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Queen Letizia of Spain

Born Oviedo, 15 Sep 1972

5 facts1 source

Living person. The family sees only the name, dates and photo; everything else stays private unless they choose to share it.

Facts and their sources

A life in time

  1. 15 Sep 1972

    Born in Oviedo

  2. 2005–2007

    2 children are born

During her lifetime

She has lived through 6 decades. Pick one to hear and see what it was like around Oviedo.

General history, not a record about the family: each item says where it comes from.

The 1970s · Queen is born in Oviedo

In the news1950–1970

Tourism industry boom 1950-1970

The annual number of tourists visiting Spain skyrocketed from less than half a million in 1950 to over 20 million by 1970.

What people wore

Sunday ritual of dressing up

The "Sunday of rags" was a weekly ritual where families wore their best clothes to mass and walked in town to simulate a higher social status.

Daily life

Long waits for telephone service

Requesting a new telephone line was a process that could take months to be granted.

In the news1960–1975

Massive labor emigration to Europe 1960-1975

Between 1960 and 1975, approximately three million Spaniards emigrated to European countries like Germany, France, and Switzerland to seek work.

Music

Modernization of Parish Church Music

In the late 20th century, Catholic parish music underwent a shift from traditional organ and Latin choral pieces to an eclectic mix, including pop-influenced songs and even a "Beatles Santo," performed with guitars by parish choirs.

Around the world1973–1974

The oil crisis

Arab oil producers cut supplies and the price of oil quadrupled; petrol queues and inflation followed around the world.

Getting around

Limited daily mail train services

In 1979, the Correo (mail train) on the Ponferrada-Villablino line ran only once daily in each direction, and travellers had to adapt their schedules to the train's limited service. Some routes required walking or using lifts from others to reach railway connections.