Queen Letizia and King Felipe attend funeral as Spanish royalty mourns monarch's cousin

King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrive for cousin's funeral

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Hannah Ross

By Hannah Ross


Published: 09/04/2024

- 21:55

The Spanish royals attended Fernando Gómez-Acebo’s mass in Madrid

  • The Spanish King’s cousin passed away aged 49 after contracting Covid-19
  • Gómez-Acebo was King Juan Carlos’s nephew and Felipe’s first cousin
  • King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived arm-in-arm at the service in front of a crowd of royal supporters

Queen Letizia and King Felipe attended a funeral as Spanish royalty mourned the monarch’s cousin.

The Spanish royals paid their respects to Fernando Gómez-Acebo on Monday at Castrense Cathedral in Madrid.


The King’s cousin passed away aged 49 on March 1 after contracting COVID-19.

Felipe, 56 looked sombre in a navy-blue suit and Letizia, 51 arrived in a long black dress.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia

The King and Queen of Spain leave the Castrense Cathedral where they attended the funeral mass of Fernando Gomez-Acebo

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Fernando Gómez-Acebo was the King’s first cousin and King Juan Carlos’s nephew.

The royal couple walked arm-in-arm when they arrived at the service to a waiting crowd of royal supporters.

The Spanish King’s cousin was the youngest son of Infanta Pilar and Luis Gómez-Acebo.

As this was a solemn event, the Queen kept her look simple and respectful with a black frock featuring frayed detailing on the waist and sleeves.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia

Fernando Gómez-Acebo was King Juan Carlos’s nephew

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She kept her make-up subtle and let her brown hair fall just above her shoulders.

The Queen accessorised her outfit with a black leather handbag and a beautiful pearl brooch.

The royal couple attended another poignant event last month at a remembrance service for victims of terrorism.

The event held at the Royal Collection Gallery paid tribute to nearly 200 victims of the 2004 train attack in Madrid.

King Felipe and Queen Letizia

King Felipe and Queen Letizia arrived to a crowd of supporters

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It comes as Queen Letizia makes history by breaking tradition in the royal household.

For the first time in history, there will be a woman as head of the Queen’s Secretariat.

It has been confirmed that María Dolores Ocaña Madrid, a state lawyer, has been appointed as Queen Letizia’s right-hand woman.

Ocaña will replace José Manuel Zuleta, Duke of Abrante, who has held the position for the past decade.

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King Felipe and Queen Letizia are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary in May

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This year marks a milestone for King Felipe and Queen Letizia as they prepare to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary on May 22.

June 19 also marks the tenth anniversary of Felipe’s accession to the throne.

Felipe and Letizia have two daughters, Princess Leonor, 18 and Infanta Sofia, 16.

Leonor is in the middle of her military training and Sofia is studying for her Baccalaureate at UWC Atlantic College in Wales.

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