Duke of Palma and King Juan Carlos’ son-in-law Iñaki Urdangarin is finalizing an arrangement that could soon take him to work for the Qatari handball team, El Paísreported today.
Investigators are pursuing a possible corruption case against Urdangarin, once an Olympic handball star, but he is under no obligation to stay in Spain while it continues.
Urdangarin and his wife, Infanta Cristina, have largely been sidelined from official royal engagements.
Infanta Cristina and her children would join Urdangarin, media reports say.
Meanwhile, El País is also reporting on the King’s plummeting poll numbers amid several controversies and his health problems, which have kept him away from public view.
His popularity has taken a hit even compared with other members of the Royal Family, like Queen Sofia or Prince Felipe, who have been making frequent appearances.
King Juan Carlos, Queen Sofia.
Analysts note that young people especially are largely unaware of Don Juan Carlos’ role in bringing democracy to Spain and putting down an attempted coup in the early 1980’s.
Newspaper El Mundo has been reporting about the King’s inheritance and his friend Corinna zu Sayn-Wittgenstein’s activities on behalf of the Spanish government, including in the Arab world.
Leftist parties are demanding more transparency from the Royal Household, which has agreed to be part of a new openness law, albeit in a limited fashion.
Spanish royals already disclose their salary, taxes and other expenses. They will now also increase disclosure on trips and meetings.
Socialists are asking for the Royal Family’s personal finances to be public, as well.
Madrid Royal Palace.
Today Spanish Government President Mariano Rajoy defended the Crown as an important part of Spanish unity. The Socialist party is also officially in favor of keeping the Crown.
UPDATE: News reports indicate that King Juan Carlos has spoken to his friend the Emir of Qatar, but about business issues and not about Urdangarin.
Prince Felipe celebrated justice and the judicial profession in Spain one day after a judge named his sister as a suspect in a corruption probe.
Prince Felipe made remarks celebrating judicial “independence, impartiality and respect for laws” during a ceremony welcoming new judges in Barcelona today.
Prince Felipe with Catalan President Artur Mas to his left and Spanish Government Vice President Soraya Sáenz de Santamaría to his right.
Prosecutors are appealing the judges decision to subpoena Infanta Cristina in the case involving her husband.
Prince Felipe today also met with United Nations Secretary General Ban Ki-moon at El Pardo Palace outside Madrid.
Balearic Islands Judge José Castro has named King Juan Carlos’ daughter Infanta Cristina in a corruption probe surrounding her husband Iñaki Urdangarin.
Infanta Cristina, center, at a Red Cross event.
Urdangarin is under investigation for allegedly using a non-profit company to funnel public funds for private gain.
Former associate Diego Torres has handed over documents in an attempt to tie other members of the Royal Family in the scandal.
The Royal Household — which expressed surprise at the news — has denied wrongdoing and King Juan Carlos years ago told Urdangarin to give up questionable business dealings.
Today Queen Sofia handed out awards to encourage greater access for people with disabilities.
The Royal Household is looking into claims that King Juan Carlos may owe taxes from the money his father left him, El Mundo and other news outlets are reporting.
Opposition parties are asking for information about three Swiss bank accounts that news accounts say belonged to Don Juan de Borbón y Battenberg, the Count of Barcelona.
He is said to have left his son about 375 million Spanish pesetas, the currency before the Euro.
Members of the Spanish Royal family attended Easter mass yesterday at the Mallorca Cathedral in Palma de Mallorca as part of a long standing tradition.
Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia, and Infanta Elena attended the services. Also there were young Infanta Sofia and Leonor, who may one day become queen.
Infanta Elena, the Duchess of Palma, did not attend amid her husband’s corruption investigation.
The Duchess of Alba also celebrated Holy Week and her 87th birthday with a public outing. Click here for an Hola photo gallery from Seville.
Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia and Infanta Elena welcomed International Olympic Committee representatives at the Royal Palace last week.
They were hoping to impress the Evaluation Commission for Madrid’s candidacy to host the games in 2020.
The newspaper reported that authorities have connected the explosive to another one found near the Royal Palace in February.
They blamed an anarchist group, which says it aims to target sites important to the “Bourbon Monarchy.” It pays homage to Mateo Morral, who tried to kill King Alfonso XIII and Queen Victoria Eugenia.