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Author: Manuel Quinones
Queen Sofia In Guatemala
Queen Sofia is spending most of this week on an official visit to Guatemala, where she is meeting with country leaders and local Spaniards.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
Like many of her trips abroad, Queen Sofia is visiting projects and facilities backed by Spanish development aid funds. She also brought medicines with her on a Spanish Air Force jet.

Also this week King Juan Carlos swore in the new magistrate of the Constitutional Court, Ricardo Enríquez Sancho, at Zarzuela Palace.
Prince Stops In Brazil
Prince Felipe stopped in Brazil this week to meet with local officials and business leaders.
His Royal Highness made stops in São Paulo after being in Chile for the inauguration of President Michelle Bachelet.
In Brazil, Don Felipe also met with leaders of the Israeli community.
The Spanish Royals, like the government, have been working to promote closer ties with the Jewish diaspora.
King Juan Carlos, for example, recently met with a Sephardi Jewish leader.
Many Spanish Jews were ejected from Spain centuries ago.

Members of the Royal Family have made Brazil a key stop in their effort to promote greater economic ties between both countries.

Today Queen Sofia visited the stories city of Toledo to help launch a major exhibit of works by painter El Greco, who once worked in Toledo.

In the coming days, Queen Sofia is scheduled to visit Guatemala. She has recently made trips to the Philippines and Bolivia.
Royals Remember Bombing Anniversary
King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, plus Infanta Elena and Princes Letizia attended services today at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid to remember the 10th anniversary of the Madrid train bombings.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
Members of the Royal Family met with government officials, first responders, victims and their families.
Foreign observers have expressed interest at how willing the Spanish Royal Family is to break protocol to comfort grieving families.
Prince Felipe was not at the ceremonies today. He was instead meeting with Chile’s outgoing President Sebastián Piñera and helping inaugurate new President Michelle Bachelet.
Prince Felipe has for year’s been the King’s representatives at presidential inaugurations throughout Latin America.

Queen Gathers Family To Remember Her Father
Queen Sofia gathered with members of the Spanish, Greek and Danish Royal Families last week to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the death of her father, King Paul I of Greece.
Members of the Greek Royal Family, including King Constantine II of Greece, Queen Sofia’s brother, hold deep ties to the Danish Royal Family.
King Constantine’s wife Anne-Marie, for example, was born Princess of Denmark.
The Danish Royal Family remains in power while Greece abolished its monarchy in the 1970’s.
The Royals and nobles held a small ceremony at the Tatoi Royal Palace outside of Athens, where Queen Sofia spent much of her childhood.
They also watched a new documentary about King Paul.

Media outlets took note of Infanta Cristina attending the events even amid the corruption investigation involving her husband. Queen Sofia, it is said, is insisting in family unity.
For 300 years members of the Royal Family have visited the church to venerate the Christ of Medinaceli.
Back in Madrid, Infanta Elena represented the Spanish Royal Family at the Medinaceli Basilica.
King Meets With Lavror, Lagarde
King Juan Carlos today met with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov at Zarzuela Palace, in what was likely a less than comfortable encounter.
Lavrov’s pre-scheduled visit to Spain came amid tough talk between the European Union and Russia regarding Ukraine.

Several European countries, including Spain, have tried to forge closer economic relations with Russia.
The King visited Russia and President Vladimir Putin in 2012.
Yesterday His Majesty was in Bilbao for an economic development forum with International Monetary Fund head Christine Lagarde.

The King touted reforms by the Spanish government, which he said are improving the financial and employment situation.
Royals Woo Catalonia (Updated)
Amid pro-independence rumblings in the Spanish Autonomous Community of Catalonia, Prince Felipe of Asturias over the weekend presided over a dinner with business and regional leaders at Albéniz Palace in Barcelona, the King’s official residence in the city.

© Casa de S.M. el rey / Borja Fotógrafos
Prince Felipe, who was in town for the eve of the 2014 Mobile World Congress, alluded to Catalonia’s importance within Spain.
He spoke of Barcelona as the “beloved and dynamic capital of Catalonia,” and made remarks in Spanish, English and Catalan.

