Bienvenido to America! Donald Trump will host Spain's King Felipe at the White House next week - with Melania on hand to welcome his VERY glamorous former news anchor Queen

  • President and First Lady will host the Spanish monarchs on June 19
  • King Felipe, 50, and Queen Letizia, 45, will be joined by Spain's foreign minister
  • Visit will also take in New Orleans, Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas
  • Former journalist Letizia and King Felipe share two daughters
  • Couple ascended the Spanish throne in 2014 after King Juan Carlos abdicated 

It's not yet clear if Donald Trump will meet the Queen when he visits the UK in a few weeks, but he is set for an encounter with royalty later this month when he hosts Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain in Washington, D.C. 

The President and First Lady will welcome the Spanish monarchs to the White House on June 19, at the end of an official visit that will also take in New Orleans, and San Antonio.

The cities, which have close historical ties with Spain, are this year celebrating the 300th anniversary of their foundation. 

A statement confirmed the foreign minister of Spain's new Socialist government, Josep Borrell, will also be on the trip which commences on June 14, but gave no further details.

It will be the second official visit to the US by Georgetown University graduate King Felipe, 50, who ascended the Spanish throne in June 2014 - after his father King Juan Carlos abdicated - and his wife Letizia, 45, a former journalist.

During her time as a news anchor for several Spanish networks, Letizia reported on a wide range of breaking stories, among them the 2000 US presidential elections and the 9/11 attacks.

The mother-of-two's background includes family tragedy, an allegation that she had an abortion after falling pregnant by her first husband a year before she met King Felipe and controversy over plastic surgery.

King Felipe, 50, and Queen Letizia of Spain, 45, are set to visit Washington, D.C later this month, four years after an official visit during the Obama administration  

King Felipe, 50, and Queen Letizia of Spain, 45, are set to visit Washington, D.C later this month, four years after an official visit during the Obama administration  

President Trump and the First Lady are set to welcome King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain to the White House later this month 

President Trump and the First Lady are set to welcome King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain to the White House later this month 

In 2008, she had surgery on her nose to supposedly correct a deviated septum. 

However, some royal watchers claimed that her dainty new nose proved that she'd had the surgery for cosmetic reasons. 

She is known as one of the most stylish European royals, and has a fondness for sleek Hugo Boss tailoring. 

A statement from the White House Press Secretary ahead of the visit said: 'As their majesties visit the United States to celebrate the 300th anniversaries of the founding of the great American cities of New Orleans, Louisiana, and San Antonio, Texas, we will recognize the historical ties between the United States and Spain that serve as a foundation for our deep partnership and friendship today.' 

The Queen of Spain with Britain's Queen Elizabeth at a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in July 2017 

The Queen of Spain with Britain's Queen Elizabeth at a State Banquet at Buckingham Palace in July 2017 

King Felipe with Barack Obama in 2014. The royal who studied at Georgetown University said at the time that it was 'emotional' to be back in Washington 

King Felipe with Barack Obama in 2014. The royal who studied at Georgetown University said at the time that it was 'emotional' to be back in Washington 

Queen Letizia struck up a warm relationship with Michelle Obama during the 2015 visit, and the pair caught up again when the President and First Lady visited Madrid in June 2016 (pictured)

Queen Letizia struck up a warm relationship with Michelle Obama during the 2015 visit, and the pair caught up again when the President and First Lady visited Madrid in June 2016 (pictured)

'San Antonio is proud to commemorate the special bonds that tie us to Spain,' San Antonio's Mayor Ron Nirenberg said of the royal visit. 

'We welcome their Majesties during our Tricentennial year to collaborate and build a stronger foundation now and in the future. The everlasting impact of Spain's culture is woven into the fabric of San Antonio's legacy for generations to come.'

Donald Trump is set to pay his first official visit to the UK on July 13 - although it will not be a state visit.

