Queen Letizia of Spain has chosen an all-pink ensemble for the official welcome ceremony of her state visit to Finland at the Presidential Palace.
The Spanish monarch wore an intense pink Carolina Herrera coat over a powdery pink custom dress by Spanish designer Pedro del Hierro for the event in Helsinki on Tuesday.
King Felipe VI and Queen Letizia were officially received by the President of Finland, Alexander Stubb, and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb. The welcome ceremony included official honours, the playing of national anthems and the greeting of delegations from both European countries.
The official welcome marks a change in style from her first engagement in the Finnish capital. For her previous appearance, the Queen wore a black feather tuxedo by the Spanish fashion house Pertegaz.
Royal fashion in Helsinki
Queen Letizia frequently uses her wardrobe to champion Spanish fashion brands during international engagements. Carolina Herrera is a renowned fashion house originally founded by the Venezuelan designer of the same name, and is now owned by the Spanish luxury group Puig. Pedro del Hierro is a classic Madrid clothing label that forms part of the Tendam retail group.
The Queen wore the midi length Carolina Herrera coat open and resting on her shoulders. The coat features a straight silhouette and large lapels, with its bright pink tone making it the most striking piece of the outfit.
Underneath the coat, she revealed a delicate pink Pedro del Hierro dress that was created exclusively for her. The midi length dress features long sleeves and a fitted bodice that flows into a moving skirt.
Three dimensional flowers
The most distinctive elements of the exclusive Pedro del Hierro dress are large three dimensional flowers distributed across the garment. One flower is positioned on the upper section of the dress, while another sits at the waist.
Queen Letizia completed her outfit with light coloured, pointed slingback heels that matched the colour palette of her clothes. She wore her hair loose with a side parting and slight waves, and chose small pieces of jewellery to ensure the bright pink tones remained the focus of the look.
King Felipe VI ascended to the Spanish throne in 2014, and state visits are a key part of his role as head of state to maintain diplomatic and economic ties with other nations. The Presidential Palace in Helsinki, where the welcome took place, is a historic building that serves as one of the official residences of the Finnish president.
Technology and education
Following the welcome ceremony, the Spanish royals are continuing their intense schedule with various institutional meetings.
Queen Letizia and First Lady Suzanne Innes-Stubb are scheduled to visit a bilingual school in Helsinki. Finland is internationally recognised for its comprehensive education system.
Meanwhile, King Felipe VI will join President Stubb for a business meeting. The head of state and the Finnish president will focus their discussions on artificial intelligence, semiconductors and quantum technology.
The day of official engagements in Helsinki will conclude with a gala dinner hosted at the Presidential Palace. The evening event will provide another opportunity to see the Queen's wardrobe choices for the state visit.
