Month: May 2012

Duke’s Father Dies

Juan María Urdangarín, father of Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma, died Thursday at 79 in his native Basque Country. The former businessman had been ill for several months, according to media reports.

Queen Sofia and Infanta Elena will travel to Vitoria on Friday to be with the family. The Duke traveled to Spain from Washington earlier this week. Infanta Cristina, the Duchess of Palma, is also making her way to join her husband.

Update: Earlier this week, the Duchess visited the National Gallery of Art on Washington, D.C., where this blog originates. She went after-hours for a Joan Miró exhibit.

Prince, Princess Visit Basque Country

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia visited the Basque Country today to commemorate Red Cross and Red Crescent Day, where leaders handed out gold medals to various groups.

This year’s event was in Álava to mark the 140th anniversary of the Red Cross there. Royal trips to the Basque Country are notable because many residents, particularly nationalists and separatists, having mixed feelings about the Monarchy.

The Prince also traveled to Bucharest for the UEFA Europe League final between Atlético Madrid and Athletic Bilbao. He traveled with Basque Autonomous Community President Patxi López.

Prince Felipe Supports Repsol Amid Takeover

Last month Prince Felipe appeared to sound off on Argentina’s nationalization of a subsidiary of Spanish oil giant Repsol.

During the inauguration of the company’s refinery expansion in Cartagena, Spain, the Prince of Asturias thanked Repsol “for all it does and has done — which is a lot — for the welfare of numerous countries.”

He also expressed support for workers in and outside of Spain. The comments came just hours after Argentine President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner said her country would take a majority stake in Repsol’s YPF.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

The refinery project represents the most significant industrial investment in Spanish history. The Prince said the facility would be among Europe’s finest and most technologically advanced.

Town Declares King ‘Persona Non Grata’

Nationalist leaders of the small Catalonian town of Berga, near the Franch border, have declared King Juan Carlos unwelcome in their community, the Associated Press is reporting. Council members passed a resolution to that effect in recent days.

Global outlets are linking the news to the King’s recent troubles. However, it is not uncommon for separatists or anti-monarchist groups to do such things. Last year, for example, Basque nationalists removed Don Juan Carlos’ portrait from the San Sebastian council chambers.

While the King is largely responsible for helping communities like Catalonia and the Basque Country regain their autonomy, many people there are still bitter about repression during Franco’s regime.

Meanwhile, leaks and rumors continue in the corruption scandal of Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma de Mallorca. El Pais is reporting that ex-partner Diego Torres is gearing up to air the King’s connections to the Duke’s business dealings, which are under the microscope.

Torres’ attorney is denying that his client is asking for money in exchange for silence. The Royal Household appears confident that, however the Duke comes out of the investigation, nobody else in the family will be tied to the situation.

El Pais also profiled Queen Sofia’s sister, Irene of Greece and Denmark, in advance of her upcoming 70th birthday. Princess Irene is often known for her eccentric and down-to-earth attitude.

King Back to Work, Again

After two recent operations, King Juan Carlos is back at work making limited appearances.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Today His Majesty met with Pascual Sala, president of Spain’s Constitutional Court. Sala handed the King decisions from 2011.

Members of the FIA automobile association also visited Zarzuela Palace today to present Don Juan Carlos with a gold medal for his support of motor sports.

© Agencia EFE

While the King has other appearances planned, most of them are by other members of the Royal Family. Today Queen Sofia participated in the swearing in of 49 new members of the Royal Guard.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

And Felipe and Letizia, Prince and Princess of Asturias, participated in the inauguration of new facilities for the National Museum of Science and Technology in A Coruña.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos

Yesterday Infanta Elana, Duchess of Lugo, was on hand at the inauguration of new equestrian facilities for the Civil Guard. The Princess has been making numerous appearances on behalf of the Royal Family recently.

Updated: No Deal for Duke…Yet

Spanish prosecutors are downplaying the possibility of a plea bargain with Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma de Mallorca, who stands accused of diverting public funds for personal gain during his time as leader of the Noos Institute, media reports indicate.

The Duke’s main attorney is denying  that conversations over a deal have been ongoing. And Urdangarín’s former business partner, who faces similar allegations, said he has no plans to enter a guilty plea, news reports indicate.

Arms of the Duke of Palma

Prosecutors are stressing their desire to continue investigating the allegations. They say a special deal for the King’s son-in-law is not in the works.

Will Duke Admit Wrongdoing in Corruption Scandal?

King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law, Iñaki Urdangarín, the Duke of Palma, is in negotiations with prosecutors for a possible guilty plea amid a flurry of corruption allegations, El Pais and other Spanish news outlets are reporting.

In a recent deposition, Urdangarín put the blame on former associate Diego Torres. Both are accused of stealing public funds through their work with the Noos Institute, a non-profit organization.

But pointing the finger at Torres backfired, with the Duke’s former right hand man making allegations about the King’s involvement in helping with his son-in-law’s business affairs.

The King had once been seen as the one who warned Urdangarín to stay away from lucrative dealings.

Now, there is talk of Urdangarín working on a truce with Torres and negotiating with prosecutors to pay back millions of euros. While a guilty plea may hurt the monarchy, it may be less painful that a trial or jail sentence.

The corruption scandal, plus the King’s hunting trip to Botswana, has shocked people around the world who thought of the Spanish monarchy as a model for other countries with royal families.

Don Juan Carlos’ popularity, credibility and work in creating a democratic Spain gave him wide latitude to travel and get involved with politics and business. It appears that the Spanish head of state will be on a much tighter leash from now on.