Jaime del Burgo: His Life, Achievements, and Royal Connections
Life often brings together unexpected people, creating stories that pique curiosity and leave us wanting to know more. One such story involves Jaime del Burgo, a figure whose life has drawn attention for both personal and professional reasons.
Whether it’s his career achievements or connections to well-known personalities like Queen Letizia, there’s something intriguing about the details surrounding him. With a mix of fact and fascination, this article explores the key aspects of his life, helping you uncover who he is and why his name continues to spark interest.
Who Is Jaime del Burgo?
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Jaime del Burgo, born on July 10, 1970, in Pamplona, Spain, is a multifaceted individual known for his roles as an entrepreneur, private investor, and academic. He hails from a distinguished family with a rich political and cultural heritage.
His father, Jaime Ignacio del Burgo, was the first democratically elected president of the Diputación Foral de Navarra, and his grandfather, Jaime del Burgo Torres, was a noted historian and Carlist politician.
Del Burgo pursued his education in law at the University of Navarra, where he graduated with distinction. He furthered his academic credentials by obtaining a doctorate in tax law (Ph.D., Summa Cum Laude), focusing his thesis on the financial sovereignty of Navarra.
His academic mentors included prominent figures such as Jaime García Añoveros, a former Minister of Economy of Spain, and Professor Eugenio Simón Acosta. Notably, del Burgo became the youngest individual in Spain to earn a doctorate at that time. He also served as an associate professor, teaching tax law for several years.
Jaime del Burgo’s Career and Achievements
Jaime del Burgo’s career is marked by a series of entrepreneurial ventures and significant contributions across various industries:
Finance
Since 1994, del Burgo has acted as a private investor and adviser to family and business groups in financial matters. In 1996, he participated in establishing the first fund of funds in Luxembourg. By 2002, he created the closed-end fund Jedifund.
Following the 2008 financial crisis and personal losses from the Madoff pyramid scheme, he reevaluated his investment strategies, emphasizing the development of Accurate Business Plans (ABPs) based on practical and analytical data.
Construction and Real Estate Development
Del Burgo has developed and constructed over four million square meters of residential buildings, hotels, offices, shopping centers (including collaborations with companies like Ikea), parking lots, and industrial facilities. His ventures have created approximately two thousand direct jobs, showcasing his impact on employment and urban development.
Industrial Innovation
He has promoted six highly robotized factories specializing in precast processes and off-site modules using materials such as concrete, metal, and carbon fiber. These initiatives highlight his commitment to advancing industrial automation and modern construction techniques.
Publishing
In 2004, del Burgo established Laocoonte Publishing House, which operated for five years. The company published numerous books, a legal newspaper titled “La Tribuna del Derecho,” and a political magazine called “Navarra en Marcha,” contributing to the dissemination of legal and political discourse in Spain.
Entertainment
Del Burgo spent two years at Pinewood Studios working on the pre-production of “The Thief in the Night,” a project currently on hold. This experience reflects his involvement in the entertainment industry and his interest in film production.
Marriages and Personal Relationships
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In 2012, del Burgo married Telma Ortiz, the sister of Queen Letizia of Spain, in a discreet ceremony at the Monastery of Leyre in Navarra. The couple’s union attracted media attention due to the connection with the Spanish royal family. However, their marriage faced challenges, leading to a separation in 2014 and a formal divorce in 2016.
Following his divorce, del Burgo entered into a relationship with Lucía Díaz Liljestrom, a Swedish lawyer. The couple has a daughter named Ulla and resides in the United Kingdom, where del Burgo continues his entrepreneurial ventures.
Jaime del Burgo and Queen Letizia
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In late 2023, Jaime del Burgo, a Spanish entrepreneur and former brother-in-law to Queen Letizia, made public allegations of an affair with the Queen both before and during her marriage to King Felipe VI. Del Burgo, who was married to Letizia’s sister, Telma Ortiz, from 2012 to 2014, claimed that his romantic involvement with Letizia began in the early 2000s and continued into her royal marriage.
To substantiate his claims, del Burgo shared a photograph on social media depicting a visibly pregnant Letizia taking a selfie in a bathroom mirror, wearing a black pashmina he asserts belonged to him. He alleged that the accompanying message from Letizia read: “Love. I am wearing your pashmina. It’s like I feel you by my side. It takes care of me. It protects me. I count the hours to see you again.”
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These revelations coincided with the release of a book titled “Letizia y yo” (“Letizia and I”) by journalist Jaime Peñafiel, which delves into the purported affair. The book alleges that Letizia and del Burgo’s relationship began around 2000, prior to her meeting King Felipe, and included a romantic trip to Venice.
It further claims that their liaison persisted after Letizia’s marriage, with secret meetings and communications, including a 2011 trip to New York where bodyguards were allegedly aware of the affair.
The Spanish Royal Family has not issued an official response to these allegations. Public reaction has been mixed, with some expressing skepticism due to the lack of concrete evidence beyond del Burgo’s assertions and the photograph. The situation has sparked widespread media coverage and public discourse, raising questions about privacy, the veracity of such claims, and their implications for the monarchy.
It’s important to approach these allegations critically, considering the potential motivations behind them and the absence of corroborating evidence. The impact on the Spanish Royal Family’s public image remains to be seen as the narrative continues to unfold.
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