Álvaro Pombo, the Cantabrian novelist and poet, won the 2024 Miguel de Cervantes Prize for Literature. The award, one of the top honors in Spanish-language literature, was presented at the University of Alcalá’s auditorium. The King and Queen of Spain attended, continuing their tradition of supporting these prestigious awards—events where Queen Letizia often garners attention for her standout fashion choices. The same anticipation surrounds the literary lunch that accompanies the ceremony. On Tuesday, April 22, the Queen wore black as a sign of mourning for the death of Pope Francis.
For this appearance in Alcalá, Queen Letizia continued her mourning for the death of the Pope, who passed away on Monday, April 21. As she did the day before, she wore a black dress featuring a crew neckline, long sleeves, a relaxed fit, and a midi skirt—the Dewetta design by Hugo Boss. While the new, classic-cut piece could have given her a very understated look, the Queen managed to modernize it without breaking the respectful dress code for Pope Francis. The key? The key to her look was the belt she chose. Instead of a simple leather style, she opted for a built-in cord belt tied at the waist, enhancing an hourglass silhouette.
For this event in Alcalá, Queen Letizia continued her mourning for the Pope, who passed away on Monday, April 21. Just like the day before, she wore a black dress with a crew neckline, long sleeves, a relaxed fit, and a midi skirt—the Dewetta design by Hugo Boss. While the new dress has a classic cut that could have made her look quite understated, she managed to give it a modern edge without breaking the respectful protocol for Pope Francis. Instead of a plain leather belt, she went for a built-in rope-style one, tied at the waist to enhance her hourglass figure.
As for the rest of her accessories, Queen Letizia wore her slingback pumps from Massimo Dutti again, featuring a 6.5 cm heel. She first debuted these comfortable shoes on May 30, 2023, and has worn them 16 times since. She also reused her black Victoria Insignia handbag by Carolina Herrera, which she first carried on November 16, 2022. Her jewelry included her signature Italian ring by Coreterno and a pair of hoop earrings with hanging pearls—the same ones she wore during her state visit to Angola in 2023.
Queen Letizia’s last 10 looks at the Miguel de Cervantes Prize
While we did see her attend as Princess of Asturias, Queen Letizia hasn’t missed a single Miguel de Cervantes Prize ceremony since becoming queen in 2015. Every year, she’s made a style statement at this prestigious celebration of Spanish-language literature.
Queen Letizia’s style has clearly evolved over the years. Her first four looks were by Felipe Varela, her longtime go-to designer in her early royal days. Later, she embraced labels like Vogana, Carolina Herrera, and Zara. In 2025, she even wore a new piece with an unknown origin, adding a touch of mystery to her fashion choices.