Queen Letizia of Spain once again proved she’s a champion of both cultural and sartorial elegance as she presided over the 2025 SM Awards, Spain’s most prestigious literary honors for young readers. The Queen awarded Ledicia Costas the SM Prize El Barco de Vapor for Feriópolis, a fantastical story that gives voice to the emotional depth of childhood. Marina Aguirre received the Gran Angular Award for Hoy honramos a los vivos (Today We Honor the Living), a poignant novel that leads teens on a path from grief to self-discovery.
Both awards carry a prize of €35,000, the most generous in the Spanish-speaking world for children’s and young adult literature. The Children’s Literature Awards El Barco de Vapor y Juvenil Gran Angular were established in Spain in 1978. Since then, the SM Foundation has convened them every year in order to promote the creation of a literature for children and young people that fosters the taste for reading and transmits, with literary quality, human, social, cultural or religious values that help build a worthy world.
Queen Letizia, joined by dignitaries including Madrid’s President Isabel Díaz Ayuso and Minister Sira Rego, used her speech to reflect on the slow magic of reading. In her speech, Queen Letizia quoted literary giant George Steiner, saying “a book can wait a thousand years for the right reader to discover it.” She called for a renewed commitment to reading in an age overwhelmed by speed and distraction — advocating for “slowness and concentration.”
For the occasion, Queen Letizia looked polished and refined in a Maje tweed jacket paired with classic black trousers — a timeless ensemble that echoed the elegance of the evening. She accessorized with Barbara Goenaga Gaua earrings, a striking Coreterno ring, and carried a chic Carolina Herrera bag. Finishing her look were elegant Massimo Dutti slingback pumps, subtly elevating her understated yet powerful style.
The ceremony closed with a personal touch, as Queen Letizia met with the awardees, offering encouragement and recognition for their meaningful contributions to Spanish literature. Before leaving, Queen Letizia did a quick walkabout and met with the members of the public gathered outside.
What Queen Letizia Wore for 2025 SM Literature Awards
- Maje Reims Short Jacket – New
- Black Unidentified Trousers
- Barbara Goenaga Gaua Earrings – Repeat
- Coreterno Ring – Repeat
- Carolina Herrera Victoria Insignia Bag – Repeat
- Massimo Dutti Leather Slingback Pumps – Repeat
