Hand fans are having a royal summer. Princess Charlene of Monaco recently reached for the centuries-old accessory during an engagement in Nice, while Queen Letizia of Spain has quietly made it a warm-weather staple of her royal wardrobe for more than two decades.
On July 14, 2026, Princess Charlene carried a classic white-and-wood fan while attending a ceremony in Nice. The elegant accessory offered a practical way to cope with the summer temperatures while complementing her sophisticated look.
© Abaca PressAnd she isn't the only European royal keeping the tradition alive. For Queen Letizia, the hand fan has been a recurring accessory since long before she became queen.
From minimalist wooden designs to colorful floral creations and pieces carrying deeply personal symbolism, Letizia has repeatedly relied on the traditional Spanish accessory during warm-weather engagements at home and abroad.
© Pool/ABACA/ShutterstockQueen Letizia's latest fan:
On July 10, 2026, Queen Letizia joined King Felipe VI and their daughters, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofía, for the presentation of Royal Employment Dispatches at the General Air and Space Academy in Santiago de la Ribera, Murcia, where Leonor completed her military training.
© Europa Press NewsWith temperatures rising during the outdoor ceremony, Letizia paired her pink lace Adrianna Papell dress with a fan made from light wood and white fabric. The design featured the emblem of the Royal Guard.
Infanta Sofía carried a coordinating fan, creating a subtle mother-daughter moment while proving the traditional accessory remains relevant for a new generation of Spanish royals.
A fan with sentimental meaning:
One of the most meaningful fans in Letizia's collection is connected to her younger daughter.
© Carlos R. AlvarezDuring a visit to Córdoba and Seville on June 29, 2020, the Queen carried a discreet design engraved with the date July 15, 2007, the day of Infanta Sofía's baptism.
The sentimental keepsake accompanied Letizia as she toured Andalusia wearing a printed Adolfo Domínguez dress and espadrilles.
She even brought one to the U.S.
Letizia's fans aren't reserved for royal engagements in Spain. During an official visit to San Antonio, Texas, in June 2018, the Queen carried one of the most colorful designs in her collection.
© SUZANNE CORDEIROUnlike the neutral white, black, and natural-wood styles she often favors, this particular fan featured a vibrant multicolored floral print. She paired it with a V-neck Carolina Herrera dress for the official welcome to the city.
Her most Spanish design:
Some of Letizia's fans also carry unmistakable references to her country.
© FotonoticiasDuring Spain's National Day celebrations in 2017, the Queen wore an elegant Felipe Varela skirt suit accessorized with diamond-and-pearl earrings and an Ansorena brooch that had belonged to Queen Sofía.
She also carried a blue fan featuring details of the Spanish flag, making it one of the most patriotic designs in her collection. During the same occasion, Letizia was also seen with a more understated black fan that coordinated with her ensemble.
A fan with royal history:
Another design in Letizia's collection has a particularly regal connection.
© Carlos R. AlvarezDuring Spain's National Police Day on Oct. 2, 2013, when she was still Princess of Asturias, Letizia carried a blue fan featuring the coat of arms of King Juan Carlos I and a fleur-de-lis, a symbol associated with the House of Bourbon.
A tradition dating back more than 20 years:
Letizia's appreciation for the accessory stretches back to the earliest years of her royal life.
In September 2005, little more than a year after marrying then-Prince Felipe, the future queen attended an event for the Spanish Association Against Cancer in Seville carrying a brown wood-and-fabric fan.
© The Grosby GroupShe had also been photographed with a simple fan during a visit to Ibiza earlier that year.
More than two decades later, the accessory remains part of her summer wardrobe. And with Princess Charlene reaching for a classic fan during a high-profile engagement this summer, the centuries-old accessory is proving that practicality and royal style can still go hand in hand.