His Royal Highness also met with Catalan President Artur Mas, who is calling for a referendum on independence and, during his own remarks, highlighted Catalonia’s own strengths.

On Monday Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia walked the convention floor. One of their meetings was with Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg.
Things got tougher later in the week when a Catalan businessman refused to shake the Prince’s hand.
Don Felipe pressed the issue with Alex Fenoll, who kept refusing. A video of the incident has gone viral.
Media reports also indicate that other business leaders in Catalonia expressed concerns about the lack of dialogue between Barcelona and Madrid during what has become a political stalemate.
Other Agenda Items
Among numerous royal agenda items in recent weeks, today Queen Sofia visited the Spanish National Ballet and the National Dance Company. Her Majesty is known for her attachment to classical arts.
Earlier this month King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were in Portugal meeting with Portuguese and Italian leaders in Lisbon to promote regional economic development.

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Infanta Cristina Testifies
Infanta Cristina, King Juan Carlos’ youngest daughter, testified yesterday for several hours before a Balearic Islands judge in connection with her husband’s corruption investigation.
Infanta Cristina, according to media reports, said she trusted her husband and also appeared to vouch for his innocence.

Anti-corruption investigators believe the the infanta’s husband, Iñaki Urdangarin, used a sports related foundation to funnel public funds for personal use.
Even though prosecutors did not want to involve the King’s daughter in the formal investigation, Judge José Castro called her to testify over whether she had any knowledge or played a part in any crimes.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
The case has become a major headache for the Royal Family amid Spain’s economic crisis and the public’s widespread disdain for people in power.

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About 200 agents were at the courthouse for security, said media reports. There were also numerous supporters and anti-monarchy protesters. She smiled and greeted the crowd.
Officials allowed Infanta Cristina’s drivers to drop her off near the courthouse door but they denied any special treatment.
King Juan Carlos Puts Wife On Salary
King Juan Carlos has assigned salaries for Queen Sofia and Princess Letizia, his daughter in law and future queen consort.

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Queen Sofia will receive about 132,000 euros a year in salary and expenses for representing the Crown. Princess Letizia will receive a little more than 100,000 euros.
Queen Sofia and Princess Letizia have already been receiving similar amounts, but calling their compensation a salary means they become professional workers in service of the the Head of State, the King.
The move has become common among European monarchies and is part of the Spanish Royal Household’s effort at becoming more transparent.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
The Spanish Royal Household often boasts at being among the cheapest in Europe, costing taxpayers less than 8 million euros a year. Critics, however, say there are other expenses in sustaining the Crown that are not part of the official budget.
King Juan Carlos makes almost 300,000 euros for being Head of State. Prince Felipe, his son, makes about 146,000.
Infanta Elana, who often represents the Royal Family at official events, gets up to 25,000 euro.
Infanta Cristina, whose husband is being investigated for corruption, has not been representing the Crown at official events and is therefore not on payroll.
Royal Flight Affected, Again
An airplane carrying Prince Felipe broke down this week for the second time in recent weeks.
Last year a problem with a Spanish Air Force Airbus 310 forced His Royal Highness to cancel a trip to Brazil.
This week, the Prince’s flight had to return to the Dominican Republic while on its way to Honduras. Don Felipe eventually made it to Tegucigalpa.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
The Prince went to Honduras to meet with outgoing President Porfirio Lobo and attend the swearing-in ceremony for new President Juan Orlando Hernández Alvarado.

© Casa de S.M. el Rey / Borja Fotógrafos
The Prince’s airplane problems have caused a stir in the Spanish media because the A310s were a controversial purchase.
Spain’s Defense Minister sent a different one for Don Felipe’s return, just in case.

Beyond that, Spaniards are wondering how Infanta Cristina’s upcoming testimony will go before a Balearic Islands judge in connection with the corruption investigation of her husband.

Media reports say the Princess’ testimony will not be recoded to prevent leaks. There has also been discussion about how she will arrive because of concerns about giving her proper security but also not offering her special treatment.





