{"id":318,"date":"2014-08-01T16:34:55","date_gmt":"2014-08-01T15:34:55","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.yessibello.bujournalism.info\/?p=318"},"modified":"2014-08-01T16:34:55","modified_gmt":"2014-08-01T15:34:55","slug":"felipe-letizia-social-media","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.mammj2014.buprojects.uk\/YessiBello\/index.php\/2014\/08\/01\/felipe-letizia-social-media\/","title":{"rendered":"Felipe VI and Letizia: Royals in a social media age"},"content":{"rendered":"

Felipe VI ascended the throne just over a month ago, but we are already seeing how social media is being used in an attempt to restore faith in the monarchy. The Spanish Royal Palace has become increasingly active on \u00a0Twitter since King Juan Carlos’ abdication at the beginning of summer.\u00a0The new King and his wife, Letizia, \u00a0have began their reign with a new approach to a 21st century monarchy.<\/p>\n

The couple – whose forward thinking ways have been likened to that of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge – have been hailed as modern monarchs<\/a> by various international publications. Seemingly following on from King Juan Carlos’ premise to “reign for the people,” the Royals have been photographed posing for selfies with well-wishers.<\/p>\n

\"Queen<\/a>

Queen Letizia poses with well-wishers. Photos: Twitter<\/p><\/div>\n

As the pinnacle of Spain’s political system, the monarchy became embroiled in a generalised sense of resentment that erupted against the country’s corrupt elites.\u00a0The Noos case <\/a>was particularly damaging as I\u00f1aki Urdangarin, the King’s son-in-law testified in court over allegations that he misused millions of euros of public money. \u00a0The Royal Family has been facing increasing criticism in recent years, largely due to the King’s opulent lifestyle and their lack of transparency with regards to annual spending.<\/p>\n

The new King and Queen, however, seem to have taken the criticism on board. The Spanish Royal Palace Twitter <\/a>account, which has 146,000 followers, recently published a photograph of the Royals travelling by train in standard class.<\/p>\n

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Los Reyes viajan en tren a Valladolid. Premios Nacionales de Innovaci\u00f3n y Dise\u00f1o. pic.twitter.com\/P3cJVibu7f<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Casa de S.M. el Rey (@CasaReal) July 1, 2014<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

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Pilar Perez Roel, 45, is very close in age to King Felipe. Originally from Galicia, she was born and raised in London. In the summer of 1980 she attended a camp in Villanueva de la Vera (C\u00e1ceres),<\/a> where she met the future King.<\/p>\n

“It certainly seems that their every move is being Tweeted. It is their attempt to modernise themselves and create a little bit more transparency, I think he will do some good things for the country but Felipe and Letizia will have to work hard to change peoples’ opinions,” she says.<\/p>\n

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