If many little girls dream of being princesses with glittering gowns and diamond tiaras, then their modern-minded, grown-up counterparts could do worse than aspire to the glossy, polished style of Queen Letizia of Spain. She and her husband King Felipe, who ascended the throne in 2014 following the abdication of his father Juan Carlos, arrive today for their first state visit to the UK. Alongside the pomp and circumstance, the three days of engagements offer up the first chance we Brits have had to witness firsthand the woman who is widely credited with reinventing royal style for the 21st century.

Before Letizia and Felipe announced their surprise engagement in 2003, she was already a familiar face in Spain as a newsreader on TVE, the Spanish equivalent of our BBC. She had reported from Ground Zero and Iraq; it was akin to Sophie Raworth or Laura Kuenssberg giving up their starring role on the six o’clock news to marry a Prince. This modern day fairytale came with added frisson, because Letizia had been married briefly already in a civil ceremony.