Former anchorwoman Letizia Ortiz has become a favourite celebrity in Spain, as she will be the reason for the first royal wedding in nearly 100 years and the first ever to place a commoner in line to be queen. Photo by TVE.
Jubilant Spaniards will flock into the streets of Madrid on Saturday to celebrate Crown Prince Felipe's marriage to former television anchorwoman Letizia Ortiz.
Best man of the royal couple will be Konstantin-Assen of the Vidin, son of Bulgaria's Prime Minister Simeon Saxe-Coburg.
Rehearsals for the big day were held on Thursday, with Queen Sofia arriving at Almudena Cathedral with her princess daughters Elena and Cristina and five grandchildren, aged two and five, who will serve as flower girls.
Later, the future bride and groom joined them, practicing their steps for the big event.
Wedding guests include the president of Ecuador, the first ladies of Nicaragua and Costa Rica, and Cesar Gaviria of the Organisation of American States, who noted Prince Felipe's many trips to Latin America representing the Spanish crown.
An estimated 30 heads of state or government, and members of royal houses from as far away as Japan, have arrived in Madrid.