Spanish crown prince proposes to TV star

Spanish Crown Prince Felipe formally proposed to his TV-anchorwoman girlfriend today as a thoroughly modern couple enacted a centuries-old tradition in Madrid.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia greeted the parents and other relatives of journalist Letizia Ortiz at the Zarzuela Palace ceremony on a day with sunny, spring-like weather.

The act is known as the peticion de mano, in which the groom formally asks his beloved’s parents for her hand in marriage. It is also designed for the future in-laws to meet each other for the first time, and for the families to exchange gifts.

In this case it was gold-and-sapphire cufflinks for him and a white-gold, diamond-studded ring for her. As of today, Ortiz is officially engaged to the prince.

Ortiz, 31, and the 35-year-old prince shocked Spain at the weekend by announcing their engagement. Few knew that the heir to the Spanish throne had been dating a woman who was one of the country’s best-known television personalities.

The prince today talked about his rapid-fire courtship with Ortiz. “The first time we met was just over a year ago,” he said. “But it was a casual encounter and nothing came of it. It was in spring that we began to see each other more and it bore fruit.”

The wedding will be next summer in Madrid but no date has been announced.

Ortiz, an anchorwoman for Spanish National Television, said she would not leave her job right away but rather gradually stop working and prepare for the wedding and her duties as a princess.

“It is clear that from now on, I will gradually join and dedicate myself to this new life, with the obvious responsibilities that it entails, with the support of the king and queen,” she said.

The prince was also asked how many children he and Ortiz were going to have.

He answered like this: “We don’t really have say over that, do we? But our intention is maybe more than two but fewer than five.”