Posted on 10/31/2005 11:33:32 AM PST by cogitator
(AP) Spain's Crown Princess Letizia gave birth Monday to her first child, a girl who becomes second in line to the throne after her father Crown Prince Felipe.
With Felipe by his wife's side, Leonor was delivered through a Caesarean section at Madrid's Ruber International Clinic, three weeks before the scheduled due date. Both mother and child were doing fine, said a visibly moved and happy Felipe accompanied by the team of doctors who assisted in the birth.
"This is the most beautiful thing that can happen in someone's life," Felipe told reporters. "Both Princess Letizia and myself are absolutely happy and radiant with the birth of our daughter."
The little princess weighed 7 3/4 pounds, Dr. Luis Ignacio Recasens said.
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia expressed "great happiness" at the birth of their seventh grandchild.
Princess Leonor is second in line to the throne after Prince Felipe, who is the third child and only son of King Juan Carlos. But her place in the royal succession could drop if Felipe and Letizia have a son.
The Spanish constitution now allows a female heir to the throne only if she has no brothers. Felipe's older sisters, Princesses Elena and Cristina, are below him in the line of succession.
However, the Socialist government is looking into changing the constitution to give female royals the same right as males to accede to the throne, in which case Leonor could become queen one day.
Felipe said Leonor will be educated for that possibility.
Letizia Ortiz, 33, and Felipe, 37, were married in May 2004. She is one of the country's best-known television personalities, a divorcee without royal or aristocratic links.
Spain is a constitutional monarchy in which the royals have only ceremonial functions.
The royal family enjoys wide respect, with King Juan Carlos revered for his role in ushering in democracy after the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco in 1975 and putting down an attempted coup in 1981.
Here's Princess Letizia, prior to undertaking the princess-raising process (formerly a TV news personality):
I am sure the Jedi Council is pleased.
"
Nice royal orbs.
;o)
What?
Ooooooooh.
nevermind
Caesarian section and the story reads " Felipe, ACCOMPANIED by a team of doctors. Felipe is a doctor?
Yeah, and now that the Spainards have shown they will capitulate to any and all terrorists... Won't be long before there is no Princess in Spain. Only Ayatollahs and Mullahs.
Spainards, enjoy what you've signed up for.
One might have guessed, that Spain's heir to the throne would have been born without balls.
Semper Fi
"The royal family enjoys wide respect, with King Juan Carlos revered for his role in ushering in democracy after the death of dictator Gen. Francisco Franco..........
Who is STILL dead by the way.
The Spanish constitution now allows a female heir to the throne only if she has no brothers. Felipe's older sisters, Princesses Elena and Cristina, are below him in the line of succession.
However, the Socialist government is looking into changing the constitution to give female royals the same right as males to accede to the throne, in which case Leonor could become queen one day.
Huh? I haven't looked at specifics of the proposed change to the Spanish constitution, but if it is changed so that who becomes king or queen is based solely on age instead of giving males priority, then Princess Leonor would drop down the list becuase her aunts Princesses Elena and Cristina (and their two and three children) would come in line before her father Prince Felipe?
You could make the argument that they all are!
LOL!
The children of the current heir are always in line in front of his (and in future, her) siblings...and also the law would be changed effective with the children of the current Crown Prince.
If there are other girls in Spain that look like the Princess...this American will take up arms to make sure the princess is still a princess. Yada, yada, say that ten times fast.
And the wonderful demos thanked him for it by electing a bunch of damn communists. They'd be better off with El Generalissimo still in charge.
That's the part I was missing. Stinks to be Princesses Elena and Cristina for having their younger brother getting in under the old rules.
the only countries helping us fight in Iraq now are Britain and Australia, and they will not help for too much longer.
Do you think France, Germany and Russia regret their decision and are now kicking themselves for not joining up for this war?
>>>Caesarian section and the story reads " Felipe, ACCOMPANIED by a team of doctors. Felipe is a doctor?>>>
My mother was in the delivery room with me for all of my births, all C-Section. The partner sits at the head and there is a sheet up so the mother (me) can't see all the yucky parts being taken out of your body (yes, I was awake). My husband couldn't take the thought of it so he passed and was waiting out of the door.
Leia is a wild brunnette
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.