Queen Letizia’s changing face: Spanish royal, 53, unveils ‘sculpted’ new look

Queen Letizia of Spain has undergone several style transformations since marrying King Felipe VI in 2004 – ditching her TV journalist power suits for a sleek regal wardrobe.

But it’s not just her fashion that’s had an overhaul – her face has evolved during her time in the limelight too.

Letizia raised eyebrows when she underwent a rhinoplasty, or ‘nose job’, in 2008 ostensibly for medical reasons – but it changed her face so significantly that her waxwork had to be updated.

At 53, the Queen now appears to have made further changes to her make-up and skin care routines, resulting in a more ‘sculpted’ look and ‘luminous aesthetic’.

When Letizia stepped out at last week’s gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid, she was almost unrecognisable from her early days at the helm of the monarchy.

Wowing in a floor-length silk cobalt blue gown by The Second Skin Co accompanied by a 19th-century Cartier tiara, Letizia looked more glamorous than ever – with a sculpted jawline any royal matriarch would envy.

Praising the ‘enhanced structure’ visible in her gala appearance, Dr Levin, a skincare specialist at My Skin Ethics in Chelsea, told the Daily Mail: ‘With strategic makeup placement, the result is a more awake, youthful appearance that reads beautifully on camera.’

She looks worlds away from her early days in the Spanish royal family after marrying King Felipe (pictured in 2005)

Dr Levin said Letizia appears to have opted for a combination of ‘precision-led make-up’, such as gentle contouring, advanced skincare and advanced treatments over the past few months.

He noted: ‘Her skin looks exceptionally smooth and luminous, which is often the hallmark of a well-curated regimen, including meticulous pre-event skin preparation. 

‘When the skin’s surface becomes more even and reflective, it naturally gives the impression of youthfulness and firmness.

‘For a royal in her 50s, this kind of polished evolution makes complete sense. High-profile women increasingly lean into subtle treatments to look fresher without compromising their natural expression. 

‘It projects confidence, authority, and a modern approach to ageing, not an attempt to look younger, but to look the best version of themselves under global scrutiny.’ 

Since the start of the year alone, Letizia appears to have undergone a significant transformation. 

In August, Letizia appeared comfortable and relaxed as she attended a dinner at Marivent Palace during her holiday to Mallorca with her husband King Felipe, and daughters Princess Leonor, 20, and Infanta Sofia, 18. 

Sporting a tan and a white summer dress, the Queen was spotted laughing with her husband on the way for an evening dinner out, oozing glamour and confidence. 

Even over the past few years, Letizia’s transformation has been very noticeable (pictured in 2020)

In August, Letizia appeared comfortable and relaxed as she attended a dinner at Marivent Palace during her holiday to Mallorca. Pictured with daughter Princess Leonor, 20

During her state visit to China this week, Letizia has shown off the full effects of her glow-up

Again, she appeared to have opted for a shining sweep of contour across her cheeks, giving the impression of definition and structure. 

The full effects of her glow-up have been on display during her state visit to China this week. 

Not only has Letizia upped her fashion stakes in a series of bold ensembles, but she’s opted for soft, peachy tones of make-up, creating an inner, radiant glow. 

Beauty expert Monica Ella Botros added: ‘Queen Letizia appears to be embracing a more lifted, sculpted and luminous aesthetic, something that can absolutely be achieved through strategic makeup, skincare and non-invasive treatments. 

‘The increased jawline and cheek definition can give the impression of a ‘snatched’ lower face, so whether it’s clever contouring or refreshed skincare,’ added Monica, who works at Strip Hair Removal Experts. 

The queen is known to follow a strict diet and exercise routine, which includes cardio workouts and specialist Iyengar yoga. 

After getting up at 7am, Letizia is known to start the day with her special type of yoga, which has emphasis on precision and alignment and sees poses held for longer than average to help build strength and tone muscles.

Queen Letizia is also said to work out with weights, concentrating on bicep and shoulder curls for her lean arms, according to her former personal trainer, José Ignacio Hernández-Coronado.

The journalist-turned-royal underwent a rhinoplasty, or ‘nose job’, in 2008 and looks somewhat different from her days as a newsreader on Spanish TV screens (pictured)

Queen Letizia of Spain attends the Ibedrola Foundation Scholarships on January 31, 2019

It has also been reported that the Queen enjoys cardio workouts and frequently goes on runs or strolls through the gardens of Zarzuela Palace in Madrid.

For her diet, the Queen is said to combine the best of the Mediterranean foods with elements of the Perricone Diet, focusing on anti-inflammatory foods that are said to encourage inner health and wellness, including salmon, lean proteins, nuts, fresh fruits and vegetables, and healthy oils.

When the Queen was named a Special Ambassador for Nutrition by the UN in 2015, she said she would use her role to highlight the benefits of a Mediterranean diet, calling it ‘the best example of healthy and sustainable eating’.

Additionally, Letizia avoids sugar and never eats ready meals, frozen food or pizza.

As for drinks, the queen avoids coffee, carbonated drinks and alcohol at all costs – which can be quite difficult when giving toasts at royal engagements.

Her look is so different these days, that the waxwork of her on display at the Museo de Cera (Museum of Wax) in Madrid has been changed twice since it was first created in 2004.

As well as ever-changing skincare and make-up, Letizia’s clothes are different too.

Before her marriage to King Felipe, Letizia’s journalist wardrobe was filled with no nonsense boxy two-piece suits, a staple, which was replaced by a more colourful, feminine style. 

When Letizia stepped out at last week’s gala dinner at the Royal Palace in Madrid (pictured) in full regalia, she was almost unrecognisable from her early days at the helm of the monarchy 

Letizia’s naturally light brown hair was given subtle blonde highlights and she was not afraid to chop her hair into trendy bob in 2015.

In more recent years, she has sported long, dark brown locks styled into a sleek blowdry in a completely different look to her early days as a royal.

Now, she’s also embracing the grey hair trend, showing off her silver streaks on several recent outings. 

In 2008, the royal had an operation on her nose, which the palace said was performed because of a respiratory problem.

As a result, the Museo de Cera replaced the first waxwork figure of the royal that had been installed just before she married the then Prince of Asturias to reflect her new likeness.

However, the waxwork was again redesigned and unveiled in 2017 to again mark the Queen’s ‘physical changes’. 

Gonzalo Presa, the museum’s communication director, told Ruptly TV at the time: ‘The physical changes and the passage of time, but above all the physical changes which the monarch has gone through have forced us to remake its physical image.

‘We believe that this is the best of all, and it is also in our opinion, the one that best reflects the majesty that the character of Letizia is supposed to have as Queen of Spain.’

In a statement in 2014, Mr Presa described the queen as an ‘icon of beauty’ but said that her figure was being altered because ‘time catches up with everyone’.

Describing the latest version of her waxwork as an ‘improvement’, he said: What we would like to do is to reflect Letizia’s style and beauty.

‘I prefer this version, aesthetically speaking, to the version of ten years ago.’

Letizia was previously married to Alonso Guerrero Pérez, a writer, but the pair divorced after just a year.