Editor’s Note
**Editor’s Note:** This article explores the symbolic significance behind Queen Letizia’s choice of a pearl necklace from the royal heirloom collection, as analyzed by protocol expert María José Gómez y Verdú. The piece highlights how a seemingly minor accessory can carry a powerful, subtle message.
Spanish Royal House
· Letizia Ortiz
From Lecturas magazine, we spoke with María José Gómez Verdú, a protocol and etiquette expert, to uncover all the secrets of the pearl necklace Queen Letizia recently wore, which belongs to the ‘joyas de pasar’ (heirloom jewels).
Helena Arriaza
Digital Editor at Lecturas
Updated July 9, 2025, 15:14
Queen Letizia (52 years old) attended one of those events yesterday where her look generates maximum anticipation. Alongside King Felipe, she was present at the Mariano de Cavia, Luca de Tena, and Mingote Awards. For this appointment with journalism, Doña Letizia always wears sophisticated and elegant styles that leave a lasting impression. Although in previous years she opted for dresses with striking touches, this time she was more restrained.
On Tuesday afternoon, Queen Letizia chose a black off-the-shoulder dress, fitted at the waist with a beautiful drape. A very simple garment that demonstrated well that a black dress is one of those reliable pieces to turn to for different types of occasions without risk of error. But beyond her dress, there was something in her look that caught attention: the necklace.
The wife of King Felipe VI saw this accessory as her great ally to elevate her look to the highest level. And it was no ordinary necklace. Doña Letizia chose a pearl necklace belonging to the royal jewelry collection. Specifically, she turned to the ‘joyas de pasar’ to wear an impressive necklace of no less than thirty-seven large pearls that once belonged to Queen Victoria Eugenia. An extremely exclusive piece that Doña Letizia has turned to on several occasions since 2015, knowing well the sophisticated touch it adds to her styles.
The fact that Queen Letizia wore this necklace, which belongs to the ‘joyas de pasar,’ led us to speak with María José Gómez Verdú, a protocol and etiquette expert. From Lecturas magazine, we wanted to talk with the expert to learn more about the ‘joyas de pasar,’ how Queen Letizia might use them, how Princess Leonor might use them in the future, and everything that is conveyed through them.
To begin discussing the impressive jewel Queen Letizia wore yesterday, María José Gómez Verdú told us that:
Regarding this jewel, the expert explained further:
Then, she explained the message Queen Letizia would have wanted to convey yesterday by wearing this jewel. María José Gómez Verdú determined that:
To understand what the ‘joyas de pasar’ are, the expert continued:
Regarding the use queens should make of these securely stored pieces, the expert emphasized:
Therefore, as the author of the book ‘Protocolo POP’ commented:
Regarding the message conveyed by using the ‘joyas de pasar,’ Gómez Verdú returned to the fact that Queen Letizia wore the pearl necklace yesterday. On what she managed to convey, she stated:
She delved deeper into this use, asserting:
The fact that Queen Letizia uses these ‘joyas de pasar’ leads one to think about the day Princess Leonor will wear them. She will indeed have access to this exclusive royal jewelry collection, but there is still time for that. On this, the protocol and etiquette expert told us: