Once again, Queen Letizia of Spain has shown that she is the most inclusive of royals. She learned sign language to better connect with members of the deaf community. This most recent exhibition was during an official dinner at Majorca’s Marivent Palace. There, she developed advocacy skills engaging with local officials and dignitaries including illustrious visiting athletes such as Rafa Nadal and Rudy Fernandez.
The 52-year-old Queen is a tireless advocate for the deaf and hard of hearing community. She has demonstrated her sign language prowess, most recently at the Super Bowl. Fingers crossed, as she notably first used sign language publicly in the context of King Felipe’s coronation in June 2014. She lives out her belief in fostering communication and inclusivity. Her position as president of the Mallorca Deaf Persons Association is a testament to this commitment.
During that recent dinner, Queen Letizia had the chance to meet with Ana María Ruiz, the association’s president. In this interaction she was able to quickly convey a point non-verbally through American Sign Language, highlighting her desire to reach people with diverse experiences.
“Yesterday I had the honour of attending the King’s reception at the Marivent Palace,” – Ana María Ruiz
Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia produced an adorable video as a family. They giggled as they signed their names with zeal on camera, eliciting happiness from the camera’s viewers. This campaign sought to not just raise awareness about sign language, but encourage people to start learning it.
“As president of the Mallorca Deaf Persons Association, I had the opportunity to teach them some basic signs in sign language. I also bumped into sports greats like Rafa Nadal and Rudy Fernandez. An unforgettable experience.” – Ana María Ruiz
This event at Marivent Palace was a demonstration of the fabulous sartorial powers of Queen Letizia. It illustrated how authentic she truly was about creating a culture of inclusivity. Dressed in a stunning summer outfit noted to be borrowed from Princess Leonor’s closet, she embraced current trends, such as polka dots, during this public engagement.
Never more so than during her recent tour of the Medina Azahara Queen Letizia has proven her adeptness to relate to various communities. Her candid short exchanges at events like these are indicative of her genuine desire to build awareness and advocacy for a multitude of social issues.
