Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia looked to be having quite the amusing time on a visit to Jaca Cathedral last week.  During the visit, the two paused, and Letizia peeked out from behind her tall husband to smile at the gathered crowd.

Jaca Cathedral, built in the 11th century, is considered one of the most important examples of religious architecture in the Pyrenees region of Spain.  The city is located quite close to the French border, in the Aragon region of the country.  The cathedral itself is dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar (Nuestra Señora del Pilar).

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia took a moment to confer while on a visit to Madrid’s Autonoma University on January 25.  The two looked nicely coordinated in gray for the event.

Don’t you always wonder what the royal couples are talking about when they whisper?

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were all smiles as they attended the Lidereazgo Turistico Forum on Tuesday in Madrid.  The event was held at the city’s Palacio de Congresos.

Letizia layered a sparkly pearl gray cardigan over a charcoal gray dress for the forum, while husband Felipe wore one of his customary tailored suits and a striped blue tie.  And, even better news — he’s still shaving!  No reappearance from the beard as of yet.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were out and about in Madrid yesterday for the annual Pascua Militar ceremony, but without their most recent companion — Felipe’s beard!  Looks like Prince Philippe of Belgium won the beard-off of 2009.

The Pascua Militar is held every year at the Royal Palace; the king and queen receive government and military leaders.  I quite like the red gown that Letizia chose for this year’s ceremony — very princess-court chic, no?

Happy New Year, Royal Romance Readers!  Let’s take a look back at some of the royal milestones we witnessed in 2009…

(PS: Want more end-of-the-year events?  Check out the British royal decade in review at The Royal Roundup!)

Royal Weddings

The Duke of Vendôme and Philomena de Tornos y Steinhart

The Orléanist pretender to the French throne, Henri, Count of Paris, announced the engagement of his son and heir, Prince Jean, Duke of Vendôme, to Philomena de Tornos y Steinhart on November 29, 2008.  The couple was married first in Paris in a civil ceremony on March 19, 2009, and then religiously at the Cathédrale Notre-Dame in Senlis on May 2, 2009.

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