King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia were in Barcelona today handing out Royal Dispatches to new judges.

Their very presence in Barcelona was of note because of the ongoing debate in Catalonia about independence.

The King, who recently returned from Saudi Arabia, greeted Catalan President Artur Mas cordially, even though Mas has been pushing for a referendum on independence.

During his remarks, King Juan Carlos touted “democratic coexistence, social peace and justice.” He also stressed the importance of Constitutional principles and rights.

Yesterday the King visited the Basque Country, another autonomous community known for pro-independence and republican rumblings.

Earlier this week Prince Felipe visited Bilbao, the Basque Country’s largest city, to preside over an awards ceremony.

Spanish media reported a small Basque nationalist demonstration against the Royal Family and in favor of self determination.

Spain’s central government has resisted regional referendums on independence, calling them unconstitutional.

Separately, this week tax authorities accused the King’s son-in-law Iñaki Urdangarin, the Duke of Palma, of tax crimes.

Urdangarin has for years been under investigation for allegations that he used public money for personal gain.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia arrived in Rome over the weekend to attend the canonization of former popes John XXIII and John Paul II.

The King and Queen assisted the Vatican City ceremony along with leaders from around the world, and then met with Pope Francis separately.

King Juan Carlos also met with Italian President Giorgio Napolitano while in Rome.

Back in Madrid, the King swore in Spain’s new Agriculture Minister in a ceremony at Zarzuela Palace.

His Majesty is now on another visit to the Middle East, this time Oman and Bahrain.

Queen Sofia, meanwhile, spoke at Oxford University on Tuesday for the 700th anniversary of Exeter College.

King Juan Carlos met with Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa at Zarzuela Palace this week.

Correa was in Spain to receive an honorary doctorate from the University of Barcelona.

The Spanish Royal Family makes it a point to maintain good relations with Latin American leaders.

Earlier this week, as expected, King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia awarded the Cervantes prize to Elena Poniatowska.

King Juan Carlos this week also attended a soccer game between Real Madrid and FC Bayern Munchen.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia went to another game between Atlético Madrid and Chelsea.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia, and Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia hosted a lunch for Mexican writer Elena Poniatowska, 2013 winner of the Cervantes prize for literature in Spanish.

Members of the Royal Family are also expected to attend the upcoming awards ceremony at the University of Alcalá de Henares, birthplace of Miguel de Cervantes Saavedra.

Over the weekend members of the Royal Family, also including Infanta Elena, attended Eastern Mass in Palma de Mallorca.

The Mallorca mass is a Spanish Royal Family tradition. Media outlets reportes that Queen Sofia spent a few days on the island around Eastern.

Another airplane malfunction — the fifth in recent months for Spanish VIP jets — delayed King Juan Carlos’ return from the Middle East.

Kuwaiti authorities offered the King one of their jets, but ended up not needing it.

His Majesty was able to be in Spain in time for the final of the King’s Cup in Valencia between Real Madrid and Barcelona.

 

 

King Juan Carlos is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates and Kuwait this week, looking to further cement ties with the Persian Gulf nations and promote economic cooperation.

The King has for decades been keen on developing a personal relationship with Middle Eastern royals to lobby for economic opportunities for Spanish firms.

Over the weekend Queen Sofia, who is a big fan of classical music, attended a performance of Verdi’s Requiem at the Toledo Cathedral in honor of the deal of painter El Greco.

And this evening, Her Majesty was in the Balearic Islands at the Mallorca Cathedral for another concert, this one to benefit drug treatment and abuse prevention.

Also in recent weeks, the Royal Household announced that Queen Sofia will have a new chief of staff beginning in October — Arturo Luis Coello Villanueva.

Villanueva will replace José Cabrera García, who will retire after three decades in service to the Crown.

The gossip surrounding the Spanish Royal Family grew dramatically this week with the release of a new book by Spanish historian and Royal chronicler Pilar Urbano.

Essentially she says the King tried to oust former Prime Minister Adolfo Suárez, who recently died.

As a result, she says, the Don Juan Carlos inadvertently sparked the infamous 1981 coup attempt, which the King is credited with having put down.

Spain’s Royal Household and its political establishment have dismissed the allegations and have come in the King’s defense.

Also this week media outlets reported reforms aimed at making litigation against Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia go straight to the Supreme Court.

King Juan Carlos cannot be taken to court. He is, by the Constitution, inviolable.

King Juan Carlos this week awarded Enrique V. Iglesias by inducting him into the Order of the Golden Fleece.

Iglesias, of Spanish and Uruguayan citizenship, is the Ibero-American Secretary General, and has worked for closer relationships between Iberia and Latin America.

Queen Sofia, Prince Felipe, Princess Letizia and Infanta Elena were also on hand at the ceremony, held at the Madrid Royal Palace’s Hall of Columns.

Queen Sofia also visited the Royal Palace this week to attend the Royal Guard’s Changing of the Guard ceremony.

The ceremony is a weekly event popular with tourists and other visitors.

King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia this week attended the State Funeral of former Prime Minister Suárez González at Almudena Cathedral in Madrid.

Prince Felipe and Princess Letizia were also in attendance.

Suárez was the frist Prime Minister that King Juan Carlos appointed after the death of military ruler Francisco Franco.