MiamiPrincess LetiziaVideoSpain

Spain's Crown Prince Couple Open The Miami Book Fair International, Because It's That Awesome

Spanish Royals Thrill Miami Book Fair
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It's been a great 30 years for the Miami Book Fair International, the largest event of its kind in the country. From Hunter S. Thompson upside down and drunk in the back of a car to Dick Cheney to 2010's coolest draw Patti Smith, the fair has always attracted an amazing array of authors, stars, book lovers, publishers, and more.

This year, the Book Fair got some well-deserved recognition in the New York Times for its role in kicking off the cultural renaissance that eventually solidified with the arrival of Art Basel Miami Beach.

It also got a royal stamp of approval.

That's right! Not only is Miami's book fair bigger and better than yours, it drew a glamorous pair Sunday in the form of kickoff speaker Crown Prince Felipe of Spain and his wife Princess Letizia. It was a perfect match: Spain is the featured nation at the book fair for 2013, and books are clearly a treasure to the royal couple. When Felipe proposed to his journalist wife in 2003, she gave him a rare 1850 edition of a novel by Mariano José de Larra as an engagement present.

Altogether now: aw!

"Things Hispanic, with its culture and values - and things Spanish ... make a decisive contribution to the... U.S. identity," the prince reportedly said, calling Florida and its many different Spanish accents "a faithful reflection of that variety... and of the enriching coexistence of an Hispanic identity with others of much different origins."

Indeed. Check out the pair as the they opened the 30th annual Miami Book Fair International last night at the packed Gusman Center for the Performing Arts to shouts of "Viva España!" (and even one very enthusiastic "We love you!" directed at Prince Felipe, who suggested the pair will "have to come to Miami more often.") Letizia's dress is a repeat, but we do love a thrifty princess.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia of Spain Open Miami Book Fair International
Spanish Royals Visit USA - Day 5(01 of16)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (R) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spanish Royals Visit USA - Day 5(02 of16)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (R) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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(credit:Embassy of Spain in the U.S.)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attend the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spanish Royals Visit USA - Day 5(06 of16)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
Spanish Royals Visit USA - Day 5(07 of16)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attend the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attend the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)
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MIAMI, FL - NOVEMBER 17: Prince Felipe of Spain (L) and Princess Letizia attends the Miami Book Fair International 2013 Inaugural event on November 17, 2013 in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Gustavo Caballero/Getty Images) (credit:Getty Images)

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Before You Go

Miami Book Fair International 2013
Pre-fair Author Event: Salman Rushdie On Joseph Anton, In Conversation With Mitchell Kaplan(01 of16)
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When: Thursday, Sept. 26 at 7:30 p.m.Price: Two tickets included with book purchase at Books & Books. Or can be purchased independently for $10.Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami (credit:Getty Images)
Pre-fair Author Event: Nicholas Sparks On The Longest Ride(02 of16)
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When: Monday, Sept. 30, 7:30 p.m.Price: Two tickets included with book purchase at Books & Books. Or can be purchased independently for $10.Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami (credit:PA)
Pre-fair Author Event: Elizabeth Gilbert on The Signature Of All Things(03 of16)
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When: Wednesday, Oct. 9, 7:30 p.m.Price: Two tickets included with book purchase at Books & Books. Or can be purchased independently for $10.Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Auditorium, Building 1, 2nd floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami (credit:Getty Images)
Pre-fair Author Event: Billy Collins On Aimless Love: New And Selected Poems(04 of16)
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When: Thursday, Oct. 24, 7:30 p.m.Price: Free, no tickets requiredWhere: MDC Wolfson Campus, Auditorium, Building 1, 2nd floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami (credit:Getty Images)
Pre-fair Author Event: Helen Fielding On "Bridget Jones: Mad About The Boy"(05 of16)
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When: Saturday, Nov. 2, time is TBDPrice: TBDWhere: TBD (credit:PA)
Pre-fair Author Event: Donna Tartt on The Goldfinch,(06 of16)
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When: Wednesday, Nov. 6 at 7:30 p.m.Price: Free, no tickets requiredWhere: MDC Wolfson Campus, Auditorium, Building 1, 2nd floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami (credit:Getty Images)
Opening Presentation With Dan Brown(07 of16)
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The bestselling author of "The Da Vinci Code," "The Lost Symbol," and most recently "Inferno", will kick off this year’s 30th Miami Book Fair International. When: Sunday, Nov. 17 at 7:30 p.m.Price: *$15Where: Olympia Theater at the Gusman Center, 74 E Flagler St., Miami *Tickets go on sale on Monday, Sep. 23, 2013 at 10 a.m. at miamibookfair.com (credit:Dan Courter)
An Evening With Erica Jong, Interviewed By Author Jennifer Weiner (08 of16)
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When: Monday, Nov. 18, time is TBDPrice: *$15, available at miamibookfair.comWhere: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty Images)
An Evening With Joe Scarborough, Of Morning Joe On MSNBC(09 of16)
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When: Monday, Nov. 18, time is TBDPrice: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty Images)
An Evening With Pat Conroy And Cassandra King(10 of16)
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When: Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 6 p.mPrice: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty Images)
An Evening With Sherman Alexie: "Blasphemy" And 20th Anniversary Edition Of "Lone Ranger" And "Tonto Fistfight"(11 of16)
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When: Tuesday, Nov. 19 at 8 p.mPrice: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty)
An Evening With Reza Aslan(12 of16)
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When: Wednesday, Nov. 20, 2013 at 6 p.m.Price: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty Images)
An Evening With Wally Lamb(13 of16)
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When: Thursday, Nov. 21 at 6 p.m.Price: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com.
An Evening With Terry McMillan(14 of16)
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When: Thursday, Nov. 21 at 8 p.m.Price: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty)
An Evening With Rep. John Lewis(15 of16)
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When: Friday, Nov. 22 at 6 p.m.Price: *$15Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:Getty Images)
An Evening With Angelica Huston(16 of16)
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When: Friday, Nov. 22 at 8 p.m.Price: *$40, includes her new memoir "A Story Lately Told: Coming of Age in Ireland," available at miamibookfair.com.Where: MDC Wolfson Campus, Chapman Conference Center, Building 3, 2nd Floor, 300 NE 2nd Ave., Miami*"Evening With" tickets go on sale to members on Monday, Oct. 28 at 10 a.m. and to the general public on Monday, Nov. 4 at 10 a.m. Tickets available at miamibookfair.com. (credit:PA)
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