Queen Letizia is 'hurt' by furore over footage of her Easter Sunday standoff with Queen Sofia - as a friend claims she was preventing mother-in-law from allowing 'intrusive media' to photograph her children
- Letizia, 45, had been trying to protect daughters Leonor and Sofia, it's claimed
- Her friend and colleague suggested her actions had been a 'natural' response
- Clip appeared to show awkward exchange between Letizia and Queen Sofia, 79
Queen Letizia has been left 'hurt' by the furore over a video showing a tense moment between her and Queen Sofia.
The Spanish royal, 45, had been preventing her mother-in-law from allowing 'intrusive media' to photograph Princesses Leonor and Sofia at the Easter Mass service, according to a friend.
Letizia's former co-worker Imma Aguilar told Spanish programme El círculo that the mother-of-two had displayed a 'motherly reaction' and that she was 'very committed' to protecting her children.
It comes as Letizia made her first public appearance in Madrid today since the footage from Sunday emerged.
The clip, filmed at the Palma Cathedral in Majorca on Easter Sunday, appeared to show a very awkward exchange between Letizia and Sofia, 79.
Letizia is seen standing in front of Sofia, who appears to be posing for pictures with her granddaughters.
Queen Letizia has been left 'hurt' by a video showing a tense moment between her and mother-in-law Queen Sofia, according to a friend. The Spanish Queen put on a brave face today, in her first public appearance since the footage emerged
The clip, filmed during Easter Mass on Sunday, appears to show an awkward exchange between Letizia, 45, and Sofia, 79
After a brief exchange, Letizia appears to try and take the arm of her eldest daughter Leonor, 12, who then shoves both her mother and grandmother's hands aside.
Speaking in Spanish, Aguilar - who worked at CNN+with Letizia - told El círculo: 'I think they are the images of a mother worried about the image of her daughters.
'I talked to Queen Letizia a while ago, and she is worried and quite desolated by this situation; she is very committed to the care of her daughters, with the protection of their image, she worries who takes photos of them.
'She worries where they come from, who approaches them… It's a very motherly reaction.'
Letizia attended the service at the Palma Cathedral in Majorca along with husband King Felipe, daughters Princess Sofia (front left) and Leonor (front right) and in-laws King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia
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In the video, Queen Sofia appears to be posing for a photograph with both King Juan Carlos and King Felipe seen in the background
Letizia is seen standing in front of Sofia and after a brief exchange appears to try and take the arm of her eldest daughter, who then shoves both her mother and grandmother's hands aside
Aguilar added: 'It's been silly, it's not a serious issue, nothing has happened, it's just a natural gesture.
'She's not a person who has been educated from the beginning to have a certain public behavior, she's very committed to her work, her profession, with the role she plays and, as a mother, with her daughters.'
Describing Letizia's response to video, she added: 'She has felt affected, she is worried and hurt.'
Today, Letizia made her first public appearance since the video emerged as she arrived at a conference on the Informative treatment of Disability in Social Networks in Madrid.
The monarch, who opted for a business-like ensemble of a smart tweed blazer and tailored black trousers, looked especially cheerful as she waved to photographers.
The clip has made waves in the Spanish press, with newspapers branding the incident 'uncomfortable' and 'tense'.
Letizia stepped out this morning for a conference in Madrid, after the video made waves in the Spanish press
The Queen received a warm welcome after the family drama over the weekend
The royal donned a smart tweed blazer with black trim for her outing this morning
The monarch looked cheerful as she was welcomed to the conference on Informative treatment of Disability in Social Networks
After the video emerged, Marie Chantal of Greece, who is married to Crown Prince Pavlos - King Felipe's cousin -weighed in on the controversy.
Posting on Twitter, she wrote: 'No grandmother deserves that type of treatment! Wow she’s shown her true colours.'
In another tweet, she asked: 'What is the Spanish press saying? This is so awful.'
Appearing to stir things up even further, she then posted a photo of a family gathering with her own parents, captioned: 'Happy grandparents! Family is what it’s all about.'
Letizia's husband Felipe, who is the son of Juan Carlos and Sofia, took to the throne after his father's abdication in 2014.
During the video, Letizia's husband the king is seen stepping in, while his 80-year-old father looked on nonplussed.
The Casa De Su Majestad El Rey has not commented on the incident.
The royal looked animated as she chatted to the welcoming committee
A friend has suggested that Letizia had been trying to protect her children during the awkward incident
The clip has made waves in the Spanish press, with newspapers branding the incident 'uncomfortable' and 'tense'
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