Trump will meet the British Prime Theresa May either in her London residence at No 10 Downing Street, or at her country retreat, Chequers in Buckinghamshire to hold bilateral talks.

UK ministers are said to have discussed plans for Trump to meet Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral Castle in Scotland and play a round of golf there, but nothing has yet been confirmed.  

King Felipe and his wife previously visited the US in 2014 and met with then President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle at the White House. 

Who is Queen Letizia of Spain?

The eldest daughter of Jesus Alvarez, a journalist, and his first wife Maria Rodriguez, a nurse, Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano was born in Oviedo, northern Spain.

One sister, Telma, became an economist; the other, Erika, committed suicide by taking an overdose while suffering from depression.

Before meeting the heir to the Spanish throne, Letizia enjoyed a lengthy career in TV and newspapers.

She completed a BA in journalism, followed by a masters in audiovisual journalism.

After a stint at Asturian daily paper, La Nueva España, she went on to work for ABC, a popular national newspaper that enjoys the third largest circulation in Spain.

Next came a stint at Spanish news agency EFE before a move to Guadalajara in Mexico saw her take on a role on local paper, Siglo 21.

Back in Spain a year later, she worked for the Spanish version of Bloomberg, a news channel and agency specialising in economics, before moving to CNN+.

Before she met Felipe of Spain, Letizia was married to high school teacher Alonso Guerrero Perez, who was nine years her senior.

The couple wed in 1998 following a ten-year romance - with the pair meeting when the future Spanish queen was just 16.

The couple tied the knot in a civil ceremony in the town of Almendralejo, Badajoz, but divorced the following year after just one year of marriage.

By the time she met her husband-to-be, Felipe in 2002, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where along with anchoring the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin she reported on a wide range of breaking news event - among them the 2000 US presidential elections and the 9/11 attacks.

The couple met when Felipe visited the site of an oil spill, which the journalist was reporting on.  

However, her status as a divorcee caused controversy in Spain ahead of the royal wedding, along with rumours she'd had a secret abortion. 

She was only allowed to marry Felipe in the Catholic Church in 2004 as she had previously  had a civil ceremony with ex-husband Alonso. 

As time wore on she was criticised for being unsmiling on official engagements. Then there was further controversy when she had surgery on her nose in 2008.

The official explanation was that she had a deviated septum which had to be fixed. But commentators were quick to point out that her post-operation nose looked a little daintier too.

Another book, The Court of Felipe VI, published in 2015, alleged that former King Juan Carlos ‘never liked the arrival of a journalist in a place that had traditionally been an opaque haven from the fourth estate’.

Controversy arose earlier this year when footage appeared to show a tense stand-off between the current Queen and her mother-in-law Queen Sofia at mass at Palma Cathedral. 

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During the visit, King Felipe said that returning to the US brought about 'a lot of emotion' as he remembered his time in Washington as a student. 

Queen Letizia struck up a warm relationship with Michelle Obama during the 2015 visit, and the pair caught up again when the President and First Lady visited Madrid in June 2016. 

President Trump is no stranger to welcoming foreign monarchs to the White House and has previously hosted Jordan's King Abdullah II and Queen Rania and Saudi Arabia's Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

Picture perfect family: The Spanish royal couple share two daughters Princess Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 10

Picture perfect family: The Spanish royal couple share two daughters Princess Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 10

Queen Letizia, pictured leaving Spain for an official visit to the UK in July last year, is known as one of the most stylish European royals 

Queen Letizia, pictured leaving Spain for an official visit to the UK in July last year, is known as one of the most stylish European royals 

However, the Spanish monarchs will be the first European royals to pay an official visit to the US since Trump became president.  

Queen Letizia and King Felipe share two daughters, Princess Leonor, 12, and Sofia, 10. 

The queen is a Special Ambassador for Nutrition for the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization and takes a special interest in cancer prevention. 

She addressed the World Health Organisation on climate change in March this year, delivering an impassioned speech on the issue. 

   

 

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