New look for women’s rights defender Queen Letizia

QUEEN Letizia of Spain surprised everyone last night (April 20) by appearing with a new look for an awards ceremony in Madrid.

The queen has jumped on the ‘long bob’ bandwagon, a style other well-known women including Victoria Beckham have recently started to favour.

Her Majesty Letizia presided over the first edition of the Woman Awards at Madrid Casino, which were organised by Woman magazine. Actress Salma Hayek, doctor Maria Neira and orchestra director Inma Shara were among those chosen to receive an award.

During her speech, the queen noted that many things needed to change and improve in the ‘world of women,’ including unemployment levels, violence, unequal salaries and the difference in the amount of time women dedicate to housework and childcare compared to men.

“If there’s a reason for us being here tonight it is that we have many reasons to think that lots of things still need to change for women,” the queen stressed, before noting that along with unequal work conditions and distribution of household and childcare responsibilities, education and marriage of young girls also needed attention.

During the speech she gave after handing over awards, Queen Letizia argued that, “it’s not the same to be born in Kabul, Sebastopol, Yorkshire or Madrid, yet when all’s said and done every girl born in the world should have the chance to decide what to do with her life.”