A protocol figure in Spanish royalty
Irene of Greece, affectionately known as ‘Aunt Pecu’, has stood out in the Spanish royal family for her elegance and rigorous adherence to protocol. The sister of Queen Emeritus Sofia has always represented the high standards of royalty. This has generated certain friction with Queen Letizia, despite her mutual respect. Irene’s demands regarding labels and behavior have caused tensions with Letizia on several occasions.
Tensions at family meals
Irene of Grecia used to be especially critical of Letizia’s manners during family gatherings in the early years of her relationship with Felipe. Despite Letizia’s efforts to integrate into the aristocracy, some mistakes were perceived by Irene as serious breaches of etiquette. Among these incidents, one of the most talked about occurred at a meal in Marivent, where Letizia appeared without having cleaned up after playing sports, something that Pecu considered a serious lack of respect.
Differences in language and etiquette
Letizia’s use of more informal language has also been a source of criticism. Some members of the royal family consider certain expressions of the queen consort to be inappropriate for her position. These details, although they may seem minor to some, have influenced Irene’s perception of Letizia’s behaviour, who did not begin to change her opinion until Letizia attended protocol classes.
Distancing at family events
As a consequence of these differences, Irene decided on several occasions to avoid sitting next to Letizia at family events. During Letizia’s first years in the royal family, Irene preferred to keep her distance at meetings. Her disagreement with Letizia’s behavior was evident, as was Irene’s desire to maintain a level of dignity in family gatherings.
Conflict at the 2018 Easter Mass
Another episode that marked the relationship between the two was the Easter Mass of 2018. In this ceremony, a gesture by Letizia towards Sofía was interpreted as derogatory by Irene, which further accentuated the distance between her behavioral expectations and the reality she perceived. in Letizia.
A relationship full of respect
Despite the tensions, Letizia has always sought to show respect towards Irene, especially in recent years, when Irene’s cognitive decline has become more evident. The queen consort has expressed great sensitivity towards mental health problems, which has generated moments of rapprochement between the two.
