years, the Spanish press has somewhat changed its tune in relation to the 'middle-class royal' as she carries out work in her role as Queen Consort.

In 2021, El País reflected on how Letizia has championed causes aiming to advance women and combat domestic violence in absence of a real job description for the role.

'It is evident that Doña Letizia's character does not fit in well with ornamental roles. A former journalist, she still asks questions and makes comments every time she can,' Miguel Gonzalez wrote.

As her daughters including Princess Leonor, 18, step into the limelight, Letizia has become known for guiding and supporting them in royal life

Pictured: Letizia  hugging her daughter Leonor goodbye as she enrols at Zaragoza military college where she is undertaking three years of military training

He added that, while she may stop short of calling her work 'feminist', Letizia's duties often involve supporting women to protect them from abuse. 

Elsewhere, reports have suggested that the Queen has an interest in attending events which mark important advances in subjects like health and social issues, but that she refuses to take part in any occasion which reduces her to a 'decorative vase'.

A source close to the royal family told El País in 2018 that the Queen 'does not want to accept that the monarchy is a full time job'. 

The source continued: 'It continues to be difficult for her to accept that a queen does not have a private life. Being queen is a complete package – it’s impossible to divide.' 

As her daughters grow up and Princess Leonor, now 18, becomes a queen-in-waiting, Spanish media presents Queen Letizia to the people of Spain as a wise mother who guides her daughters in the trials and tribulations of royal life. 

On Spanish Mother's Day earlier this month, OK Diario reported how Letizia puts her role as a mother above and beyond her role as Queen. 

The publication noted how, during public appearances, Letizia can often be spotted giving her daughters subtle directions as to how they should act during engagements, and described her as an 'excessively protective mother'. 

It also described how Letizia has encouraged her daughters to develop an interest in literature and culture as she prioritises their education - and never shies away from showing them deep affection in public.

Where the spotlight has been put on the Spanish Queen for her defiant attitude and difficult relationship with other family members within the Spanish media, she has in turn shown her warmth in public with her two daughters.