Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain Recreate Handshake 20 Years Later — Why the Moment Was So Memorable

The King and Queen of Spain were keeping a secret

Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain just revisited a memorable moment in their relationship.

On Friday, the King and Queen of Spain attended the 2023 Princess of Asturias Awards ceremony at the Campoamor Theatre in Oviedo, where they recreated a handshake they exchanged 20 years ago at the same event.

As the story goes, on Oct. 24, 2003, then-Prince Felipe went behind the scenes of the awards (which were then known as the Prince of Asturias Awards, reflective of his title at the time) to thank the media crew that covered the event. Felipe, who was then the heir to the Spanish throne, shook hands with Televisión Española journalist Letizia Ortiz Rocasolano, who reported on the awards.

According to fan blog Couture and Royals, not even Letizia’s colleagues knew she had been secretly dating the royal for months! Just a few days later, on Nov. 1, 2003, the couple announced their engagement from the gardens of El Pardo Palace and went on to tie the knot on May 2, 2004, in a classic royal wedding at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.

Related: Queen Letizia and King Felipe of Spain Send Princess Sofia Off to College as Princess Leonor Trains with Army

Though the couple kept their courtship quiet, Letizia was already a familiar face across Spain for her career anchoring the news at TVE. She reported from Washington, D.C. on the 2000 U.S. presidential election and from Ground Zero after the 9/11 attacks, as well as from the war in Iraq in 2003, Hello! said.

Felipe and Letizia went on to welcome daughters Princess Leonor, 17, and Princess Sofia, 16, who joined them at the Princess of Asturias awards ceremony on Friday. The event brought the family together — including Felipe’s mother, Queen Sofia — and the princesses home from school. Princess Leonor is currently training at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza for three years of study with the Spanish armed forces, following the traditional path for the heir to the throne, while Princess Sofia is enrolled at UWC Atlantic College in Wales in the same two-year International Baccalaureate program that Leonor completed in the spring.

Related: Meet Spain's Royal Family: Your Guide to the Spanish Monarchy's Family Tree

As Princess Leonor steps further into the royal spotlight in preparation for the destiny ahead, she made a speech at the Princess of Asturias awards — and presented a prize to Meryl Streep! The Princess of Asturias Awards are organized by The Princess of Asturias Foundation and recognize changemakers in the arts, culture, sports and science. The nonprofit, which was founded in 1980 as The Prince of Asturias Foundation, is named after the traditional title for the heir to the throne, which shifted to The Princess of Asturias Foundation in Leonor’s honor upon Felipe’s accession in 2014.

“I want to give thanks to all of the recipients for making the awards that have my name inspire us and pushing us to work for a hopeful future, one where we work hard and put importance on responsibility,” Leonor said on stage, Hola! reported.

Elsewhere in the address, the princess said it will be an “honor” to take a constitutional oath when she turns 18 on Oct. 31.

“I very well understand and am aware of what my duty is and what my responsibilities entail,” Leonor added, according to the Daily Mail.

Can't get enough of PEOPLE's Royals coverage? Sign up for our free Royals newsletter to get the latest updates on Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and more!

Princess Leonor will be Spain’s first queen regnant since Queen Isabella II (who reigned from 1833 to 1868) when she accedes one day, and with it, the responsibility of serving as supreme commander of the Spanish armed forces.

The Royal Household of Spain announced in March that Princess Leonor would begin three years of military training after graduating from UWC Atlantic College in Wales. Courtiers said the princess would start her studies at the General Military Academy of Zaragoza and train as a Lady Cadet for the 2023-2024 academic year, before moving to train with other branches.

For more People news, make sure to sign up for our newsletter!

Read the original article on People.