Mum, stop it! Queen Letizia of Spain shows she’s a very hands-on parent as she’s joined by her mini-me daughters on the country’s National Day 

  • Spanish royals celebrated their country's National Day on Wednesday
  • Letizia, 45, was joined by her husband King Felipe VI of Spain, 48
  • Princess Leonor, ten, and Sofía, nine also joined them in the royal box
  • Family watched 3,000 troops and Civil Guard officers took part in parade
  • This is the first parade to be celebrated without a government in place 

By Unity Blott For Mailonline

Published: 07:44 EST, 12 October 2016 | Updated: 12:13 EST, 12 October 2016

Queen Letizia of Spain played the ultimate doting mother as she was joined by her picture-perfect family for Spain's National Day on Wednesday.

Letizia, 44, sat beside her husband King Felipe VI and two daughters, Leonor, Princess of Asturias, and Infanta Sofía of Spain, to watch the army planes taking part in the military parade in the Spanish capital Madrid.

She was seen tenderly cupping ten-year-old Leonor's face before swiping a rogue hair from her eyes as the family of four watched some 3,000 troops and Civil Guard officers, plus military vehicles and planes, take part in the parade.

Letizia strokes her daugher Leonor's face as the family of four watch an impressive parade to mark Spain's National Day in the country's capital

Letizia strokes her daugher Leonor's face as the family of four watch an impressive parade to mark Spain's National Day in the country's capital

Letizia is known for her fun-loving approach to fashion and often experiments with vampy ensembles and dark colours - but today she looked decidedly regal in a tailored white coat dress with black embroidery detail.

The stylish royal teamed it with a pair of pointed nude courts and a matching clutch bag, adding a feminine touch with some pearl drop earrings.

She kept her make-up simple, wearing her wavy brunette hair in a chic plaited chignon style.

'Stop it, Mum!' Letizia looked the ultimate doting mother as she was joined by her picture-perfect family including Leonor, pictured, for Spain's National Day on Wednesday

'Stop it, Mum!' Letizia looked the ultimate doting mother as she was joined by her picture-perfect family including Leonor, pictured, for Spain's National Day on Wednesday

Letizia looks out at the rain from her car. The royal is known for her fun-loving approach to fashion and often experiments with vampy ensembles and dark colours

Letizia looks out at the rain from her car. The royal is known for her fun-loving approach to fashion and often experiments with vampy ensembles and dark colours

Fit for a queen: Today, Letizia looked decidedly regal in a tailored white coat dress with black embroidery detail- even accessorising with a black umbrella

Fit for a queen: Today, Letizia looked decidedly regal in a tailored white coat dress with black embroidery detail- even accessorising with a black umbrella

Letizia, Leonor and Sofía make their way towards the royal box in the drizzle. The queen kept her make-up simple, wearing her wavy brunette hair in a chic plaited chignon

Letizia, Leonor and Sofía make their way towards the royal box in the drizzle. The queen kept her make-up simple, wearing her wavy brunette hair in a chic plaited chignon

Looks like Felipe approves! The stylish royal teamed her coat dress with a pair of pointed nude courts and a matching clutch bag, adding a feminine touch with some pearl drop earrings

Looks like Felipe approves! The stylish royal teamed her coat dress with a pair of pointed nude courts and a matching clutch bag, adding a feminine touch with some pearl drop earrings

Style runs in the family: Letizia's two mini-me daughters wore matching wool coats in navy and red with their hair plaited into a French braid sweeping across their foreheads

Style runs in the family: Letizia's two mini-me daughters wore matching wool coats in navy and red with their hair plaited into a French braid sweeping across their foreheads

The ladies were confronted with heavy showers but had luckily come prepared with large umbrellas to keep them dry as they made their way from their car to the royal box

The ladies were confronted with heavy showers but had luckily come prepared with large umbrellas to keep them dry as they made their way from their car to the royal box

Letizia leads the way as she takes Leonor's hand. Luckily the trio were able to shelter from the rain once they had reached the royal box, but sadly the troops weren't so fortunate

Letizia leads the way as she takes Leonor's hand. Luckily the trio were able to shelter from the rain once they had reached the royal box, but sadly the troops weren't so fortunate

