King Juan Carlos has been staying in the United Arab Emirates since earlier this month, the Spanish Royal Household confirmed today.
Don Juan Carlos left Spain amid probes of financial wrongdoing. His departure came after weeks of negotiations between King Felipe, the Spanish government and King Juan Carlos.
King Juan Carlos and the Royal Household had been keeping his destination secret. Initial reports had him in the Dominican Republic but then a picture emerged of His Majesty in Abu Dhabi.
King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters made the rounds in Mallorca today as they started the public phase of their summer vacation.
Locals and media outlets are paying special attention this year because of the scandal surrounding King Felipe’s father, King Juan Carlos.
Don Felipe today met with Balearic Island leaders at Almudaina Palace in Palma as is tradition.
King Felipe, Queen Letizia, Princess Leonor and Infanta Sofia then visited Junipero Serra’s childhood home. Serra was a Catholic missionary in what is now California.
Serra has a become figuere of controversy in the U.S. because of his treatment of Native Americans.
Queen Sofia, who favors vacationing in Mallorca, arrived at Marivent Palace in recent weeks. The Royal Household has been working to shield her from the controversy surrunding her husbad, King Juan Carlos.
King Juan Carlos may have traveled to Abu Dhabi after announcing his decision to leave Spain last week amid a corruption investigation.
Sources initially said Don Juan Carlos, King Felipe’s father, may have traveled to the Dominican Republic to stay at Casa de Campo resort, which is owned by friends of the former head-of-state.
But more recent reports, including a picture, suggest King Felipe may be in Abu Dhabi. He is close with royals from around the Middle East.
King Juan Carlos has not been indicted and was immune from prosecution during his time as monarch. But authorities in Spain and Switzerland are looking into tens of millions of dollars that may have been mishandled.
King Juan Carlos is said to have left Spain for the Dominican Republic, according to several media outlets.
The Spanish Royal Household said yesterday that Don Juan Carlos would move out of Zarzuela Palace and abandon the country amid claims of financial irregularities.
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez today praised King Felipe for distancing himself from his father for the sake of the Crown.
Other left-leaning figiures, however, said Don Juan Carlos’ departure was akin to fleeing justice. His Majesty’s attorneys say he remains open to whatever officials may need.
King Felipe, meanwhile, continued with his agenda and has not commented on the crisis. He has resigned any inheritance from his father.
King Juan Carlos may be staying in Casa de Campo, a Dominican resort owned by the wealthy Fanjul family.
King Juan Carlos, the monarch who led Spain’s transition to democracy, will abandon the country, according to a letter to his son, King Felipe.
Authorities in Spain and Switzerland are investigating money King Juan Carlos is said to have received from the Saudi king.
Millions of dollars from Don Juan Carlos also ended up in the hands of Corinna Larsen, a businesswoman and socialite with whom King Juan Carlos had a close freindship.
King Juan Carlos was immune from prosecution but gave up his involability when he abdicated. The limits of his immunity during office are also in question.
Don Juan Carlos has not been indicted for any crimes and sources close to the former head-of-state say he did nothing illegal.
But King Felipe has formally resigned any inheritance from his father earlier this year. Don Felipe has also been under pressure to kick his father out of Zarzuela Palace.
In the letter to his son, King Juan Carlos did not say where he was going, but said scrutiny into his private actions had contributed to his decision to leave.
King Juan Carlos was born in exile in Rome. He and his family engineered a return to Spain as a child. He then took over as monarch when dictator Francisco Franco died.
In 2014, amid financial crisis, scrutiny into his relationships and declining health, Don Juan Carlos abdicated the throne after almost 40 years.
Queen Sofia has arrived in Palma de Mallorca for her summer vacation, as is tradition.
Observers and locals were wondering whether Her Majesty would return to Marivent Palace amid scandal surrounding her husband, King Juan Carlos.
Media outlets are reporting that Queen Sofia is in the Balearic Islands. King Felipe, Queen Letizia and their daughters are likely to join in the coming weeks.
Some polls show Queen Sofia as the most popular royal, largely because she has remained committeed to her role despite difficult years.
King Juan Carlos is said to be with friends in Galicia. He may have to move out of Zarzuela Palace permanently.
King Felipe met with presidents of Spain’s autonomous communities during a conference in La Rioja Friday.
His Majesty was on hand for the meeting between regional and national officials, including Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez.
The presidents of the Basque Country and Catalonia, both members of anti-monarchist, nationalist parties, did not attend the meeting, despite pleas from the prime minister.
Catalan President Quim Torra has long been at odds with the central government in Madrid. And Basque leader Iñigo Urkullu said the central government was not complying with certain promises.
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