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Queen Letizia of Spain

b. 1972

Born
15 Sep 1972, Oviedo
Country of birth
Spain

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

facts
5
sources
1
images and files
0

Facts and their sources

Tap a fact to see where it comes from.

A life in time

  1. Born · Oviedo

    Birth, Oviedo

  2. Child born: Leonor, Princess of Asturias

    Birth, Madrid

  3. Child born: Infanta Sofía of Spain

    Birth, Madrid

What was it like?

The world around Oviedo, 1972: who ruled, who else was alive, how people lived. This is general history, not a record about the family, and every item shows where it comes from.

The "Sunday of rags" was a weekly ritual where families wore their best clothes to mass and walked in town to simulate a higher social status.

Fashion

Sunday ritual of dressing up

The "Sunday of rags" was a weekly ritual where families wore their best clothes to mass and walked in town to simulate a higher social status.

Around 1980–1989

1980s high-status youth fashion items

In the 1980s, Spanish youth of higher social status frequently wore Castellano brand leather moccasins and loden coats, often combined with jeans.

Music

Holy Week Drumming in Aragon

During Holy Week in Aragon, the 'Tamborrada' involves a deafening, continuous sound produced by drums and bass drums from Thursday or Friday until Saturday.

New Year's Eve Grape Tradition

On New Year's Eve, it is considered lucky in Spain to eat one grape on each stroke of midnight, totaling twelve grapes for the twelve months of the year.

Getting around
Around 1950–1964

Long rail travel times in the 1950s

In the 1950s, rapid express trains like the Sevillano took 19 to 20 hours to travel from Barcelona to Seville, often slowing to 20 km/h on tracks under repair.

Around 1975–1999

Limited daily mail train services

In 1979, the Correo (mail train) on the Ponferrada-Villablino line ran only once daily in each direction, and travellers had to adapt their schedules to the train's limited service. Some routes required walking or using lifts from others to reach railway connections.

Daily life
Around 1976–1976

Cooking and kitchen water in 1976

In the kitchen, the butane gas cylinder was queen, powering the stove, while faucets still required turning two separate knobs for hot and cold water.

Around 1976–1976

Cost of household appliances in 1976

In 1976, a refrigerator cost about 11,245 pesetas and a washing machine cost 13,495 pesetas, which could be paid in monthly installments of 825 pesetas.

Food
Around 1975–1999

Changing social norms and water access

In the late 20th century, social norms restricted women's drinking in public, and many women drank beer or wine in secret. Public access to piped water was also a relatively recent development for some, as some villages did not have running water in every home until the 1970s.

Around 1975–1999

Meat consumption surged in Spanish households

During the 1970s and 1980s, Spanish families shifted from a traditional cereal-based diet to one with high consumption of animal products, particularly meat. By 1994, Spanish households spent significantly more on meat than those in Germany or the United Kingdom.

Prices and wages
Around 1975–1975

Car prices and worker earnings in 1975

In 1975, a middle-range car cost approximately 200,000 pesetas, while an entry-level bank teller earned an annual gross salary of about 115,000 pesetas.

Around 1977–1977

Everyday items costs in 1977

In 1977, a loaf of bread cost between 9 and 17 pesetas, and a pair of men's jeans was priced at 3,600 pesetas.

Work
Around 1975–1988

The rigorous life of telephone operators

Telephone operators were essential workers who had to pass rigorous tests, including a physical requirement to ensure their arms were long enough to reach cables on switchboards. They earned about 3,000 pesetas per month, a competitive wage at the time.

Long hours and multiple jobs for survival

Due to insufficient wages, families often relied on multiple jobs (pluriempleo) and long hours, extending the workday to the limit of physical endurance. Many workers also took on extra shifts to avoid the need for hiring additional staff, as layoffs were difficult.

News and letters

Mail Delivery Times and Methods

In the 1960s and 1970s, mail delivery between towns was often handled by public transport companies, with mail collected in the morning and delivered in the afternoon. Average delivery time for letters between provinces like Cordoba and Jaen was typically one day.

Family

Parents

Spouses

Children

Ancestors and children

Open the full tree

Four generations back to the right, the children to the left. The number beside a child counts the generations of descendants known after them.