Here are some newly-released portraits of Prince Felipe of Spain with his two daughters, Leonor and Sofia (aged 8 and 7 respectively). These portraits were released by the royal family ahead of Prince Felipe’s coronation, which is happening a lot faster than originally thought. More on that in a second. Is it weird to anyone else that Princess Letizia isn’t in the portraits? Last year, there were lots and lots of rumors that Letizia and Felipe’s marriage was strained (at best) and all but over (at worst). Surely Letizia is going to be Queen, right? Anyway, these portraits are gorgeous. I don’t really consider Felipe to be a traditionally “handsome” man, but he looks lovely with his beautiful daughters.

As for the coronation… when King Juan Carlos announced his abdication a few weeks ago, we were led to believe that the King’s actually “stepping down” would probably happen next year, that they build up some momentum for Felipe’s coronation. Not so much. Apparently, the coronation is going down THIS WEEK, June 19th, and it will be a “modest affair.”

They’ve been employing a recent display of frugality, in keeping with the scale of the economic crisis facing Spain. And it seems the Spanish royal family’s new austere stance isn’t about to change – even for the most important event in the past 40 years.

Although plans have not yet been announced, it appears that the imminent coronation of Prince Felipe could also be a rather modest affair. The event, which is understood to be taking place on June 19, will be a secular event and will instead feature just a simple proclamation, as well as a military procession, in front of Spanish politicians.

Palace and government spokesmen have already said no foreign dignitaries will be invited to the ceremony, largely due to the late notice given to plan the event. Even Prince Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos, has signalled he does not intend to be at the ceremony to see his son take over his throne. But fervent royalists have attacked the plans, saying a low-key affair would waste a rare opportunity to showcase Spain on the global stage.

Monarchist newspaper ABC said the austerity policy threatened to tarnish the handover, claiming in an editorial: ‘Unless we see a sudden change in strategy that could save the celebration, Spain looks set to miss out on an historic opportunity to project its image abroad.’

Political leaders are also said to be trying to persuade the royal family to change its mind about the foreign dignitaries, although observers say it has probably been left too late. But a palace spokesman said there would not be room in parliament for an extended guest list, saying: ‘We aren’t going to make people come just to leave them outside.’

It is believed the steps are being taken at the request of Prince Felipe, who wants a smaller celebration than that of his father King Juan Carlos, who was crowned four decades ago after the death of dictator General Francisco Franco in 1975.

[From The Daily Mail]

Apparently, Felipe is also very worried about the potential cost of going all out for a coronation, so he wants the royal family to look especially frugal. I don’t really have a huge problem with keeping the ceremony simple and frugal, although I think the huge rush seems… weird. And if they had just put it off for a month or two, they could have invited some other heads of state or something. I fear that we will have no jewelry p0rn with the coronation. Sad.

Photos courtesy of the Spanish royal family.