Queen Letizia's brother-in-law says they had affair before and after she married

09 December 2023 , 08:30

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King Felipe with Queen Letizia of Spain (Image: REX/Shutterstock)

The Queen of Spain is facing outlandish claims this week after her ex-brother-in-law alleged the pair had an affair in the early period of her marriage to King Felipe.

Jaime del Burgo, who was married to Telma Ortiz, Queen Letizia's sister, from 2012 to 2014, made a series of shocking allegations about his relationship with the Spanish royal in the new book "Letizia & I" by journalist Jaime Peñafiel. The 53-year-old Spanish businessman, who now lives in the UK, claims he was dating Letizia when she met King Felipe.

As "evidence" of his claims, he shared a photo on X, formerly known as Twitter, that the 51-year-old Queen took in a bathroom during one of her pregnancies. He alleges the black pashmina the royal was wearing belonged to him - and also attached a message Letizia supposedly sent him.

Jaime Del Burgo shared this unseen selfie of Queen Letizia with his X followers

It read: "Love. I wear your pashmina. It's like feeling you by my side. It takes care of me. It protects me. I count the hours until we see each other again. Love you. Get out of here. Yours." The image has since been taken down.

The entrepreneur claims he met the Queen, when she was still Letizia Oritz and worked as a newsreader, some time before 2000. According to Mr del Burgo, the pair dated for a period before Letizia met the future King Felipe when covering an oil spill in northern Spain.

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Mr del Burgo claims he was about to propose to Letizia when she told him about her relationship with Felipe, who she initially described as a "diplomat" for whom she would have to quit her job as a journalist. He alleges he was still romantically linked with the Queen after her wedding to King Felipe in 2004.

One of his claims includes the allegation that he dined with Letizia the night before the wedding and the fact she allegedly told him: "Never leave me." The businessman has also claimed that he was still seeing Letizia during one of her pregnancies and that their relationship continued all the way up to 2011, when she broke it off.

Jaime del Burgo with Telma Ortiz and her daughter in 2014 (Europa Press via Getty Images)

Tatler reports that according to Mr del Burgo, Letizia called him to say: "We can't continue seeing each other." The man has also claimed that a female friend encouraged him to see Letizia's sister, whom he had never met before. After the pair married in 2012, they relocated to New York. They then divorced in 2014.

Mr del Burgo faced a backlash after his social media posts, including alleged death threats, but remained defiant as he posted on X, both in Spanish and in English: "I don't change a comma of my deleted posts. I appreciate the messages from those who have understood that I would have my reasons.

"I hold no grudge against those who have threatened to kill me. I don't feel proud. But the truth is what it is. I recognise only one king in heaven, and his name is Jesus of Nazareth. He will judge me."

Queen Letizia attending the inauguration of the 'Hospital del Rey' community residence in Toledo, Spain, on November 30 (REX/Shutterstock)

She attended the event with her husband, King Felipe VI of Spain (Getty Images)

Mr del Burgo was criticised after making the claims, with some accusing him of breaking Queen Letizia's privacy. Esther López Barceló, a left-wing academic, author and former politician, stated in a post that even being a republican, she backed Letizia. She said: "Letizia could be my class enemy and, at the same time, the victim of a crime against privacy that is based on the patriarchy.

"If to end the monarchy you have to use [del Burgo] who violates a woman's right to privacy as revenge, don't count on me because ending an atavistic institution with atavistic methods will not bring with it any republic."

Mr Peñafiel, the author of the book, told El Cierre Digital that he "got to know Letizia better through Jaime del Burgo", adding he decided to write "Letizia & I" as he was surprised by the allegations. The journalist also claimed Letizia has "tension" with everyone and that she has "destroyed the family". The Spanish royal family has not commented publicly about the allegations.

Chiara Fiorillo