King Felipe of Spain was left “crushed and destroyed” over alleged infidelity by his wife, Queen Letizia, according to a bombshell new book by veteran journalist Jaime Peñafiel.
Peñafiel’s book, Letizia’s Silences, was released in Spain on Wednesday. It alleges that King Felipe was aware of Queen Letizia’s alleged affair in real time, as her bodyguards were obliged to report her whereabouts.
The allegations focus on a trip to New York in 2011, where Letizia was reportedly accompanied by her rumoured lover, Jaime del Burgo. Letizia, 51, had allegedly dated del Burgo before meeting King Felipe in 2002.
Peñafiel claims that during the New York trip, Letizia was under the watch of her escorts, who reported her actions to the Ministry of the Interior or the Palace of Zarzuela. This led to King Felipe, 56, being “plunged into hell” by the alleged betrayal and wanting to escape the situation.
Del Burgo, 54, an entrepreneur and former son-in-law to Letizia’s sister, Telma, has also contributed to the narrative. In January, he confirmed in Peñafiel’s first book, “Letizia & I,” that he and Letizia were romantically involved even after her marriage to Felipe in 2004.
Letizia’s past relationships include a marriage to literature teacher Alonso Guerrero Perez from 1998 to 1999. Del Burgo claimed he was dating Letizia when she met Felipe and had planned to propose to her before she announced her relationship with a “diplomat” in 2002.
Peñafiel’s new book further states that Letizia’s actions have caused a rift within her world, leading to accusations of deceit, adultery, and betrayal. He also criticized her character, describing her as “cold, indestructible, and determined” and using silence to control.
Peñafiel’s long career at the Spanish newspaper El Mundo ended in January after he made a series of allegations about the royal family in his first book. In “Letizia & I,” he claimed Letizia was involved in an affair with del Burgo, a claim he reiterates in his latest work.
Additionally, Peñafiel portrayed Letizia as “emotionally immature” and suggested she is disliked by Felipe’s family due to her “passive-aggressive” nature, particularly by Queen Sofia, Felipe’s sisters, Infanta Cristina, and the Duchess of Lugo.
The Spanish royal family has not commented on these claims. Felipe and Letizia, who married on May 22, 2004, recently celebrated their 20th anniversary by releasing official family portraits with their daughters, Princesses Leonor and Sofia.
