A lovely reply arrived today from Spain. I had written to King Felipe and Queen Letizia for Christmas. This reply was very exciting to open because I know the Spain Royals don't reply to everyone. (I've polled Gert's Royals readers for the last four or five Christmases, and it's consistently about 50% get a reply from Felipe & Letizia and 50% don't. And I haven't always gotten a reply.)
But this year is extra special because this reply is more than just their usual Christmas Card.
The envelope is the usual from the Spain royals. It is just a basic, business envelope. The blue circle, which says "Household of HM The King - Protocol," is printed with normally printer ink. I do like that they choose to make it blue instead of black, which makes it more elegant.
What is interesting is the back of the envelope is blank. My past Christmas replies from the couple have always featured King Felipe's Coat of Arms on the back. I don't know if they just ran out of those envelopes this year. Or, if because I got a letter with my card, the reply was handled by someone different, who uses different envelopes.
Inside is two things, the royal family's Christmas card and a letter!
The front of the card features the King's Coat of Arms in red.
The inside of the card features a lovely photo of the family during their visit to Asiegu, Spain, which is apart of the Principality of Asturias. The family was there to award the city with Exemplary Town of Asturias Award. The Award honors a town in the Principality of Asturias that stands out in "defense of their noblest values, their natural or ecological environment, their historical, cultural or artistic heritage." The award is part of the Princess of Asturias Awards.
This was a very big week for the Royal Family as Princess Leonor holds the title Princess of Asturias and was participating in the Princess of Asturias Awards for the first time.
(L-R: King Felipe, Princess Leonor, Princess Sofia, Queen Letizia.)
The caption under the card says, "Asiegu [City], Cabrales [Municipality], Exemplary Towns of Asturias Award 2019" in Spanish.
The right inside of the card features a lovely message from the family. The family have at least two versions of their Christmas Card: a Spanish and English version. Both are the exact same except for the hand-written message printed on the card. The signatures, like the message, are also printed on. One thing I especially love is the family uses new signatures each year.
The card reads:
Thank you very much for your Xmas Wishes,
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year 2020
We also wish you the best with great affectction,
Felipe R. Letizia R.
Leonore, Princessa de Asturias Sofia, Infanta De Espana
The back of the reply features the couple's joint monogram.
With the card is an extra special surprise. A lovely letter from Alfredo Martinez Serrano. This is the 2nd reply I have received from Serrano. The first was even more surprising, a TELEGRAM from Queen Sofia for her 79th Birthday.
In my Christmas letter to the family, I had, of course, mentioned the family's trip to the Principality of Asturias as this was a very big event and an important moment for the heir to the throne. And I talked about how proud I was of Leonore and Sofia.
The letter reads:
Household of His Majesty the KingChief of Protocol
Zarzuela PalaceDecember, 31st 2019Miss Gertrude A. Daly[My Address]
Dear Madam,
Their Majesties the King and Queen of Spain are very grateful for the kind letter and for the warm words you have addressed to them and to Her Royal Highness The Princess of Asturias after her first public speeches as well as to Her Royal Highness Infanta Sofia of Spain.
Their Majesties have instructed me to convey to you their kindest regards and very best wishes for the New Year. I am delighted to enclose the Season's Greetings from the Royal Family.
I take this opportunity to send you my very best wishes.
Yours Faithfully,
Alfredo Martinez SerranoEB
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