Prince charming: Letizia's dashing husband Felipe, 48, wore a full naval uniform including a sash and badges of office
Felipe's stylish family opted for smart coats

Prince charming: Letizia's dashing husband Felipe, 48, wore a full naval uniform including a sash and badges of office - while his wife and daughters opted for smart coats

Inseparable: The Spanish royal family, who are famously close, have made it a tradition to attend as a foursome, with the girls joining their parents at the event every year

Inseparable: The Spanish royal family, who are famously close, have made it a tradition to attend as a foursome, with the girls joining their parents at the event every year

Letizia's two mini-me daughters, meanwhile, wore matching wool coats in navy and red with their hair plaited into a French braid sweeping across their foreheads. Her dashing husband, 48, wore a full naval uniform including a sash and badges of office.

The ladies were confronted with heavy showers but had luckily come prepared with large umbrellas to keep them dry as they made their way from their car to the royal box where they were greeted by Felipe.

Despite the formal nature of the event, the two heiresses appeared happy and relaxed, with Leonor even sharing a giggle with her mother in the royal box.  

The family watch the army planes taking part in the military parade in the Spanish capital. Luckily the rain eventually cleared up meaning the troops didn't get soaking wet

The family watch the army planes taking part in the military parade in the Spanish capital. Luckily the rain eventually cleared up meaning the troops didn't get soaking wet

Letizia explainsThe royals watched some 3,000 troops and Civil Guard officers, plus military vehicles and planes, take part in the parade

The two princesses look engrossed as some 3,000 troops and Civil Guard officers, plus military vehicles and planes, take part in the parade

Felipe gives a salute. The country marked the important day on Wednesday by sending aircraft drawing trails of red and yellow smoke in the sky to represent the national flag

Felipe gives a salute. The country marked the important day on Wednesday by sending aircraft drawing trails of red and yellow smoke in the sky to represent the national flag

Spectators defy the sporadic rain and line the streets of central Madrid as King Felipe VI presides over the parade, accompanied by Letizia and their daughters

Spectators defy the sporadic rain and line the streets of central Madrid as King Felipe VI presides over the parade, accompanied by Letizia and their daughters

The parade is chaired by the King and usually held in Madrid. An array of officials including foreign diplomats and members of the autonomous governments are invited to attend

The parade is chaired by the King and usually held in Madrid. An array of officials including foreign diplomats and members of the autonomous governments are invited to attend

Heritage: The holiday is known as Dia de la Hispanidad, or Hispanic Day. It celebrates Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World and is also Spain's armed forces day

Heritage: The holiday is known as Dia de la Hispanidad, or Hispanic Day. It celebrates Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World and is also Spain's armed forces day

Almost a year into Spain's political deadlock, the country marked the important day by sending aircraft drawing trails of red and yellow smoke in the sky to represent the national flag.

Spectators defied the sporadic rain and lined the streets of central Madrid as King Felipe VI presided over the parade, accompanied by Letizia and their daughters.

This is the first parade to be celebrated without a government in place, as the country approaches a year of political gridlock.

The holiday is known as Dia de la Hispanidad, or Hispanic Day. It celebrates Christopher Columbus' arrival in the New World and is also Spain's armed forces day.

Time to go home: The royals leave the box following the parade. Spain's national day is held annually every October 12. To commemorate it, there is a parade performed by the military

Time to go home: The royals leave the box following the parade. Spain's national day is held annually every October 12. To commemorate it, there is a parade performed by the military

Despite the formal nature of the event, the two heiresses appeared happy and relaxed, with Leonor even sharing a giggle as she left the royal box

Despite the formal nature of the event, the two heiresses appeared happy and relaxed, with Leonor even sharing a giggle as she left the royal box

Spain's national day is held annually every October 12. To commemorate it, there is a parade performed by the military, which also typically features a display by the Spanish Air Force's aerobatics team. 

It is chaired by the King and usually held in Madrid. An array of officials including foreign diplomats and members of the autonomous governments are invited to attend.

The royal family have made it a tradition to attend as a foursome, with the girls joining their parents at last year's event.

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