Spain's King and Queen Host the 2026 New Year Reception for the Diplomatic Corps

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

On January 23, 2026, King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia of Spain hosted the traditional annual New Year reception for the Diplomatic Corps accredited to Spain at the Royal Palace of Madrid. As every year, Their Majesties welcomed representatives of the Diplomatic Corps, which is composed of 126 embassies resident in Spain and nearly 800 consulates.

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

A diplomat is a public official with expertise in international relations, appointed to represent their state abroad or within international organisations. For the occasion, Queen Letizia of Spain wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela. Queen Letizia first wore the dress in January 2018 during the Military Easter ceremony and repeated it in February 2020 at a previous reception for the Diplomatic Corps.

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela

Queen Letizia wore a blue velvet dress by designer Felipe Varela
11 Comments
  1. Virginia Dogwood23/1/26 17:02

    Velvet is such an elegant fabric. The simplicity of the long dress matches the Queen's simple hairstyle and earrings. Nothing more needed. Just lovely

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  2. Magnifique robe dans ce velours bleu, couleur qui se retrouve dans ses boucles d’oreilles pendantes !

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  3. I love the beautiful navy velvet fabric of this gown. The conservative design is splendid and very flattering on Letizia.

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  4. Anonymous23/1/26 18:08

    Lovely shade of blue velvet. I like collars on dresses, however I find this Peter Pan look not the best. Love the earrings. King very dashing today

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  5. Anonymous23/1/26 18:57

    I'm sorry, the clothes are - not bad, just uninteresting.
    The king is dressed impeccably and everything fits him perfectly.
    But - why on earth does he wear a beard that makes him look old - and that's because it's significantly grayer than his hair. I've noticed this on several men. When a beard is nicely groomed and not too gray, it looks good and manly. But gray beards add years and attractive fifty-somethings look like grandfathers in them.
    Sure, let him wear whatever he wants, but that's my opinion on it.
    Stephanie

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  6. Elizabeth23/1/26 19:01

    A really beautiful dress. I love the sumptuous velvet, the neckline and the slim skirt. It certainly looks very fresh and I am very surprised to read that it was first worn in 2018.

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  7. Anonymous23/1/26 20:19

    I prefer a clean shaven man. Now I understand that some men have a heavy dark beard which requires shaving more than once a day, hence a beard is easier to manage. To me it ages a man and not always in a good way.Takes a bit more work to shave

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  8. Anonymous23/1/26 23:30

    Re 20:19, different beards looks differently on different men! In this case I find the King impossibly handsome with his beard and urge him not to shave!!!!!

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  9. Anonymous23/1/26 23:32

    Dear Stephanie, in answer to your question of why he wears a beard? I think … because he wants to!!! Yippee he gets to choose what he does with his own face! Plus… he looks devastatingly handsome with it, so two good reasons! He dresses beautifully and the beard is the cherry on top!

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  10. Anonymous23/1/26 23:32

    Ravissante tenue et si sobre.
    Letizia a l air fatigué et triste.
    Vu les récents drames je peux comprendre
    Froufrou

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  11. Anonymous23/1/26 23:33

    Some fantastic outfits here. Love the white outfit with green and black palm print. The Queen looks gorgeous in blue. The King looks immaculate and very handsome indeed! (With the bears being perfection on him)

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